How to Age Copper

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It can take five or more years for atmospheric conditions to produce a copper patina, but you can produce an attractive artificial patina in a much shorter time.

Warning
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.

Did You Know?
Did you know? Copper is second only to silver in its ability to conduct electricity, and is an excellent conductor of heat.