Not to say I have delved into this widely as yet. My research proved that there are so many different ways to produce sometimes surprising colours. For the sake of this blog, though, I thought it would be more fun – and accessible – to explore what household chemicals can do to create patinas. Metal Veneers is a brand new, extra specially formulated real metal paint range, guaranteed to be easy to use for even the most discombobulated novice paint user. Our carefully guarded recipe combines real metal elements to provide the very best pure metal finish for patrons with even the most exacting of tastes. Our liquid metal paint method allows you to coat almost any surface in a layer of real metal paint to give you the most natural metallic finish on the market. Step 3 – Mix the powder and medium together well. And voila! You have just made your own DIY Patina Paint! Pretty easy, huh? We believe our metal Veneers range could well be known as the steam punk paint. At Metal Veneers we have fallen in love with Steam punk style. Our custom filled spray cans allow just about anyone to achieve a metal effect in their own home. Unlike other metal effect paints, each product in the Metal Veneers range contains real metal to get the very best metallic appearance. You can make just about any solid surface look like it really is made completely out of metal. I love seeing a plain, boring, dull bit of metal transform into something beautiful. Chemistry truly is one of nature’s decorators. It’s fascinating how you can achieve different colours using different chemicals.

In addition, make sure you handle the chemicals used to patina the metals in a very well ventilated space, and wear skin, lung and eye protection at all time. Never mix chemicals unless you know what you are doing. Forms of brass have been thought to have been used since prehistoric times though the chemistry behind the alloys was not properly understood until after the medieval period when they were finally thought of as metals. There are references to brass in both the King James Bible and in Shakespearean English and before that the Romans the romans used it to mint some of their coinage. Once you have achieved a patina you like, rinse off your piece with water to prevetn further patination and leave it to dry completely. With this technique, it’s not so bad if the surface is a bit rough, because the paint will cover it, and the patina process always adds a lot of texture anyway.Step 1 – Measure out the powder into a cup. The amount you will need will depend on the size of your project. If in doubt, mix a small amount to begin with – you can easily mix more. Copper - Copper is a pure chemical element known to scientists by the symbol Cu. It is a soft, malleable metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. It has a famously red/orange colour and oxidises to form a green colour when weathered. It is a pure metal found in nature with some experts thinking it was the first metal to be used by humans - around 8000BC! Copper is one of only four elemental metals with a natural colour that is not grey or silver. Many compounds containing copper have a bright blue or green colour which has been widely used throughout history as a pigment. It is essential for all living things as part of respiration and is even found in the blood of mollusks and crustaceans giving their blood a blue color. Because of its lustrous appearance it was often associated with the Greek goddesses Aphrodite and Venus, with the association being carried through to medieval times where alchemists used the same symbol for copper as for Venus and the female form.

Iron - Iron has been used since ancient times to produce everything from cooking pots to weapons. By mass it is the Earths most common element, playing a key role in both the Earth's crust and it's metallic core. Iron is actually thought to be the sixth most abundant element in the universe, creating Mars's distinctive red surface and being the base for around 1 in 20 meteorites. It is the main ingredient in steel, which uses carbon to make steel 1000 times stronger than pure iron. Steel and other iron compounds are by far the most prevalent metals used in industry, due to their large range of desirable industrial properties and the widespread abundance of naturally occurring iron ore. Pure iron used in industry is known as either wrought iron or cast iron depending on the method used to process it. Wrought iron is iron that has been heated and then worked into a shape whereas cast iron is heated to its melting point and then poured as a liquid into a pre-made mould.Use Lime Sulphur (you can also use liver of Sulphur) with Bronze, Copper or Brass. For a FAST Rust Patina: Well, that’s all folks. Whew! That was a fun ride, and I really enjoyed my little journey around how to patina. I really hope you get inspired to try some of these methods out, and please do show me your own efforts. I love to see what you guys get up to. Here are my recommendations for how to patina metals based on my experiments: Colours: For a Deep, Bright Turquoise and Blue Verdigris: Buildings accentuated by metal manage to look modern whilst standing the test of time. From great obelisks of rusted metal pointing up into the clouds to distinguished brass plates giving traditional buildings that extra bit of curb appeal, metal has been long used in the architecture world to really cement the style of a structure. With our magnificent antiquing solution, you can make a building look like it has been in place for years whilst giving is a stand out, contemporary look. Choose a natural, satin style metal finish or the vivid shades that rust and aged copper provide. Give your structure gravitas in the blink of an eye! Steam Punk Paint

A clear, water based medium, such as acrylic glaze, a pouring medium, water based varnish or you an even use a PVA glue such as Mod Podge. I’m going to call this the binder. Approximately 3 parts by weight. Bronze - Bronze is an alloy made up of primarily copper and tin. Depending on any other additives, the resulting alloy can be harder than copper alone or have increased stiffness or ductility. Discovery of this allow began the time known as the bronze age, making it easier for prehistoric people to make hard tools, weapons and building materials. Originally these tools were made of a mixture of copper and arsenic, known as arsenic bronze with the earliest examples coming from the Iranian plateau in around 5000 BC. Earliest examples of what we think of as bronze now, with tin being used instead of arsenic come from around 3000BC and were much easier to cast and stronger. I decided to use four metals that are most commonly used when fabricating household decor: Bronze, Iron, Copper and Brass. A Safety Note: Cast Iron - Cast iron was first used by the Chinese though became much more widely available in Europe in medieval times. In the 1700's a coke fired blast furnace was invented which made cast iron production much cheaper and lead to the beginnings of the industrial revolution. As iron became more plentiful and cheaper, it became a major component in industry and structural engineering with the first iron bridge being completed in 1778. Patination and rusting are, at it’s simplest, the result of oxidation of the metal. Some chemicals can accelerate the oxidation alongside other chemicals.Use Bronze, Copper or Brass with White Wine Vinegar and an Ammonia Chamber. For a Light Turquoise Verdigris: I’ve been experimenting with how to patina using DIY patina paint and household chemicals, and I have to say, it’s absolutely fascinating – and fun! Keen gardeners can create beautiful objects to compliment their green-fingered world with our real metal range. The warm tones of copper flatter the great outdoors’ emerald hues perfectly. Be the toast of the garden design world and complete a rugged, industrial look with the greys of Iron and Tin. Artists