Content

• Steps
• Before you start: Clean the copper piece
• Method 1 of 3: Ammonia
• Method 2 of 3: Furnace
• Method 3 of 3: Hard Boiled Egg
• What do you need
• Ammonia
• Bake
• Hard boiled egg

Patina is a naturally thin coating that forms on the surface of items made of copper and other metals. The patina on copper products gives them an ancient look, which is very attractive to some people. Natural patina usually develops over time, but you can speed up this process by doing several chemical processes.

Steps

Before you start: Clean the copper piece

1. 1 Wash the copper piece from all sides. Use a mild dish soap and warm water to remove all grease and contaminants from the copper surface.
   • The metal can have grease from your skin or other sources, thus blocking the possibility of a chemical reaction to form a patina.If the product is not cleaned, the result of the process may not be as successful as expected.
2. 2 Add baking soda. Spread it over the surface. Thoroughly clean the metal with a # 0000 steel wool.
   • The movements should be in the same direction as the copper texture. Never brush in the opposite direction as this will result in invisible scratches.
3. 3 Rinse off the baking soda. Place the copper piece under a stream of water to rinse out any remaining baking soda.
   • Do not wipe off the baking soda with your hands, as sebum can get back onto the metal. This time, rely on the pressure of water to clean the surface.
4. 4 Dry well. Dry the surface with a clean paper towel.
   • Again, try not to directly touch the metal surface with your hands.

Method 1 of 3: Ammonia

1. 1 Line a deep plastic container with paper towels. Crumple up a few paper towels with your hands and place them in a plastic container with a lid.
   • The container needs to be deep enough to hold all of these towels and brass, plus an extra piece of towel that hasn't been added yet.
   • A clean container that used to contain sour cream, cottage cheese or other products is perfect for this purpose. Make sure it's really clean and has a tight-fitting lid.
   • This container can no longer be used for food.
2. 2 Soak towels in ammonia. Pour ammonia directly onto the paper towels in the container and soak it completely.
   • Ammonia is a hazardous chemical, so this procedure should be done in a well-ventilated area. Also, be sure to wear safety glasses and rubber gloves.
3. 3 Sprinkle salt on top. Add a large amount of kitchen salt to paper towels, spreading it evenly over the surface.
4. 4 Place the brass piece inside. Place it right on top of paper towels. Press down gently so that the bottom and sides of the product are submerged in the ammonia and salt.
5. 5 Cover with another ammonia-soaked towel. Crumple up another paper towel and place it on top of the brass piece. Pour some ammonia over it so it soaks well.
   • Use as many towels as needed to completely cover the brass piece.
   • You will also need to lift the top towel and sprinkle some salt on the garment. Then cover the product with a towel soaked in ammonia again.
6. 6 Close the container with a lid. Close the container tightly and let sit for a few hours or days, depending on how you want to get the result.
   • Keep it in a safe place away from children and pets.
   • You will need to check your copper piece periodically until it gets the look you want. A thin layer of patina will begin to form in a few minutes, but it will take a day or two to get the antique look.
   • For best results, check the appearance of the patina every 30-60 minutes.
   • The paper towels will also change color in the process.
7. 7 Finish processing the copper piece. When the desired patina has formed, remove the item from the container and place it on a clean towel to dry. When it is dry, rinse the remaining ammonia under running water and dry again.
   • If the patina is too dark or thick, lighten it by scraping off the dark layer with # 0000 steel wool.
   • After a couple of days, you can treat the product with colorless varnish or paraffin to preserve the appearance of the resulting patina.

