Summary for copper sheet oxidation colors Discussion
Copper sheet oxidation colors are discussed as a patina effect rather than a named decorative process. Vicki Vowell asked how a large copper sheet could be treated with different acids to create iridescent colors, then cut and applied to wood. Jasper M Chambers suggested a simple aging method: rub the copper with 0000 steel wool and brush on undiluted muriatic acid; he said it would turn green by the next morning. The follow-up caution warns that muriatic acid is strong and dangerous, should not be used around children or animals, and requires goggles and rubber gloves at minimum. It also advises being prepared to neutralize the acid very slowly and patiently with baking soda after use. The thread does not describe a full multi-color artistic process, but it does identify a basic way to force a green patina on copper.
Q. HELP! I saw a process done once where a man used different chemicals (acids) to create a reaction to a sheet of copper to cause the surface to become iridescent. Each chemical he used caused a different color or multiple of colors to appear on the sheet of copper. He would use a very large sheet of copper and create this surface. Afterwards he was able to cut the sheet of metal down and adhere it to certain surfaces like wood so the wood was covered in this patina type surface. Does anyone know what this process is called and how I can accomplish this myself?
Vicki Vowell
– Ft. Worth Texas
2001
A. If you want sheet copper to appear 100 years old immediately use 0000 #0000 steel wool
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] and muriatic acid
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] , just rub copper with wool and brush on muriatic acid (not diluted) and the next morning it will be green.
Jasper M Chambers
– Beckley, WV
! Thanks Jasper!
But readers should recognize that the internet is like a one-room school house where you’ll hear about stuff you may not yet be ready to do. Muriatic acid is strong and dangerous stuff, not to be used if any children or animals are around, and only while wearing goggles
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] and rubber gloves
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] as a minimum. And only if you prepared to very very slowly and very patiently neutralize it with baking soda [in bulk on
or
Amazon [affil link]
after use.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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