”Hi Bill, I have a customer who wants two nice bright copper steel faced signs that are 24″ x 84″ I just ordered COPPER F/X™ from you. Can I get a nice bright finish using it alone? Also, I ordered cold rolled steel to avoid the muriatic acid bath.. Will the COPPER F/X™ Work Okay Using the 120 Grit Flap Disks Alone? Thanks, Bill!”
Jim H.
A:
Hi Jim,
120-Grit Flap-Discs will be just fine. The shinier you get the steel, the shinier the copper-plating with the COPPER F/X™ will be. After the patina is applied & dried, it will need to be clear-coated, but you probably already knew that.
If you have any other questions, please let me know. And remember, when doing larger pieces (anything over 6 sq. ft. is my rule of thumb), apply an even mist of the COPPER F/X™ quickly, leave in contact with the steel no longer than 10-20 seconds, then quickly rinse with a soft shower or mist setting on your garden hose nozzle.
It REALLY helps on larger jobs if you’ll use the Pressure Pump Sprayer, as opposed to the Trigger Sprayers. You can cover a lot more area in less time, which is really important when copper-plating.
50-Oz. Pump Pressurized Sprayer
16 & 32 Oz. Trigger Spray Bottles
Thanks,
Bill
BILL WORDEN
My name is Bill Worden. I am the founder & owner of STEEL F/X Patinas, which began officially in the fall of 2006.
I had my first exposure to metal-finishing when I was 14 yrs. old. (1968)
My Chemistry teacher showed me how to silver-plate a copper penny without heat or electricity. The whole process, which I found incredibly cool, took only a minute or two. I was hooked on what could be done chemically, to transform the surface of varying metals.
I have been a metalsmith since 1972, working with precious metals originally, and currently focusing primarily on CNC cut steel art and chemically induced Color Case-Hardening of firearms & custom knives.
I have developed many steel patina formulas that react safely with the steel to bring out a myriad of colors & effects without hiding the polished steel beneath.
I have also developed a one-of-a-kind patina, (STAINLESS F/X™), which works equally well on Stainless Steel, Carbon Steel & Copper.
My greatest reward is teaching & helping other metal artisans to produce finished products that are beyond the norm of painting or powder-coating.
I truly love working in the lab, experimenting with what will work & developing new products.
Many of my customers, in a very short time, have become masters of steel patinas on their own work and are producing some heirloom quality works of art!
I live in St. George, Utah with my wife, Kris and my two sons, Tyler & Trevor..
I welcome your calls & emails & will do my very best to provide you with all the help & product innovation possible.
The STEEL F/X® PATINAS Company Motto is "KAI-ZEN", a Japanese word that loosely translates to: "CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT"
Thank you for helping to make STEEL F/X® PATINAS a Reality...Without all of my loyal customers, we wouldn't exist. Keep Up The Good Work!
Bill D. Worden,
STEEL F/X®, LLC
(STEEL F/X® PATINAS)
1.800.710.1273