12/26/2023 0 Comments Patina green metal bowl![]() It doesn’t hurt to have a fire extinguisher handy, and don’t wait until you need it to read the directions. Always be aware of everything that is happening. Sometimes you must use heat, and heat plus metal plus chemicals can create unexpected situations. Note: Have a first aid kit handy, too, just in case. (Sure, glam them up with some red Swarovski crystals just for fun. No face mask is needed, just full, clear, safety goggles. Don’t forget to wear the nitril gloves and a pair of full goggles. Also, it is always advisable to wear a respirator (preferably one with replaceable cartridges) when using ammonia and other chemicals. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT! Before you use any chemicals or mix any patina, read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for it, usually included or available online. I find it to be untarnished and always just as I left it.ĥ. If you prepare the metal but must leave it for several hours or overnight, I like to leave mine submerged in a clean bowl of distilled water. Also, it’s OK to use a hair dryer or heat gun to lightly dry the hard-to-get-to spots on cast pieces.Ĥ. If the piece is awkward to handle, wear nitril gloves when handling the piece. Handle the metal only by the edges, and you may blot it dry with a paper towel. You may also use a good brass brush and pumice, and finish off with the Dawn and brass brush.ģ. Water must sheet off the metal before you can apply patina successfully if it doesn’t, keep scrubbing until it does. Scrub the metal for several minutes and rinse with cool water. You can use wet or dry sandpaper, such as 30-micron 3M Finishing Film, but I like to use a fine green kitchen scrubby or a 3M sanding sponge and Dawn detergent. This means that all finger oils, oxidation, tape, price stickers, dirt, etc. The surface of the metal must be squeaky clean. Oh, how I once struggled to get a consistent green patina on a highly polished copper collar! I never got anything close to what I imagined in my mind. Patina won’t hold well on a highly polished surface, so it’s best to sand or texture metal before applying patina. Patinas work best if there is some “tooth” to the metal. Here are six things I didn’t know about creating patinas on metal that I now share with you:ġ. ![]() I remember when I first started playing with patinas. But remember, you can have more consistent results if you start off right. The results, when you experiment with a patina, are often surprising and delightful. Do you sometimes get tired of shiny sterling silver and the liver of sulfur (LOS) patina variations? Does the color of copper really excite you, but unfortunately you feel, like me, that copper just doesn’t get the respect it deserves? I love copper and the way it responds to patina and texturing.
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