Comments on: Easy Patina Finishes for Copper and Brass – a Tutorial

By: Vera

Vera — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 20:30:01 +0000

Thanks for your kindness. My doubt was how to seal the poisonous cooper’s pattina! In Brasil we can’t find a particular product for it.

By: Nicholas lazenby

Nicholas lazenby — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 15:10:20 +0000

In reply to Sonia. I would mix vaseline and water to form a slight paste and the brush on the areas you want unaffected

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 16:01:05 +0000

In reply to Helen. Thank you, Helen! Enjoy! :)

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 14:04:01 +0000

Love, love, love your fantastic tutorial. Can’t wait to try them. Thank you so much!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 14:15:25 +0000

In reply to Nayeem. Thank you, Nayeem.

By: Nayeem

Nayeem — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 07:20:04 +0000

Thanks for sharing, may Allah bless you

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Wed, 09 May 2018 13:12:08 +0000

In reply to Jenny. Lovely, Jenny! :)

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 09 May 2018 07:19:49 +0000

Hi Rena, I love to add reclaimed beads and cabochons to my pieces and use E6000 glue would this work to decorate the cuff after using the patina
Jenny from the UK

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 08 May 2018 22:39:42 +0000

In reply to kathy corkery. Kathy, you're very welcome! :)

By: kathy corkery

kathy corkery — Tue, 08 May 2018 22:36:53 +0000

Rena! I always thought such a bracelet would be hard to make but your process looks so easy. Thank you for the helpful information. As always,

kathy

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 08 May 2018 11:58:18 +0000

In reply to Shasa. Shasa, you're very welcome! This is a fun and easy project, and I think you'll enjoy it! :)

By: Shasa

Shasa — Tue, 08 May 2018 11:48:03 +0000

This is so interesting and fairly simple to do! I’ve never made a handmade cuff or done the patina process, but am excited to try something new. Thank you!

By: Jane Clemmer

Jane Clemmer — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 06:55:18 +0000

Hi again: Do you have a tutorial for a bangle bracelet? I would love to know how to make them.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 14:45:07 +0000

In reply to Christye. Christye, you're so welcome! I'm glad to hear you're having so much fun with your new creative directions. :)

By: Christye

Christye — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 13:00:20 +0000

I cannot wait to try this…..I’ve been an artist all my life but I’m a newbie at wire/metal work. How I wish I had started YEARS ago now… At 58 I’m having Artistic fun again!!! Thank you!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 23:47:27 +0000

In reply to Deb.

Hi Deb, I think my blacker patina was the result of leaving the patina mixture on the metal for a long time.
And then after cleaning off the mixture, letting the color develop in the open air as the metal dried.
All sorts of things can affect the final coloring. I think that’s one of the best parts – waiting to see what color you’ll get! 🙂

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 01 Apr 2017 23:40:49 +0000

Mine turned out BLUE. Was really hoping for the blacker look. Still messing around with it for a different result.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 11:02:17 +0000

In reply to Norma Galley. Norma, you're very welcome! Have fun with making your own bangle and then coloring it with patina! :)

By: Norma Galley

Norma Galley — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 10:22:25 +0000

I am now going to search for your bangle tutorial.

By: Norma Galley

Norma Galley — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 10:21:38 +0000

This sounds wonderful – I can’t wait to have a go.Thank you so much.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 10 May 2016 07:00:04 +0000

In reply to Carla. Carla, that's fantastic to hear! And neat idea to use rubber stamping for a resist. I'd love to see your bracelets - please share them here: Submit Your Photos and Posts Here.

By: Carla

Carla — Mon, 09 May 2016 19:53:51 +0000

Hey Rena,

I just made 6 amazing cuffs, 4 copper and 2 brass, using this method, but also using StazOn with rubber stamps for resist instead of sharpie. They turned out amazing. The StazOn really kept the fine detail looking crisp and clean. I wish I could send you some pictures. Thanks for sharing this great tutorial!

