Subject: Re: patina on copper

From: ROGER R DEGNER <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 24 Sep 1996 00:14:18 -0500

A while back it was mentioned to heat copper and cover with saw dust to
color.  Today I did this and got a brilliant blue coloration.  I made the
pieces into a carnation but when I sprayed it with DEFT the coloration
instantly disapeared.  I did not save the postings and my question is what
should be applied to presurve the patina.  Thank you.  >

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From: [email-masked] (Katana ---/-----------)
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 12:50:47 GMT

>should be applied to presurve the patina.  Thank you.  > 
After trying everything else (polyurethanes, etc.) on metals and finsihes
for preservation, I find that good ole clear laquer works the best. It has
an additional advantage in that it can be boiled off the piece if it flakes
in the future. I don't know what the chemical composition of the patina you
used was, so you'd just have to try it to see if there's a reaction with
the patina. 
-- 
               Bill Wyant 
   Bladesmith / Art Blacksmith 
Avalon Ironworks, Ft. Wayne, IN 
    [email-masked]

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 12:00:01 -0400

That beautiful blue is highly fugitive and no matter what you do, you're
going to bring the color down a considerable amount when you seal the piece.
 I've found that the best thing I could do was to use matte spray finish (you
can find it an art store).  Problem is that you're always going to lose some
of the blue.  The other thing you can do is just leave it.  But don't leave
it for people to touch or dogs to lick.  The patina is not healthy.  you can
also- if you're not too opposed to alternating your patinas from their
traditional roots--do a wash over the blue (lightly, gently)  with a thinnned
out paint that matches the color of the patina.  
If you have any questions abt this or other patination questions, feel free
to contact me.  ([email-masked])   (note--I share the email so if you put
my name, Cynthia, in the subject line,  I'll get the message).

Good luck.