Painting Metal with a Torch - Torch Painting Experiments

I spent yesterday playing with fire on copper. I watched Philip Cook, via Makezine create beautiful patterns on the metal. I tried to replicate his results but, failed miserably. Although, I think what I created is beautiful and I had so much fun that I thought I should share my bumbling attempts to mimic Philip's techniques.
I used copper of varying gauges. Thicker gauges required longer cool down periods. Larger pieces were easier to color than small because the metal doesn't get too hot too fast. Let the metal cool down for the best colors. You'll might not get exactly the color you want. Layer colors and shapes for added depth and interest. Butane made the best colors for me but, I loved the black petal shapes made by the acetylene torch. I think the Little Torch was too hot but, Philip Cook is using a gas/oxygen system. If the metal is raised it will cool down faster than when on a charcoal block but, I still got color while the metal was flat on the charcoal. I know nothing about this technique and will have to try it again and again! When sealing, move the pieces out of the reach of cats who will and did walk through the wet surface - leaving fur and paw prints everywhere. Most importantly of all: have fun! You can always pickle the piece and start again, if things go wrong.
This video is a record of my experiments. I am not a professional "torch painter", by any means! Hope you like the vid!
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Torches used:
Smith Little Torch - propane/O2: amzn.to/2njK2UG
Bonjour butane torch: amzn.to/2mN26CX
Goss acetylene/air: amzn.to/2njPrLt
Butane: amzn.to/2nk9vxf
Charcoal block: amzn.to/2E4fPDD
Everbrite's ProtectaClear: www.everbritec...
Philip Cook via Makezine: makezine.com/20...
Thank you for watching, liking and subscribing!!!!!!!

[@xrangersgt]

Hello! Thanks for sharing your technique. Very cool. I've been coloring my copper wall art for years and never thought about the sideways thing. One note that I learned in welding school that may augment your ability to get good color control; the hottest part of any torch flame is approx. 1/4" past the light blue feather tip (or flame bud as some folks call it) so if you bury the feather your not getting efficient heat transfer. Back your torch up so that you're always just in front of the feather tip and you'll get much better heat (and therefore color) control. As you back out from 1/4 to about 1" is where you'll get quick bright and very vibrant colors. I like to initially heat the area at @ 1- 1 1/2", and then move closer in to the feather tip and draw my designs with the feather tip slightly above the metal, you can get some really beautiful yellows and teal/turquoises in that distance variable. I find the reds and purples are in the 1/2" range, although as you noted the time of exposure is the other most critical variable. Hope to see your results if you try these tips, and thanks again!

[@benicio1967]

Britt the Cowboyzkid MacBrayer very nice of you to offer helpful advice. I learned something from it.

[@allanthompson9695]

Oh Man. Poetry at the Beach, definitely. Watching a true Artist at work within their live creative process, is truly Magical. It conveys so much more, on so many levels, than the spoken word alone. And even that, alone, is amazing. Love It.

[@Terry2fish]

I love this too. It is so fun to play and see what you get. You can easily clean the piece and start again fresh also. I watched a video by a guy and his wife in the Ozarks that do this for a living. He painted a copper butterfly he made and put matching designs on both wings. He said he puts down a brown oxidation first with a hot flame then he can get 14 different colors though usually only gets 4 on any one piece. Your pieces came out beautifully!

[@kjirstenboucher9682]

This does look fun. Definitely will have to play with it.😊

[@mimihealy5046]

Wow! For not knowing what you're doing, you made an awesome piece!!

[@elsieberrios7559]

Beautiful! Will get to practice! Thanks,and blessings.

[@debraphillips8921]

How much fun this looks

[@dominotr]

Your intro cracks me right up. I absolutely love it. makes me giggle every time

[@lauriesuzanne8848]

Whoa!! Absolutely gorgeous, Nancy! Thank you, and dearly so. Your work is immensely varied and always stunning; your tutelage smart, clearly laid out, and your sense of humor is out-of-this-world hilarious!! Yes, we LOVE YOU, Nancy L.T. Hamilton!