Method 2 of 3: Furnace

1. 1 Make a solution of salt and vinegar. Take five parts dark vinegar with one part salt and stir well to dissolve the salt completely.
   • You need enough mortar to completely cover the copper piece.
   • Use plastic or glassware, as metal can oxidize and spoil the entire process.
   • Dark vinegar - Any dark-colored vinegar, such as black or balsamic.
2. 2 Put copper in the solution. Submerge your copper piece in a vinegar-salt solution so that it is completely covered by it. Leave it on for an hour.
   • When immersing several items in one container of solution, make sure that they do not overlap or touch each other.
3. 3 Meanwhile, preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 - 450 degrees Fahrenheit (200 - 230 degrees Celsius).
   • The higher the temperature, the more expressive the patina will be.
   • Optionally, you can prepare a metal baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil. You may not use foil, but an unprotected baking sheet may discolor.
4. 4 “Bake” the copper product. Remove the copper product from the vinegar solution and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes, or until you like the appearance of the patina that appears.
   • Remember that the appearance of the patina develops over time and what you get now will not be the final version.
5. 5 Reapply the vinegar solution and continue baking. Remove the brass piece from the oven and submerge it again in the vinegar solution for 5 minutes, covering the piece completely. Return the product back to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes.
   • Use pliers when removing copper from the oven, as the metal is very hot.
6. 6 Submerge the copper in the solution again. Use tongs to remove the copper piece from the oven and dip it in the vinegar solution, it should completely cover the piece.
   • The last dive will create a blue-green patina. If you don't need this shade, skip this step and move on to the next one as soon as you take it out of the oven.
7. 7 Dry and cool. Lay two or three sheets of waxed paper on top of each other and place the brass piece on top. Leave it on to cool and dry.
   • This can take anywhere from a few hours to an entire night.
8. 8 Finish processing the copper piece. A good layer of patina has already formed by this point, so technically you can leave it as it is. Optionally, you can buff the surfaces with a clean piece of cloth to enhance the look, or use a steel wool # 0000 to brighten a little.
   • Also consider covering your piece with a colorless lacquer or paraffin wax to maintain the patina appearance.

Method 3 of 3: Hard Boiled Egg

1. 1 Hard boil the egg. Place the egg in a small saucepan and cover with cold water so that it covers 1 inch (2.5 cm). Place the pot on the stove and boil the water. As soon as the water boils, turn off the stove, cover the pan with a lid for 12-15 minutes to cook the egg.
   • Add a little salt to the water to make it easier to clean the egg.
   • You need to turn off the stove as soon as the water boils.
   • Cooking an egg this way avoids overcooking it.
2. 2 Finish the cooking process. Use a slotted spoon to remove the egg from the water and place it under cold running water. Freeze until you can calmly hold it in your hand, but it should not become icy.
   • Chilled eggs are easier to work with and easier to shell. The egg must remain slightly warm for this process, so do not refrigerate it too much.
3. 3 Peel the egg. Roll it on a flat surface to break the shell. Then use your fingers to remove the shell.
   • Keep as much of the egg as possible when peeling, but don't worry if a tiny fraction of the protein is gone with the shell. The egg will still produce enough sulfur to form a layer of patina on your copper piece.
4. 4 Cut the egg in half. Use a kitchen knife to cut the egg in half lengthwise. Remember that both the white and the yolk must be cut into equal parts.
   • Do not separate the yolk and white, they must be together.
   • Egg yolk is an important part of the process, so you need to uncover it in this step.
5. 5 Place the egg and brassware in a plastic bag. Place both boiled egg halves and the brass piece in a reusable plastic bag. Seal the bag well.
   • Use only a sealed bag.
6. 6 Leave it on for a while. Leave the bag at room temperature for a few hours. After a few hours, you will notice a thin layer of patina on the copper surface.
   • Egg yolk gives off sulfuric gas, and this gas reacts with copper to form a patina.
   • Keep the copper eggs in the bag for as long as necessary to achieve the finish and patina you want.
   • Remember that this process gives off an unpleasant odor, so take the bag to the garage or an unused room.
7. 7 Finish processing the copper piece. Remove the item from the bag and discard the egg. It is recommended to cover the copper product with colorless varnish or paraffin to protect the patina layer.

What do you need

• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Water
• Baking soda
• Steel sponge, # 0000
• Paper towels

Ammonia

• Plastic container with lid
• Paper towels
• Salt
• Gloves
• Protective glasses
• Steel sponge, # 0000
• Fixer (colorless varnish or paraffin)

Bake

• Vinegar
• Salt
• Small plastic or glass container
• Bake
• Metal baking sheet
• Aluminum foil (optional)
• Forceps
• Wax paper
• A piece of soft cloth
• Steel sponge, # 0000
• Fixer (colorless varnish or paraffin)

Hard boiled egg

• 1 egg
• Small saucepan
• Skimmer
• Knife
• Reusable plastic bag
• Fixer (colorless varnish or paraffin)