The mysterious Patina and metal finishes game

Happy day All,

After seeing a you tube short of Jason doing some patina “experiments” it seem pertinant to create this topic. As a custom metal finish “magician” I have spent the last 26 years learning and implimenting all sorts of custom finishes on Steel, zinc, pewter, copper, bronze, brass, strainless steel, Aluminum, and stuff I’m not thinking of. First off I will offer one of my coveted resourses. “Sculpt Nouvea” https://sculptnouveau.com/ check out there website check out there you tube video’s. Beyond that this only scratches the surface and truth be told experience teaches the most. Natural finishes are extremely tricky and environmental contidions such as temperature, humidity, mind state, etc all play a part. Just as a hint for these finishes random outcomes are less difficult than uniform finishes. These require putting on and taking it off and putting it back on again (sort of etching the material). Lacquer sealers make spot repair near impossible unless you are ok with your oats after they come back out of the horse etc. etc.

Cheers for now

P.s. I look forward to learning from you

I use Sculpt Nouveau’s Japanese Brown all the time. It’s my most requested finish for artsy pieces.

Hey Scratch. Thats cool. Do you have just one finish you generate from that one or multiple? What is your surface prep like for that? I like that brown alot i get very consistent results with it. I have found by applying it cold while the material is cold for short periods of time i can get a really nice brass like goldish coloring and when i put is on warm material and dry it off with a propane torch I can get a dark brown that is more of a darkened bronze. Many variations in between and then depending the sealer used so many choices to choose from.

Thanks for the input

Ive found that the japanese brown doesn’t do well with mil scale so ilike to remove that, or at least some of it first, then acetone, then apply. I like the mottled look it gives.
I bought one of their sample kits that have about 50 small bottles of a bunch of their finishes. I cant remember the ones i like the best of hand though.

1 Like