[@20tessyluv]

Wow that is awesome! I just annealed copper wire today for the first time and I can not wait to try this technique on my copper sheet!

[@MultiJewelryLady]

I just love what this!! Thank you so much for showing the butane, I feel like I am still in the game. I know I will try this, again thanks Nancy for sharing 💐

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Hope you are having fun! Thanks!

[@cathytubbs1726]

You want to bring it to gray first. Then let it cool at least ten minutes or more. At that point you will be able to paint various colors and patterns. You'll have more control of colors if you follow this traditional technique.

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Thanks Cathy. Since that video I've learned a lot more - it was an experiment then. You are so right! Thanks.

[@dotysu]

love love love your opening! gloves, scarfs, twirling!

[@aprilsmommy1]

OMG!!! So happy I found this video. It looks so fun. Can't wait to try it myself. Thank you :)

[@patriciajohnson7849]

Hi Nancy great job. Love that beautiful sheet of copper. Thank you again. I'll keep watching.

[@TravelingOurBestLife]

Love. Love painting flowers!!

[@JoshuaFinancialPL]

actuially just watched a man who does this professionally and he instructed to start by turning it all gray, then let the copper cool down and at that point the colors really come out . he called it flame painting. but starting with heating it all to get a uniform "purple haze" he called it. i think yourtorch is a little too small for that. he said he was running 2,000 degrees (which was low for his torch)

[@tamrasellier5902]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing this fun technique. :-)

[@debrakennamann626]

I love the center black effect!

[@Artemesia_]

I love this!

[@jillburton3708]

Stunning! And looks like a ton of fun to work with! Very cool Nancy! Love it! 💫💖💫

[@TruthDigest]

not bad at all since this is your first try ❤ excellent job

[@ginac733]

I have no clue what I'm doing either, LoL! But I did discover that if you turn it black torching it too much, fine steel wool brings it back to copper and shiny. Also, you probably already know this, but practicing on penny's is a blast!! Thank you, I should try my big butane torch now. Love the patterns you got. 🙋♥️✝️🇺🇲 So much fun!!

[@bbmartina]

This video was very informative. Thanks for sharing your processing.

[@sarahmarie1391]

I am going to have to try this. Make three larger rectangular pieces hang them on a wall. Maybe even make a wire frame for each. I LOVE this technique. Really beautiful! My hubby and I will be stealing torches from each other for sure. lol He's an artist too. Thank you sooo sooo much!

[@markgoodger4478]

What a brilliant video! Thanks for sharing ☺

[@juliel6254]

That's amazing! Can't wait to experiment with my butane torch! Thanks for all your videos! I love your style! : )

[@Melissabella]

This is so beautiful! I can't wait to try it.

[@suelynpeters1728]

I tried this with the very small tips on my Smith Little Torch and got some great stuff. Fun!

[@madisonlongwell989]

Beautiful!!

[@lucabruxa605]

Amazing

[@AlmightyGunz]

I love this! It's all about having fun! Great job for being superbly experimental : )

[@zuverlassig2jl]

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!! "In-laws obviously prefer one of their children".thanks for posting this. I'm attemptibg to learn how do this as a beginner now and want to get very good and create amazing things😁 and the background news paper story looks interesting too, lol.

[@lindalowney1404]

That was fun and they turned out quite nice in the end.

[@KalyanaDesignTutorials]

It's completely out of my domain of expertise, I don't know what you were trying to get as a result, but I personally think it's absolutely gorgeous.

[@annh3599]

Cool video Nancy! That was fun!

[@sandrarobbins4226]

Great video - love your presentations and the comments typed in. Very entertaining and informative. Thanks so much. Sandra R.

[@akdaydream53]

Oh Boy! Looks like fun.

[@Robreehl1]

This is stunning! I’m going to try it! Thanks.