By: Pam Caibe

Pam Caibe — Wed, 04 May 2016 01:49:15 +0000

Hi Rena. Some of the pieces have metallic “glowing” spots. I guess where the old copper comes thru. When I spray a matte sealer on these pieces will I lose that look of the pretty metallic spots? I love that glow. btw not sure about the resist effort. On bright blue pieces I can’t see the marker, I am afraid to mess it up (they’re very pretty) so probably won’t do the alcohol. I did do 1 pair of earrings with the vinegar method on brass. They are very light so I think I will like the resist cross I put on them. Please talk to me about the sealer. Do you ever use gloss? I really like the spotty metallic look and don’t want to lose it. Will the matte ruin that? How do I show you pics?

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:44:54 +0000

In reply to Pam Caibe. Pam, I'll be interested to hear the final result of your patina resist! And I totally agree, it can be agonizing waiting for a patina to develop! :)

By: Pam Caibe

Pam Caibe — Tue, 03 May 2016 12:42:52 +0000

Hi Rena. I am trying your “resist” method. Used a Sharpie to draw a cross on a round earring disc and write with the sharpie on a bracelet. They are still “cooking”. I am hanging the discs over the bracelet that is buried in the ammonia & salt. So far the earring discs are just brownish black spots. No pretty colors yet. I am so anxious 🙂 I will let you know how the Sharpie writing works. I am wondering if this “resisting” works with a piece you bury rather than fume? (fume is taking too long…lol)

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Mon, 02 May 2016 20:44:46 +0000

In reply to Pam Caibe. Pam, I haven't tried covering an area during a patina process . . . but what about covering the stamped area with a small piece of masking tape or duct tape? You could cut the piece of tape to have wavy edges, straight edges, or whatever works best with your design. After the patina process, you could carefully peel off the tape and remove any residual tape-goop. Again, I have not tried this myself, so you may want to test it first on a metal scrap. If you do try it, please let us know how it turns out for you! :)

By: Pam Caibe

Pam Caibe — Mon, 02 May 2016 15:11:09 +0000

I can’t wait to try this! I would like to stamp a name in the middle of the cuff and patina everywhere else. What could I put over the area with the stamped name so that it would not be covered over by the patina. Even if it were just a little lighter in that area, just so you could still read the name.
Thanks, Pam

By: Tiffany Harvey

Tiffany Harvey — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 00:52:08 +0000

These are both so gorgeous! I’m just getting into metal work and can’t wait to give this a try. Thanks so much for sharing.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 04:21:14 +0000

As always, I enjoyed the tutorials on various patinas. I just used a similar method on copper, brass & bronze. I sprayed white vinegar on the pieces & sprinkled non-iodized table salt over them. I put a small plastic container with ammonia in it in a larger zip lock bag. Cut a 3 x 3 square of plastic mesh and set it on top of the ammonia container and set the three pieces of metal on top of the plastic mesh. I zipped up the plastic bag and let it set overnite. I got a beautiful dark background with bright to aqua blue where the salt was!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 00:24:43 +0000

In reply to Leah. Hi Leah, thanks for asking! I would not recommend any patina on jewelry findings that will be inserted into piercings. Based on what I've read from various sources, I believe that piercings are healthiest when only bare, clean jewelry metals are used in them.

By: Leah

Leah — Sat, 03 Jan 2015 23:52:44 +0000

thank you so much for the great tips. Do you think the ammonia fuming method would be safe to use on brass earwires?

By: Stacey Grimes

Stacey Grimes — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 05:14:43 +0000

How can you get a spoon to tarnish? I’ve got a gift to make 🙂 thanks!

By: Eric Clayton

Eric Clayton — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 23:13:35 +0000

My daughter is making a steampunk outfit for Halloween and we used the fuming method to patina the goggles which we made out of copper pipe. We did a really quick version of it (less than an hour) and even did it “wrong” by washing everything off too soon, but it turned out great! Wish I could post a pic to show you.
Thanks so much for sharing this with everyone.

By: Betty Holland

Betty Holland — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 23:33:23 +0000

Thank you, Rena! I can’t wait to get started!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 21:30:23 +0000

In reply to Ryan.

Hi Ryan! I recommend cutting and preparing a small scrap piece of the type of metal you’re planning to use for the ring. Then use this scrap piece of metal to test how the patina works for you – and also how the Renaissance wax affects the patina on the scrap metal and your skin.

