How To Oxidize Copper Sheet

This copper oxide from reaction 2 is the main culprit that will later form the colors of the patina.

How to oxidize copper sheet.

Because copper is such a dirty metal it likes to oxidize. Put it next to a chemical and it will react by changing colours. This changes the copper surface into verdigris which is made up of a number of compounds including copper oxide copper carbonate copper chloride and copper acetate. This will help to achieve an even patina so skip this step if you want something more patchy.

The lower the mil number the thinner the copper sheet. I have tried this method on finished pieces that included freshwater pearls and turquoise which are usually considered delicate materials. The thickness of copper sheeting is also often identified by gauge in terms of gauge the lower the gauge number the thicker the copper sheet is. Then clean the copper with soap and water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.

Oxidation is a naturally occurring process wherein copper loses electrons to oxygen or other molecules. Copper takes a patina especially well. To quickly oxidize your copper the best mixture involves one cup 24 liter of plain white vinegar 3 4 cup 18 liter of household ammonia and 1 4 cup 19 liter of table salt. For example 1 mil copper foil is thinner than 1 4 mil copper foil 8 mil copper sheet is thinner than 10 mil copper sheet and so on.

Read on to learn how to patina copper terra cotta and more. To see the birdhouses i built check out this video. Using the fumes of household ammonia to oxidize metal is really quite easy and is an inexpensive way to oxidize copper and brass. If you ve worked with it you understand why.

Every metal has its own personality. I like to think of copper as an old smelly dirty drunk homeless man. If sulfur is present on the surface of the copper then the two can react to form copper sulfide which is black equation 3. To oxidize copper begin by scrubbing the copper with an abrasive pad and water.

It s important to note that oxidation isn t always caused by oxygen. Quite many chemicals apart from those that are naturally present in the air can oxidize copper including ammonium chloride crystals copper sulfate and ammonium sulfate. Mix the ingredients into a spray bottle for easy application and shake it up to mix the ingredients thoroughly.