[@kristi8484]

Awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@eagle3351]

I watched my first flame painting yesterday evening. The lady heated her copper until everything turned gray. She said that that oxidized the whole surface. Then she went back with a longer softer flame that had less oxygen and she drew the oxidation off the copper to get the next shade which would be the yellows into oranges. And then she turned her oxygen down more and little by little it led her into the beautiful blues. She did a small domed piece that look like a sunset over the ocean that was absolutely gorgeous

[@JT-mq6oc]

i would love to watch this too, can you tell me the lady's name please? xxx

[@Le1mermaid]

Hi Nancy!! I just have to tell you I love your videos!! They always make me laugh while learning!! It is all about the fun times right??! I talk to my kids ( students who are mostly older than me ) the same way! You make learning more betterer so thank you for that!!

[@ennis4489]

Love the intro! I enjoyed watching... Really enjoyed your humor.

[@streuthify]

I recently did some similar with a butane torch, so much fun!!! To cool down, I quenched mine into water, works well! New subscriber here, looking forward to checking out more of your content. Have a great weekend! 👋🏻🌸

[@lavendermystic]

you know I have a large piece of copper I want to experiment on blending etching and painting...now i wonder if I should try this too! It looks like so much fun!

[@crystalfabulous]

They are all beautiful

[@ZeldaTheLegendof]

Warm the metal with the Oxy-Aceylene torc, then try to do the designs with your Little Smith - the hotter flame will give you the different hues of the colours.

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

I'll try that. Thanks!

[@ZeldaTheLegendof]

Correction - Acetylene torch (not oxy-acetylene) - the torch you are using in this video. My apologies.

[@beads2yarn]

That was so amazing. So after you sealed the copper, can you still bend it for jewelry? Does the sealant crack do you know.. thank you for the fun video.. I loved it.

[@64t120r]

At welding supply stores there is a masking compound that protects the parts that aren't being welded. I wonder wonder what kind of designs you could make by masking off sections.

[@selpol2982]

thank you!!! I will experiment it...

[@jeffreyross8855]

VERY Cool!! I've been coloring copper earrings etc .. Isn't it cool!!..you can get some great effects. working on "controlling" this technique..if that's even possible. ....FUN learning new things to do!!!! I am painter first so painting w/fire is C O O L..right!

[@margaretslater5057]

Another great vid thank you for sharing.

[@ceafva]

Sorry, I missed it. What gauge copper did you use?

[@shirineromankurth1633]

I think you are have a real talent ! Thank you for sharing. I have a question though, once coated with sealer can you go back and work a little more with the torch or can’t you?

[@JT-mq6oc]

oh Nancy i love your vids. 🥰Been binging a little, i just found you this morning. thank you !! i have a question; once you sealed the pieces, did they keep their colour?

[@phenomenal_woman]

Hi Nancy, I think you are funny. Touches scare me. What I want to know is do you have to have several kinds of torches to achieve those beautiful colors? And what gage copper sheets did you use? Peace Evelyn

[@quadflopper1012]

wow that is beautiful, wished i could afford to get my tanks filled...

[@ctgardener6026]

Love! Was trying to do something like this on my copper yesterday but it kept turning grey. I need to get titanium trivets! Thanks Nancy.

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Or not! Do you have an enameling trivet or a tripod (for metalsmithing)? You can also hold it with cross-locks. I don't think the titanium trivets made that big of a difference. I did one entire piece on a charcoal block. Thanks. Good luck.

[@ctgardener6026]

What if you put the copper on stainless steel to cool quickly in between colorings? Mary Torello

[@ctgardener6026]

Also, did you prep the copper by cleaning and/or sanding? This is too cool!

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Hi! I don't think it is the titanium trivets. I think it involves how hot the metal gets. I work, now, on several pieces at a time, allowing the others to cool off. I just ordered this: Skip and Racheal's Procedural Manual on Flame Painting Copper. It is 24 pages, $30.00 US plus shipping. s240831787.onlinehome.us/copperco…/classes-and-books/ You need to email them and they let you know how to purchase. I was just experimenting in the video. These people are experts. I think the metal should have been very clean. I created my colors with dirty-ish metal - pulled out of my metal drawer with no finishing. Have fun! Thanks!

[@stlounsbury]

I agree with Nancy, it's not the trivets. You have to lightly apply the torch and watch it meticulously (or at least I do, when torching copper) and pull it back when you see colors coming, that you like. If you leave the torch on too long, you get black.

