How To Age Copper

Even novice crafters can age copper artificially and safely with ingredients found in the home.

How to age copper. One old method still employed by some artisans today involves bathing the copper in a solution made by dissolving chunks of liver of sulfur potassium sulfide in water. But this process poses a hazard. Over the years craftsmen have used various treatments to give new copper an old look.

Darken copper with liver of sulfur. Take the shiny pennies out of the salt and vinegar. Apply liver of sulfur to create oxidation on copper surfaces.

However when allowed to age naturally the verdigris patina will take years to develop especially in dry climates. Use a small brush to paint vinegar or a strong salt water solution 1 to 2 tablespoons or more salt per cup of water on the surface which you desire to age. This copper oxide from reaction 2 is the main culprit that will later form the colors of the patina.

Mix up a solution of white vinegar and salt in a bowl. It can take five or more years for atmospheric conditions to produce a copper patina but you can produce an attractive artificial patina in a much shorter time. This a quick video to show how to easily put an aged patina on brass and copper.

Copper should take between 9-18 days to age completely but we should be able to prevent it or extend the time it takes to age cause some player would like it. Any selenium based solution such as gun bluing will work to age copper brass and bronze. Lightning Rods struck by lightning decrements the oxidation age.

A solution of vinegar and salt or rapid fixer quickly ages copper and it is safe to use at home. It will not turn silver. Sep 3 2012 - When copper reacts with the oxygen in the air copper oxide CuO is formed giving the copper a greenish color which some people desire for its classical look.