Instructions

• : Wear rubber gloves, protective clothing, and eye protection when working with commercial cleaning compounds.
• Step 1: Clean the surface Remove any dirt, oil, or grease from the surface of the copper object. They will interfere with the chemical action of the aging solution.
• TIP: Use a commercial chemical metal cleaner such as trisodium phosphate to clean the surface.
• Step 2: Prepare an ammonium chloride solution Add ammonium chloride crystals to water until no more will dissolve, and brush the solution on the thoroughly cleaned copper surface.
• TIP: Ammonium chloride crystals are sold commercially as sal ammoniac.
• Step 3: Prepare a patina solution Make a patina solution using one cup each of lemon juice, table salt, household ammonia, and vinegar
• Step 4: Apply the patina solution to the copper surface Apply the solution to the clean metal surface and allow it to react.
• FACT: Did you know? Copper is second only to silver in its ability to conduct electricity, and is an excellent conductor of heat.

You Will Need

• Protective gear
• A copper object
• A commercial metal cleaner
• Ammonium chloride crystals
• Water
• A paintbrush
• 1 c. lemon juice
• 1 c. table salt
• 1 c. household ammonia
• 1 c. vinegar
• Trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaner (optional)