If you’re concerned or wondering about the outcome of a process on a piece of jewelry, it’s always best to do test runs with scraps first, so you’ll have a better idea of how the actual piece of jewelry might behave under the same conditions.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 21:11:57 +0000

i really like the patina process you’ve described. Do you think it would work on something as small as a ring? also, if you decide to protect the jewelry with the Renaissance Wax, will that also stop from turning your skin green? I am planning on trying this on a brass ring if all seems like it will work out.

By: Sonia

Sonia — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 23:20:58 +0000

Hello Rena,
Thank you so much for your wonderful ideas.
I have just ordered some brass sheets after reading your tutorials. If I want to put a pattern on a bracelet (either with the potato chips or ammonia method) what would you suggest ? I was thinking of wax…something that would block the chemical reaction on the desired surface during the process. Do you have any idea of what could be used ? Maybe tape ? Thank you very much. Sonia

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 19:37:05 +0000

In reply to Jennifer. Hi Jennifer, yes, I simply dispose of the ammonia paper towels in the trash - just as one would after using ammonia for household cleaning. I usually get my sheet metals from Monsterslayer.com (and you can find them at many other online jewelry suppliers too).

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 17:30:55 +0000

Seriously thank you soooo much for your tutorials!!! I’ve been wanting to patina jewelry and you’ve provided perfect instructions. What’s been holding me back from doing it though is not knowing where to by unvarnished metals and how to properly dispose the contents after. Because the ammonia is just on paper towel and not loose liquid, can it just be disposed of in the trash?

By: Natalie

Natalie — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 04:42:12 +0000

I’m so EXCITED and I just cant’t hide!!!!!! WOW! This is a Blessing, so I’m going to run with it. The IDEAS are flowing strongly. Much Blessings to ALL. Peace 🙂

By: linda anderson

linda anderson — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:20:59 +0000

Thank you for my new knowledge!

By: pradeep

pradeep — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:51:29 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing these two tutorials.

By: Mario

Mario — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 20:47:07 +0000

Now, that was really interesting! Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve always wondered how that was done! 🙂 Mario

By: kubus

kubus — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 14:51:40 +0000

Great JOB! Thanks for this!

By: Katt

Katt — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 05:35:03 +0000

Thank you for sharing these techniques which use ordinary household items. It will give my jewelry a new twist. I also appreciate your easy to follow directions and the pictures are a great bonus. It leaves no room for doubt when trying for the very first time. Thanks again!

By: Jesse

Jesse — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 15:17:59 +0000

This is most enlightening thank you. The best gift given is the gift of knowledge.

By: Judy Pinchback

Judy Pinchback — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 05:43:42 +0000

Rena, you are such an inspiration. Whenever I get discouraged I go looking for you and VOILA I’m ready to go again! I have only been making wire jewellery for about a year and love it….trying your methods and taking your advice has helped so much. Thank you! I will be trying this with brass right away! Can’t wait to see what happens.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 17:47:49 +0000

Julie, I’m so thrilled to hear about your results with your brass end tables! What a fantastic makeover idea. Thanks for sharing that. 🙂

By: Julie Cooney

Julie Cooney — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 16:22:25 +0000

I just used the salt and vinegar fuming method on two old brass end tables. The brass tops didn’t clean up so good, so I needed to figure out how to transform them… and this patina turned out GREAT!!! I’m so happy with them! Tones of brown, turquoise, and copper tones came through the patina on the brass… Beautiful! Thank you!

By: bev bona

bev bona — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:02:28 +0000

this is so awesome!!! i wish i knew how to do this with steel sheet metal. i’d like to make a shelf for my kitchen.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 22:35:11 +0000

Erwinn, You can use alcohol inks on metal for transparent color with nice results. See my easy tutorial, Coloring Metal with Alcohol Ink.

By: erwinn

erwinn — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 10:14:04 +0000

Hi Rena, I would like to ask you instead of using chemical substance is it possible to apply transparent colors on copper surface?thanks and keep on good tutorial works

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:03:52 +0000

Thanks for all the kind feedback on this project! 🙂

Tracy Lin, I don’t think I’ve ever experimented with re-using the soaked paper towels. I’d say to give it a try and see what happens. I don’t see how it could do any harm.

