Gold or Brass Colored Patina for Solder Joints?

by Dave Barber
(Rockton, Il )

I recently installed a front door w/ a nice stained glass panel from the factory. I have made panels for my side lights using foil and solder. The facotory window has gold (brass) finish and I would like to duplicate this on my side lights. Any suggestions on a patina would be great. The doors solder joints are gold colored.

Answer

Unfortunately there is no gold patina. Copper is the closest color you'll find.

You could have the panels gold plated, or you could use gold leaf paint or a gold paint pen.

If the door panel is lead, you could recolor the solder joints to make them copper, then use copper patina on the sidelights. However, most factory made doors with stained glass, enclose the stained glass between clear glass making it impossible to get to the stained glass panel.

Perhaps someone reading this has a suggestion. If so, they will put it in the comments section below.