Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
-----
Waxed patinated bronze surface oxidising
Q. Hi. I am in Brighton UK. I've been patinating 3mm (1/8") phosphor bronze plates approx. 3' square to go on an exterior library entrance. I have achieved a mottled red on black background with a solution of Potassium Sulphide, then Ferric (iii) oxide powder applied with very weak solution of Ferric nitrate, finished with approx. 3 layers of microcrystalline wax. Despite the usually reliable wax coating I am quite swiftly getting interspersed blooming, turning bright green overnight in an admittedly vast damp workshop. It wipes off easily but blooming, particularly white type, keeps returning.
The ferric oxide powder should be non-reactive. Can anyone offer solutions I can try? Deadline fast approaching!
Matt Borthwick
Metal Restorer/Finisher/Patinator - East Sussex UK
March 30, 2025
A. Try linseed oil finish (bake it little bit with hot air gun). You must remove wax before that. You can try Incralac ⇨
or 3% waterglass
⇦ this on
eBay or
Amazon [affil links]
solution too. Test it on some scrap metal. Hope it helps and good luck!
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
April 3, 2025
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread