Hobbyists & Industry luminaries alike learn on every visit
(we earn from 'affiliate link' purchases)

Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

  The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing 1989-2025

-----

Bronze artist wants a rich black patina

Hi,
I am a new bronze artist. I have been a two dimensional painter and I am really in love with my new medium. I need to find out how to achieve a rich black that is not potash. Also I am trying to find a olive green or a greyed green (not cupric).

Has anyone ever mixed black, diluted ferric nitrate and a touch of white in a container to patina with? If I do this with my paints I get a lovely olive green. Can mixing like this work?

I really appreciate any help you might give me

Thanks a lot,
Gail

Gail Lapins
Artist - Cambra, California
May 3, 2008

Colouring of metals is much more complex than mixing of pigments--in USA you can buy lot of good books on that subject,Hughes and Rowe book "The Colouring, Bronzing & Patination of Metals" [on eBay, Amazon, AbeBooks affil links] (in fact book about colouring of copper , its alloys and silver,not one word about colouring of aluminum,zinc,tin ,titanium or iron!)) is just one of them.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
May 7, 2008

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: