Chemically Coloring Metal
Apr 26, 2009 9:17:18 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2009 9:17:18 GMT
Chemically coloring metals
I found these Recipes for coloring metals in an old "working with metals" book that I have.
[shadow=red,left,300]Copper, Brass, and Bronze[/shadow]
Red. Mix 1 teaspoon of copper carbonate, 10 teaspoons of household ammonia and 1 teaspoon of sodium carbonate into a quart of boiling water. Dip the object to be colored briefly into this solution, Just until the metal turns bright red . Rinse the metal first in cold water, then in a pickling solution of sulfuric acid, then again in cold water.
Antique Green Mix 3 parts of copper carbonate to 1 part sal ammoniac ( a type of soldering flux), 1 part copper acetate, 1 part cream of tartar and 8 parts acetic acid. Brush the solution on the metal; it will take several days for the weathered-green patina to appear.
Brown Mix 2 teaspoons of potassium sulfate, 3 teaspoons of lye and 1 quart of hot water. Dip the object into this solution, and leave it there until the desired shade is achieved, then rinse the metal in cold water.
Black Mix 1 teaspoon of liver of sulfur and a rounded 1/4 teaspoon of ammonia in 1 quart of cold water. Immerse the object in the solution until the desired shade is achieved, then rinse the metal in cold water.
[shadow=red,left,300]Iron and Steel[/shadow]
Black Mix 3/4 cup of tannic acid into 1 quart of cold water. Dip the object in the solution until it turns black, then rinse in cold water.
[shadow=red,left,300]Aluminum Alloys[/shadow]
All Colors Dip the object into a solution of 2 tablespoons of lye to 1 quart of cold water for one to two minutes. Then immerse the metal in household dye of desired color, mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the desired depth of color is achieved, rinse in cold water.
I found these Recipes for coloring metals in an old "working with metals" book that I have.
[shadow=red,left,300]Copper, Brass, and Bronze[/shadow]
Red. Mix 1 teaspoon of copper carbonate, 10 teaspoons of household ammonia and 1 teaspoon of sodium carbonate into a quart of boiling water. Dip the object to be colored briefly into this solution, Just until the metal turns bright red . Rinse the metal first in cold water, then in a pickling solution of sulfuric acid, then again in cold water.
Antique Green Mix 3 parts of copper carbonate to 1 part sal ammoniac ( a type of soldering flux), 1 part copper acetate, 1 part cream of tartar and 8 parts acetic acid. Brush the solution on the metal; it will take several days for the weathered-green patina to appear.
Brown Mix 2 teaspoons of potassium sulfate, 3 teaspoons of lye and 1 quart of hot water. Dip the object into this solution, and leave it there until the desired shade is achieved, then rinse the metal in cold water.
Black Mix 1 teaspoon of liver of sulfur and a rounded 1/4 teaspoon of ammonia in 1 quart of cold water. Immerse the object in the solution until the desired shade is achieved, then rinse the metal in cold water.
[shadow=red,left,300]Iron and Steel[/shadow]
Black Mix 3/4 cup of tannic acid into 1 quart of cold water. Dip the object in the solution until it turns black, then rinse in cold water.
[shadow=red,left,300]Aluminum Alloys[/shadow]
All Colors Dip the object into a solution of 2 tablespoons of lye to 1 quart of cold water for one to two minutes. Then immerse the metal in household dye of desired color, mixed according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the desired depth of color is achieved, rinse in cold water.