Patination of copper.

[Araich]

I've been TIG welding up some thin copper sheet and pipe, and incorporating into a bronze sculpture. I've welded the copper and bronze together. Anyway, I'm just curious about members experiences with patinating copper, and if the patina will hold under wax like bronze.

My intention is just to use potassium sulfide (liver) and ferric nitrate, and probably a beeswax.

[warren01]

I use liver of sulphur all the time on copper. Works great, just like any other time make a strong batch and it turns dark brown, weak batch gives a more orange copper color. I use Butchers Wax and no problem. The whole process is the same as doing with bronze.

[Araich]

Thanks Warren. I found it almost identical to bronze with a basic patina. In fact it is hard to tell what is bronze and what is copper in the work (below).

[warren01]

Robert, glad that it worked okay for you. Just guessing but the lower rounded piece and the small box copper? What is the size of this piece? Nice lines.

warren

[iron ant]

Nice sculpture,did you use a tri gas and silicon bronze rod to marry the materials?Copper is an animal in it's own right when it comes to fabricating.Silver soder will weld stainless to it though.

mini metal man

[Araich]

Thanks :)
I just used pure (99%) argon and a silicon bronze filler (mostly just fused though).
The rod on the top and the pipe outer at the base are copper. I've found the copper pretty easy to weld really, just draws a great deal of heat.
This work above is my first ever fabricated bronze piece, and probably suffered somewhat because of my focus on technique over form. It's only small.
The bronze is 5-6% phosphor bronze - as silicon bronze is impossible to buy here in anything but foundry ingots. It is driving me mad, even phosphor bronze is hard to find and very expensive. If I can find the money I will try and import something from the US. Suggestions?

[ExNihiloStudio]

http://www.atlasmetal.com/

[iron ant]

silicon bronze is high dollar,around 500 bucks for a 16 gauge sheet,but it is beautiful metal and welds like butter.If this is your first bronze fab ,you did an excellent job.Maybe someone could ship you some drop offs from a fab shop or junk yard?

[Araich]

Thanks Eric. I've found it an easy material to work with so far - but I still need time to settle into it, as clearly it has had an effect on my work.

Here is my second one, just finished. Phosphor bronze, copper and polished stainless steel.

[iron ant]

I love the balance,form ,and petina of your work.What is the scale?They would make great models to be blown up huge to complement a corporate or private collection.Do you have gallery representation in the US?How is sculpture looked at in "Foster" land,and are there a lot of artist there?

[Araich]

:)

They're only shy of 2 foot tall. I think that after a couple more (and when I get a metal roller) I will be into the swing of things.

I wish that I had representation in the US. It is something that I aspire to. I've done plenty of shipping and know that it can be done. But finding the right kind of dealer, one that has a passion for my work, well that is another thing. I might start with some size limited group shows, but I cannot even find those!

Sculpture does OK here in Australia, there are a few amazing talents, and a handful of supportive galleries. Museums and public galleries are largely a joke, they'd generally rather show a 19th century painting or a couch made of pubic hair - than a object that might require the viewer to think, or have some basic sculpture history knowledge. They only come to the party after you are dead, and then for only one sculptor a generation.
However, private collectors are another thing. There are many, many great collections and some serious thinkers buying sculpture here. It is a limited market in a way that Americans cannot really imagine, but one that forces you to take a hard look at the work that you make.

[sculptorsam]

Beautiful works. I predict they won't be taking up space in your studio for very long at all. :)