I need A Chemical To Turn Patina Copper Back To Bright Penny Color - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**Ed the Roofer** · 05-01-2009, 02:17 AM

I need A Chemical To Turn Patina Copper Back To Bright Penny Color for a customer that I just delivered a proposal to today.

They have a few special requests and a big honking job to look forward to, so I would like to find out what to spray or wipe on the bay window roof, standing seam Copper Metal Panels to bring back that original shiny luster.

What can I use and where can I purchase it?

Ed

nlgutters · 05-01-2009, 06:34 AM

I guess it depends on how much you have to do?

When we do it and are not doing a lot i just go to the hardware store and get copper polish for pots and pans.

It works great but takes a while.

TimelessQuality · 05-01-2009, 07:03 AM

5 gallons of elbow grease

Sorry Ed, I got nothin'

Brasso?

Mike Finley · 05-01-2009, 08:36 AM

Is he going to take a picture of it and save it for eternity? It's only going to weather right back.

WarnerConstInc. · 05-01-2009, 10:02 AM

My only warning to you Ed in doing this, and I think you would know is; To get that back to it's orginal appearance means stipping off that patina and exposing bare, fresh, copper.

In doing this you effectively remove its protective layer from the elements. It decreases the life span of copper significantley.

A W Smith · 05-01-2009, 11:11 AM

I was going to say Tarnex but apparently there are issues with it

http://cs.artjewelrymag.com/artcs/forums/t/4278.aspx

Try Taco sauce

http://cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/cleaningcopper.html

or lemons with salt

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...tural_way.html

Of course you will need some sort of bracket to keep your lemons from rolling down the copper valley and off the roof.

neolitic · 05-01-2009, 11:25 AM

Too bad they can't trade with
some of the folks who want
instant verdigris.

I usually tell them that we can
scrub it new every 6 months
and turn their 100 year roof into
a 20 year roof for a nice price.

Lemon juice.

tom m · 05-01-2009, 03:14 PM

TACO Sauce?....who knew. That will look real proffesional.

Darwin · 05-01-2009, 03:39 PM

Sand it down real good--with no.2 medium sandpaper...

**Ed the Roofer** · 05-01-2009, 03:46 PM

I have already checked out Copper.Org and found some of the suggestions, but I wanted remind myself of what could work and for how long it would last.

Would it get that Aqua Greenish Blue Hue back in about 6-12 months?

I want to be fairly accurate on this. If they have 5 years of bright peny to deep brown, then it may be feasible, but if less than one year, I want them to know that up front and not waste their money.

I can get Bright Penny Pac-Clad from Peterson Aluminum Corporation, which is real close to me, or Berridge, which also has a facility near by, but do those Kynar 500 Copper Simulated Coatings also weather like real copper?

Ed

rbsremodeling · 05-01-2009, 04:19 PM

We use brasso and there is another product we get from the marine shop but the name escapes me right now.

It will be back to green in 6-12 months

WarnerConstInc. · 05-01-2009, 04:21 PM

Second what Rory said. It takes about six months around here before it goes to a dark brown color and then to green.

nEighter · 05-01-2009, 04:31 PM

you going to use a buffer? If I had to do something like that I would definitely use a buffing wheel.

Mike Finley · 05-01-2009, 05:34 PM

Be cheaper to paint it gold. Krylon is your friend.

Tell em' it's supposed to look like it has a patina, that's so their neighbors and everybody who drives by will know they are high rollers spent the big dough.

boman47k · 05-01-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom m

TACO Sauce?....who knew. That will look real proffesional.

I started to mention tabasco sauce when I first read this post. Figured I might get a good hoohah. Besides it may be very expensive for enough to do this job, and I do not know what, if any, long lasting effects there may be.

Anyway, ever drip a drop of tabasco sauce on a dirty penny? Try it and do not rub it. Watch the spot turn new looking. Makes you wonder about ingesting that stuff!

TurnkeyConst · 05-01-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom m

TACO Sauce?....who knew. That will look real proffesional.

Gotta Have something to clean it with and get neighbors attention so first
.... clean with 15 gallons of taco sauce and get the neighborhood smelling like a fast food joint moved in then......

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

Be cheaper to paint it gold. Krylon is your friend.

Tell em' it's supposed to look like it has a patina, that's so their neighbors and everybody who drives by will know they are high rollers spent the big dough.

once painted gold make sure you get over-spray on the overhangs and gutters to make sure it looks like a cheap fast food - high roller joint!

....Good Luck

cleveman · 05-01-2009, 09:39 PM

Oh piss on it.

apehangeralfy · 05-02-2009, 07:57 PM

Once you get it looking like new you can clear coat it. I know that Seal-o-flex clear top caot can be rolled on and it will last... for a few years anyhow. I know of one we did 3 years ago that still looks good and it is close to the beach. We put the coating on it in sheets before shearing, after breaking we re-coated before installing and touched up any nicks during installation...

I would think that if you used a good quality auto clear-coat using spray gun it would last as long as the clear coat would....

The problem with this is that you get 1 shot at doing it right, once you put the clear on to re-polish you need to remove the clear coat...

tomstruble · 05-03-2009, 12:20 AM

scrap the real copper and install that phoney looking copper colored aluminum roof panels

**genecarp** · 05-03-2009, 10:23 AM

Ed, i just came across this in my files, interesting products, I would give these guys a call for sure. G

http://www.sciencecompany.com/patina...naformulas.htm