If it’s darker or denser than you want, take a clean piece of #0000 steel wool and gently rub off some of the patina in the areas you’d like to lighten it up. Some of the patina may wash away, but there should still be plenty of it on your metal. Once your bracelet has air-dried, wash it carefully under running water. I’ve noticed that the color develops a little further when I let my metal air dry right after removing it from the patina. When your patina has reached a look you like, remove your bracelet from the container and set it on a paper towel to dry. See this cool “snakeskin” look created by the paper towel texture touching the metal? That was a neat surprise: In the photo below, I’m checking it about 5 hours into the process. My copper bracelet patina here took about 9 hours to reach the depth of color I wanted. You may want to check on your patina process after about half an hour – and then at least every couple of hours after that.ĭon’t be surprised if your paper towels change colors before your metal does: It’s up to you to decide when it’s achieved the color or look you want. Your patina can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days. Important: Set the closed container where curious pets and children can’t access it. Put the lid tightly on your plastic container: Now place the ammonia-soaked paper towels back over the bracelet, so they have contact with the entire outside surface of your bracelet: Then lift up the paper towels and sprinkle a light layer of salt on top of the ammonia-dampened bracelet. Pour ammonia over these paper towels to soak them. Ideally these towels should be covering the entire outside surface of your bracelet. Wad up another paper towel or two, and place them on top of the bracelet. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt over the ammonia-soaked towels, and then set your bracelet on top of them: In the bottom of your plastic grocery container, place a couple of wadded-up paper towels, and then pour ammonia over them till the towels are saturated:
#Patina copper background public domain skin
Wash off all traces of baking soda – and then without letting your skin touch the newly cleaned metal, dry it thoroughly with paper towels. Scrub in the same direction as the grain of your metal. So before beginning the patina process, wash both sides of your metal bracelet thoroughly with a generous amount of liquid dish soap.Īfter washing off all of the dish soap, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda onto both sides of your bracelet and scrub it well with your steel wool.
We need to clean your metal to remove all traces of skin oils and anything else that may resist the patina. Krylon also has a product that’s pretty much the same thing, and about the same price. Sealant – I use a clear, matte-finish, spray-on sealant called “Tree House Studio” Clear Acrylic Matte Coating, from Hobby Lobby.#0000 steel wool – one or two small pieces.Wear appropriate protection – gloves, goggles, and breathing protection.If you can’t go outdoors, please work quickly, safely, and in a VERY well-ventilated area. Warning: Due to the ammonia fumes, I highly recommend doing this project outdoors if at all possible.
#Patina copper background public domain plus
The lid should fit pretty tightly.This should be a container you will NOT use for food again.Īlso, this container needs to be tall enough so that when the lid is closed, there’s plenty of room inside for your bracelet plus several wadded-up paper towels. Empty plastic grocery container such as the kind used for sour cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.Liquid dish soap (such as Dawn or whatever brand).This is the copper bracelet we made in my tutorial: Many commercially-available jewelry and hardware metals have been varnished). The copper or brass cuff bracelet you made in my Rustic Cuff Bracelets Tutorial.(Or other copper or brass item that has NOT been varnished.Use in well ventilated area, preferably outdoors.īefore starting this project, see Homemade Patina Precautions for safety guidelines. Patinas made with ordinary household products may be harmful if ingested, inhaled, or worn against the skin. So get ready for a fun experience in creating a rustic finish for your cuff bracelet (or other metal project)! There are so many factors that can affect the color, pattern, and intensity of your patina that it would be difficult to get the exact same result twice. This one unexpectedly turned out looking like a landscape painting with a tree over at the left side: One of the fun things about working with patinas like this one is that the result is usually a surprise! Rustic copper patina finish by Rena Klingenberg
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