How to Stop Patina on Copper

Copper is a brown metal commonly used for decoration and wiring. But over time, it starts to corrode. This turns the copper different colors, usually a red-orange or brown. Eventually, copper turns a little green; that means it is forming a layer of patina. Patina stops copper from rusting. For that reason, copper covered with patina is popular for roofs. But some people find the green color undesirable. The most famous patina green artwork is the Statue of Liberty. It began turning green around 1900. Newspapers picked up on this around 1902. The statue was completely green around 1906. While some people enjoy the green color, others enjoy the brown color.

Things You'll Need

• Large Pot
• Water
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1 cup vinegar
• Dish soap
• Soft towel

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Fill the pot with water and add salt and vinegar. The mixture makes an acid that cleans the metal.

   • 2

     Put the copper object in the water.

   • 3

     Heat the water to a boil. If the pot has zinc in it, the salt and vinegar mixture causes a reaction that will make the zinc bond with the copper, making your copper object look silver. If this happens, stop boiling and scrub off the silver.

   • 4

     Boil the object for a few hours before taking the copper object off the heat and letting it cool.

   • 5

     Wash it off with dish soap. Dry with a soft towel.