How To Oxidise Copper Sheet
You can also soak sawdust with the patina and pack it around the copper piece and seal it in a plastic bag for a day or 3.
How to oxidise copper sheet. Spray the copper with a solution of salt water and then place the copper in a container that contains non detergent ammonia. The copper should not be touching the ammonia liquid but should be raised above it. To oxidize copper begin by scrubbing the copper with an abrasive pad and water. Place pennies in the bowl for several minutes.
Here s one way to force oxidize copper. Apply the los carefully and watch the reaction to the copper. Some authorities claim that heating the copper to a working temperature gives best results. Prep your copper piece by cleaning it and then spraying it with window cleaner.
Be careful not to burn yourself. Mix the ingredients into a spray bottle for easy application and shake it up to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Then spray on a coat of patina cocktail and leave alone to air dry. I have tried this method on finished pieces that included freshwater pearls and turquoise which are usually considered delicate materials.
All you need is enough amount of these products to submerge your copper item for a certain period. Mix up a solution of white vinegar and salt in a bowl. Most harsh substances are capable of oxidizing copper but you don t need to buy special acids just for that. This can be done with a small handheld butane torch like those used for plumbing.
Using the fumes of household ammonia to oxidize metal is really quite easy and is an inexpensive way to oxidize copper and brass. Spray the patina on the clean oil free copper and let set for 2 or 3 hours to dry then repeat 3 or so more times until you get what you want. The sealed container will trap ammonia vapors that will then make contact with the copper. While in the bowl the dull pennies will start to brighten up as their copper oxide layer is removed.
To see the birdhouses i built check out this video. As a simple project to test out the process use vinegar and salt to oxidize pennies. I got a sal ammoniac block from ace at the time but i don t see it now at their website. Try the solution on a small bit of copper before proceeding.
Basic products like vinegar and salt can have the same effect.