Zinc and Patinia

by Mary
(Louisville, Ky)

The patinia will not stick to the zinc what can I do.

Answer

Make sure the zinc is absolutely clean before you use patina on it. Most zinc comes with an oily coating (sometimes you aren't aware of it) that acts as a barrier between the zinc and the patina.

I do not use zinc, so I can't give you any advice from my own experience, but here are a couple of ways to clean the zinc and apply the patina visitors to my web site have suggested.

1:
Use a Scotch Brite pad and vinegar to scrub the zinc before applying black patina.

2:
* Rub the zinc came with fine steel wool untill the zinc is shiny.
* Then apply patina for lead on the corners and anywhere else you have soldered the zinc to the panel.
* Next, apply wax to the zinc came and buff off.
* Then place your panel on something that will lift it off the table (like a box) and apply zinc patina generously all along the frame and rub it with a soft cloth till shiny.

I hope one of these two techniques will work for you.