I would like to see some forced patina pics of copper lights. I have a Reylight Pineapple and am trying to get a good dark forced patina. Thanks
I know you said forced in the title and twice in the post, but copper is a soft metal that’s reactive to acids and patinates naturally very quickly. I only have a Lumintop Tool in copper, and a FW3C on the short tube. Both show natural patina and the parts of the metal that shine due to handling and pocket time. They look good for going through the process naturally and any forced patina will be easily rubbed off.
I’d say the best way to get a forced patina on copper would be a clean with wire wool to create some fissures that hold the oxide. I find my sand blasted or tumbled knife blades are the most prone to rust and patina and it doesn’t come off because it’s in the micro pitting.
Copper and brass look best au natural, IMO.
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Enjoy life man. No reason to force anything. Every second of every minute of every hour is priceless. Don’t rush it, enjoy it. Try listening to the rain drops hit the ground. It’s awesome.
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zoulas
That’s a good point. I think I will let it go natural.
cohoer
Thanks for the link to the old thread
This is a clear coat sprayed over the patina.
Naito
Thanks for sharing the pic. I’ve never seen one with that much color of blue. How was it forced?
After being polished with a paper file, they are degreased and soaked in a sealed ammonia chloride solution.
And don’t forget to grease the inside to prevent rust.
As far as patina I prefer what grows on niobium specially the alloys used in rocket nozzles.
To help a natural patina that does not look artificial, you can:
Mix a few drops of Aceto Balsamico and a bit less dishwashing liquid soap on a paper towel.
Wipe the copper part to leave a smudgy layer of that stuff on the copper, let react for some days in a warm and damp place (shower cabin, etc.).
Wash with water.
The reaction will continue in the next days.
Onion juice and Aceto Balsamico. Makes a lot of black, but can suddenly make green and white, depending on how sulphuric the onion is.
I like to let the copper take it’s own patina after giving a little start like the above.
Cool, I love that. I live in an area in southern England that has a lot of unexploded ordnance from WW2. That colour is familiar, reminds me of the old shells and bullets we used to find.
Makes me want to buy a copper S2+ if Simon ever offers them again.
That ‘familiar’ colour has a beautiful name: Verdigris. Google it.
Verdigris is poisonous and fungicide and bactericide. It is soluble in water and has accumulating properties.
When this is washed off, a patina remains.
For a flashlight, I’d definitely not recommend having green or blue patina (verdigris).
Verdigris is not poisonous or dangerous. Copper itself is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.
If you’re worried, just spray a clear coat over the top.
and annoyingly - the dead bacteria collect on the light and make your fingers stink
brass does that also
Cold blue coats copper with a blackish brownish coat, does not make it look old, but it makes it look pretty cool. Just soak a piece of cloth and rub it in, chemical reaction will do the rest.