Copper Casting / Blue Green Patina

[@jonandersen3347]

Looks fun to experiment with.

[@gstongs]

Hey Jon, Fun but just be sure to take precaution since something simple like this can easily get out of hand. Anyway, I really enjoy hammering on hot copper every so often (casting copper, not so much) and will do that more. Thanks.

[@wingnutbert9685]

That 'iridescent patina' is super cool! Reminds me of Tiffany glass.

[@gstongs]

Yeah, you describe it very well. Thanks.

[@jeffgrier8488]

I like that patina on the copper!

[@gstongs]

Me too Jeff. Thanks.

[@brettthompson5919]

Very interesting video. I really like that blue/green metallic patina! 👍 Thank you also for the shout-out!

[@gstongs]

The shout-out is the least I can do. I was able to consistently get this patina so thought it would be worth posting. Talk to you. Thanks.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nicely done on getting the colorful patina.

[@gstongs]

Now I need to put this on an actual useable item and see how it holds up. Thanks Randy.

[@brysonalden5414]

I have a long-standing history of trying to develop a reliable method for achieving specific colors on copper, and fixing them so they don't change. This long history is exactly the same length of time I have failed to do so, but I am heartened by the fact that you're trying things I haven't yet. Keep it up, Mad Scientist!

[@gstongs]

Hey Bryson, I like messing around with copper every now and then and find it's hard to be consistent with stuff like patinas. This method however proved pretty consistent for me so I figured it would be worth posting. This is an example of my amateur-hour style at its best though. Thanks for all.

[@robertwhitney2232]

Hi Glen, you never sease to amaze me with your talents. Keep up the good work. 👍🔥⚒

[@gstongs]

Hey Robert, I appreciate your support. I'll keep trying...

[@67spellcaster]

Glenn I feel you would benefit greatly by having a little greensand on hand. A poor man's recipe that I use that is consistent and reliable is a mixture of good fine dry ocean beach sand the finer the better. Mixed with about 20% by volume cheap Dollar Store plasticine. I melt mine and mix it with the sand using a drill and a bent rod. Poor Man's petrobond! Works like a charm for me. And it keeps without problems, does not even dry out and if it does a little splash of oil freshens it right up!

[@gstongs]

Hey Jay, I will have to investigate your recipe for greensand and experiment with that. It seems right up my alley - simple and easily attainable. I don't know a ton about casting and so also need to read up and learn from others. Thanks.

[@philipdunn7538]

‘….don’t put the clay in my forge as that can be pretty dangerous…’ Says you 👍 Good job Sir. That blue tint looks awesome.

[@gstongs]

Thanks Philip, I appreciate you watching and commenting.

[@danwerkman]

I have done a fair amount of copper casting and I have to admit ...I really don't enjoy it...it does not like to flow.... impurities abound etc . But .....I suddenly and very keen on that blue look you achieved... Cool tip... Thank you Glen.

[@gstongs]

I'm also not a big fan of copper casting since I'm only using this rudimentary method and am not good at it overall. But I really enjoy hammering on hot copper every now and then. Thanks Dan.

[@grahamjamieson7752]

Another top project mate

[@gstongs]

Thanks Graham.

[@danwerkman]

Hey.... Just a FYI... You can heat the copper and spray it with cupric nitrate and that gives it that awesome green patina that you may be looking for.. Polish the high points for a awesome Finnish ...

[@gstongs]

Thanks Dan for the very good info. I would never know stuff like this if not for folks like you.

[@TalRohan]

Really like the patina , I got to go look up the chemical reaction involved now :D

[@gstongs]

Good to see you again in the comment section. I was able to repeat this consistently and so thought it would be worthwhile to post. Thanks.

[@TalRohan]

@@gstongs yeah definitely that's a very cool reaction.....I wonder if it's reasonably permenant

[@wingnutbert9685]

Your recent 9" tong video was great. Judging from all that spitting from the pour, a 9 foot tong video might be in order! :D

[@gstongs]

Hey Bert, no joke - I'm not too fond of copper casting like this. Fun to try but if it was something I had to do more often I'd get better setup.

[@drason69]

That's wild! I've been working with some copper lately. I wonder if cooking spray, would work similarly? Thanks Glen! ⚒️🔥

[@gstongs]

That's a very interesting question and worth a try. Obviously be careful. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@rigidironworks9834]

That method really has a cool affect on the copper, I might have to give it try. ( At my own risk of course 😁. ) Do you still plan on doing a video covering the witches brew, or should I say warlocks brew you make that gives the copper a purple color ?

[@gstongs]

Hey Mike, I was planning to incorporate how to achieve that purple color in this video but I didn't have the oil (cooking oil) I needed on hand. I haven't forgotten and will get around to that. Thanks.

[@ronthacker211]

Adding Aluminum powder to a Snowball bush will turn the flowers Blue. Wonder what it would do, adding it to Copper? I can't find any info online. Be careful!!!

[@67spellcaster]

Adding aluminum to Copper during a melt at the rate of about 9 are 10% by weight produces aluminum bronze. It is a similar colour to Brass perhaps not quite as lustrous. But very hard and resistant to corrosion.

[@gstongs]

Hey Ron, I'm sure you know but with any of this, just be careful since we never know what reactions might occur. I'll shout you out in my next video (post later today) for your generous donation. Thanks.

[@gstongs]

Thanks Jay for giving a detailed response.

[@jamesshelton534]

Have been gathering up random brass pieces to melt down. Can I do it in my gas forge in a steel crucible ( homemade) vrs having to buy one?

[@element1693]

I’m curious about this too. I’ve set up electrolysis with a copper sulfate solution to purify the copper, but now I have a bunch of powdered copper instead of solid brass

[@67spellcaster]

You certainly can melt in a steel Crucible. But you do have to pay attention. And after multiple melts your Crucible will fail. I use heavy steel pipe pinched at the end and welded to melt copper and brass. A pipe about an eighth of an inch thick will usually stand a few hours of melting.

[@gstongs]

Hi James and yes, you should be able to do that in your gas forge and in a steel crucible. But I have almost zero experience with brass and so just take the proper precautions. Thanks for watching.

[@jamesshelton534]

@@67spellcaster thank you

[@glen1arthur]

try sand casting next time. I think you'll get better results.

[@gstongs]

Someone else mentioned the same. I'll give it a go. Thanks Glen

[@page76metalcraft19]

Cool!!!

[@gstongs]

Something worth trying. Thanks.

[@paulorchard7960]

I smelt a lot of brass, and find any copper components in the valves always end up in the slag! Copper must be way above the melting point of brass!

[@jamesshelton534]

Paul, can I melt brass down in a steel container in my gas forge?

[@paulorchard7960]

@@jamesshelton534 Yes, thats what I use, you need to run the gas pressure at about 25 psi to get the heat though!

[@67spellcaster]

Copper is slightly higher than brass in melting temperature. But I think you will find Copper components within brass valves are likely to melt unless you're teetering right at the very edge of the temperature. The unmelted components are likely steel. Check them with a magnet to be sure.

[@gstongs]

Hi Paul, Interesting point you make and certainly useful for someone out there. Thanks.

[@jamesshelton534]

@@paulorchard7960 thanks

[@1kbs11]

Colors; I feel, you don't want to see when sweating a pipe. (JF)

[@gstongs]

Yeah, this video is not for plumbers. Thanks JF