patina recipes for iron sheet metal sculptures

[danielmk]

I am based in Southern China and do not have any legal way of receiving small quantities of premixed chemicals.

I generally work in cast bronze and am able to use these patina finishes, but I am starting to make large sculptures and do not want to bronze plate these figures.

I am interested in the gun blue finish primer and any colors that anybody knows the recipes for.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[fritchie]

If you're able to find a copy, Ron Young's book on patinas (U. S, probably about 1990 to 1995 for first edition) covers very many patinas, including those, I think. He has color pictures of each patina, with full formulas, as I remember. I can’t recall the exact title, but it is widespread in the U. S., in libraries.

[danielmk]

Thanks for the tip, I'll try and find Ron's book. I have noticed his name a lot on the net and tried contacting him, with no luck.

[JAZ]

Try www.sculpt.com. It's the website of the Compleat Sculptor store in New York City. Last year I went to a two day workshop there that Ron Young gave. There is a contact button on their site. Maybe they can pass on your questions to Ron. They also carry his books.
JAZ

[wasabi]

Does anybody know the name of this book? I would like to find a copy.


Oop, never mind. Found it.

[sculptorey]

If you are working with bronze you can make a simple but volitile mixture of bleach and ammonia. What ever you do do not inhale the mixture or combine in a container.
This combination will give you an intense tuquoise/blue patina.
1. Work outside with plenty of ventalation.
2. Cover the bronze with crushed paper-towel or wood-chips
3. Place bronze into a large heavy-duty plastic garbage bag.
4. Sprinkle bleach over the covered sculpture (to lightly saturate), place in the sun.
5. Wrap loosely in bag (for best results let sit over night).
6. Open bag and sprinkle ammonia over the sculpture; seal bag immediatly.
7. Let sit in sun.
8. Cheak for color in 1/2 hour.
9. Repeat process for more color.
The patina can be lighty steel brushed to burnish in highlights or remove as much of the color you wish.
Wax your sculpture with a good carnuba wax (w/o detergents; ie. no car wax) to protect finish.
Good luck
PS. You can also lightly use artist oil paints combined with linseed oil and turpintine. Steel brush and wax when paint sets.

[wasabi]

I just ordered some of Ron Young's patina products. Has anybody else used them? I'm working with steel and got one acid based patina and two non-acid based. I wish he did workshops in my state - those sound great.