[@copperheadqueen217]

Love this!

[@laketa_renee8124]

Pretty awesome

[@nancyruth2008]

So Pretty!!!

[@flyingcheff]

stunning!

[@emailyarabrandao]

Hi. Awesome! Can this be done to steal bicycle frames? What about aluminum frames? Do you know? I havent found anything about it yet... Thanks in advance!

[@phyllisrw29]

I am going to try this

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Yeah!

[@flyingcheff]

Whoa! Mega cool!

[@catnelson3064]

Totally loving it. On a side note, is your studio in your home?

[@NancyHamiltonJewelry]

Yes Cat. Long commute. In the garage. Thank you!

[@celiabesore3298]

Fun!!

[@playgrounddolls7766]

May I ask advice for good safe torch using indoors at home? I never worked with thoose big ones and kind a scared. Can You tell about them? Wich one would be good?

[@Dharlanna]

Nancy those are gorgeous. I'd like to ask about the lighting the tip thing you had a problem with. I have a prest-o-lite torch and have been using the small tip so far. I tried to switch to the next larger tip (#3) and every single time I lit it (with a battery thingy) it came on hard and went right out. I've never had that problem, but always used to #1 tip in the past. Is there a trick to it? lol

[@jhawk8024]

Just beginner jewelry maker..earrings. What is the best gauge of copper for bracelets? I actually like the size and width of what you are using for torch painting. Where could I get those blanks? Thank you.

[@michaelvaughn2287]

I think they gray the whole surface to get an even color to work "from" and to do that I would use the large tip to bring it to gray . But beautiful.

[@niheala56]

I can't wait to try this! U are soooo much fun. I would love to hang out with you, and so talented! Can I ask how you hooked up your exhaust fan in your work shop?

[@DeerheartStudioArts]

awesome!!!

[@gerileewhite3590]

Hi, Nancy I really want to try this. A question, do you think if you put a copper bezel on this prior to applying the flame for color it would work without destroying the bezel? I was just thinking it would maybe just add a little to it? Br

[@wadesmith1968]

You won't have a problem. Copper colors react at low temperatures.

[@joannanorma]

Beaudiful

[@patriciajohnson7849]

Hay Nancy did you try map gas? I have map gas and will let you know how it works out for me .

[@huskyfluffy]

Hey Nancy, does it depend what kind of gas?

[@iceylynn4772]

Would you do this on my Motorcycle fender please?

[@jose_FitzG]

Hi Nancy. I was inspired to try this again yesterday. Great fun colouring the copper but the coating stripped the colour. Which is why stopped doing the flame colouring a couple of years ago. Same product that you are using. Everbrite Protecta clear. I have no idea why this is failing for me. Do you (or anyone reading this) have any suggestions? Cheers, Jose

[@wadesmith1968]

Hi Josephine, I have been doing this technique for many years and am considered by some, to have mastered this. When you are heating the piece up, try and heat the entire thing evenly. You are looking for that oyster color. Once you have achieved it, let the metal cool for a minute and quickly run your torch back over it. If done correctly, the color that will bleed in, will be yours to keep and it will not matter what you spray it with.

[@loristeele2102]

I would like to see if you can help me with how a certain piece of jewelry is made is there a way to message you with a photo? :)

[@annedarr1894]

Would be nice fabric

[@flyingcheff]

Only COPPER?

[@annedarr1894]

What metal?

[@johnhowell8204]

You like the camera and the camera and I like you witch

[@yvonneackermandiaz9469]

Es Rte señora Hamilton

[@annedarr1894]

A partial wall

[@lulutileguy]

very cool i doing ceiling of my shower it will not be as nice , have glass to help me thank you

[@niheala56]

One question, when you used the ProtectaClear do you go through the whole cleaning process recommended by them?

[@artistanilbkrishna7552]

❤❤

[@The3Kosmos3]

WOW!!!

[@AngelaSams]

Nancy! This is brilliant! Thank you! I can't wait to try this tomorrow! xoxo @angelaksams