I tried the torch heating and borax method of adding a red patina to copper again. I textured the piece of copper first and then heated it from the back. My goal is to get my process to the point where I am getting consistent results. Practice, practice, practice!
I started out with a piece of copper sheet - keeping the pieces relatively small until I get a feel for the heat needed to make this happen consistently. I did discover that in my experiments today - the torch has to be hot and the heat has to be constant to create an even red once quenched in the borax. I clean the copper with vinegar and salt and then some fine sandpaper (I have found that works better than a scotchbrite) before I start heating it. I heat the copper until it is glowing orange and then immediately drop it in the borax bath. I have also found that heating a piece of copper again (after it has been scrubbed clean with the sandpaper and water) does not, for some reason, work at all. No matter how hot I heat it, it doesn't get red. Odd.
There is a lot I do not know about this process - so I have been changing things up as I heat and quench each piece. I change the borax and water every two pieces or so - I am not sure if that affects the efficacy of the borax bath though.
I did a fair number of pieces today and this is the only one that retained the red patina. I even tumbled it for 2 hours in steel shot, dawn and water. I am only slightly discouraged :), and will definitely keep trying.
2 comments:
Can you tell me what the proportion of water to Borax should be for the bath?
There is nothing that I have read that shows the recipe of water to borax. I have spent a fair amount of time experimenting but have not found anything conclusive. I will say though that in my experimenting I have found the biggest impact is made by how hot the copper piece is before it has been quenched in the water/borax mixture.
Post a Comment