By: Tracy Lin

Tracy Lin — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:02:33 +0000

Can I reuse the same soaked paper towels for the second cuff?

By: Lorna

Lorna — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:12:15 +0000

Thank you so much for this. I have a large sheet of thick copper that I want to make into a wall hanging – it’s too thick for jewellery. I’ve been looking for ideas, and your patinas are fantastic. xx

By: Carla

Carla — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:54:28 +0000

This tutorial is great, so clear with every step. I am new at making jewelry and have so much to learn. Thank you for sharing this with us.

By: Natalia

Natalia — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:37:16 +0000

I am seriously going to faint ! THANK YOUUU! I have been looking for different patinas for some tribal brass brooches and this is perfect.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:45:40 +0000

Thanks so much for your lovely comments on this patina process!

Tina, I haven’t tried this patina on silver – but different metals have different reactions (or possibly no reaction) to patina recipes, so that may be an issue with what you experienced.

Kay, you can definitely texture your metal first – and I’m sure the effects after the patina process will be fascinating! I’d love to see how that turns out for you, if you’d like to post your results here in the JMJ gallery!

By: saraccino

saraccino — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:19:59 +0000

What a great tutorial! Thanks! I have to try this 🙂

Now I just need to start collecting all the tools to work with metal ^^

By: Heather Goldsmith

Heather Goldsmith — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:43:13 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing these two tutorials. 😉

By: Tammie E

Tammie E — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:22:31 +0000

Very cool. Thanks for sharing this easy and clearly written tut. Now to check the cupboards to see if I have any ammonia….

By: Kay

Kay — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 13:19:00 +0000

I love this. Thanks for sharing this. Can’t wait to try it. One question, could you texture your bracelet first and then patina for a different look? Thanks.

By: Tina

Tina — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:43:39 +0000

Hi Rena: I tried this method with a silver cuff and it actually didn’t seem to work. I left it in the closed container over 24 hours and when I opened it, the paper was a little blue but the bracelet only had a blue spot and black crusty pieces on some small areas. Not sure if I did something wrong. What do you think happened? I have to say that the only Ammonia I found was a lemon one so it was not clear. I wonder if that was the issue. Can you offer any thoughts?

By: Tricia

Tricia — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:11:20 +0000

I love the way the brass bracelet turned out. I think I’m going to have to give “fuming” a try!

By: Dominika

Dominika — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 14:58:46 +0000

My brain is on fire right now! 🙂 I’m using various brass elements, embellishments in my mixed media decoupage. And how cool they would look with a bit of patina. Thanks a lot for this tutorial. Must say that I keep wondering whether the process could be altered so that it’s possible to patina wood that is sealed perhaps with liquid bitumen. Perhaps instead of using ammonia I could try cider vinegar… ?? Anyways, beautiful pictures and very clear instructions, thanks a lot.

By: Karen Whitney

Karen Whitney — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:28:27 +0000

These are fantastic! The finish is so gorgeous! I love them and you do amazing work 🙂

By: Yogy

Yogy — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:23:11 +0000

Looks awesome!:)

Yogy creations

By: zoraida

zoraida — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 15:26:27 +0000

Another great tutorial. Love this. I haven’t tried this method yet. I’ve been lazy – using LOS. I have to try this!

Zoraida

By: Jeanine

Jeanine — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:50:24 +0000

This is great! I’ve read about ammonia + salt, but your application method is great. I’m going to try this along with the sawdust method.

By: Maria Hansford

Maria Hansford — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:20:36 +0000

Hi Rena!
What a great tutorial…I am already thinking of pendants and connective disks decorated with the same process. Thank you for sharing.
Your site is a great inspiration.

By: Kristin Krull

Kristin Krull — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:07:11 +0000

wow! I want to try! Thanks for sharing!

By: Maritza Schwindt

Maritza Schwindt — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:04:55 +0000

Rena, what can I say this too is great! I am surprised it is so easy. I will be staying busy making jewelry. Thank you for sharing this project.

By: Marianne

Marianne — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:06:52 +0000

Rena, it’s fantastic again! Thank you for sharing this great secret 🙂