FAQ'S, QUESTIONS & ANSWERS, TIPS & TRICKS, Uncategorized

Steel Patinas – Shelf Life

Posted on by BILL WORDEN
12
Nov

Question:

 

Hi Bill,

1:  Can your patinas be applied to steel that has been polished to a extremely smooth surface?

2:  Can a patina surface be polished with jewelers rouge? How much would Mig welding/plasma cutting affect a patina?

3:  And, what is the shelf life of the mixed copper patina?  (COPPER F/X™ Steel Patina)

Thanks,

Emmett

 

 

Answer:

 
Hi Emmett,
Yes, the patinas will work well on a highly polished surface.   If using rouge, be sure you remove all of the residual oil with ground pumice or a powdered abrasive cleaner.   Do not use any solvents to clean the steel prior to patination.  
There is No Shelf Life on properly stored patinas.    Just keep them away from extended periods of direct sunlight or full-spectrum indoor lighting & they will work the same in 5 yrs. as they do when they’re brand new.
Welding, flame-cutting or plasma-cutting after patination is not advised.   The HAZ (Heat-Affected-Zone) will discolor the patinas.    The patinas will work just fine over your welds, as long as you’re not using Stainless Steel filler material e.g., wire, rod, etc.
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

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