Problems with Patina

by Jennifer Pierce
(Centreville, Maryland, U.S.A.)

I often use a zinc border on my copper foiled panels. I use patina specifically for solder on all of my solder lines and joints and then use patina made for zinc on the border. I have read and applied all of the tips on this website for using patina, but I still have a problem with the zinc patina - it just doesn't seem to do much. It more makes the zinc look spotty and discolored. Maybe my patina or zinc is "bad"???? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.


Answer

Hi Jennifer,

To be honest, I have never found a patina that works well on zinc. Most professionals tin the zinc first, before putting it around the panel, and apply the same patina they use on solder.

I have made a file of tips that people have given, on various stained glass forums, over quite a few years. I have not tried any of the following myself, but for what they are worth, here are the tips I have saved for applying patina to zinc. I'm sorry that I didn't save the names of the people that gave these tips so I could give them credit:

1. To blacken the zinc frame on a leaded glass piece: use a "Scotchbrite" pad and vinegar to scrub the zinc before applying the chemical blackener. That works very well!

2. Cleaning the zinc with steel wool may eliminate the streaky patina; however, I don't think there are many who have had any success with Patina For Zinc. In theory the Product should make the zinc black, however, it doesn't. Here are two different ways to get a black finish on zinc.
(1) Lay a thin coating of solder over the zinc and then it will take the same black patina as your solder lines.
(2) Use JAX Copper Plate on the zinc. It will produce a black patina on zinc. If you want a pewter finish on the solder and zinc, JAX Pewter Black works well at producing an even finish on both zinc and solder. In any case I find that cleaning the zinc is essential to a good patina application.

3. Rub the zinc with 00 steel wool till shiny. Apply patina for solder on corners or where ever you have soldered and rinse thoroughly. Apply compound cream or wax to your whole project including all the zinc came. Follow normal waxing procedures and buff off. Place your framed glass up on a box or something to lift it off the table and apply zinc patina generously all along the frame and rub it with a soft cloth till shiny. I cannot believe what a good job this makes.


I hope one of these tips will help you. Let us know what works for you. I'm sure everyone reading this would be interested.