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I’m having trouble with patina for zinc not taking evenly. I clean my work well with soap and water. Dry well,then steel wool until shinny while wearing new gloves, and the patina does not take evenly it looks terrible
Answer
Patina for zinc has been a problem for most people that try it. The easiest way to get around the problem is to tin the zinc, before you put it on your panel (because it’s easier). After the panel is finished, just use the same patina on the zinc that you use on the rest of the panel.
Some people resort to painting the zinc black with Rustoleum paint.
If you browse through the submissions on the Copper Foil Questions, you will find other questions about zinc and patina and other things to try.
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Patina for Zinc Came Questions
do you have the contact information for the State of the Art, Inc for their black patina for zinc?
any other tips for making the color more even?
Answer
I did a Google search and there are several places with that name, so your best bet is to do a search, read what each place has to offer and go from there. I had never heard of them before you asked this question.
As for getting the patina on evenly, make sure the zinc is free of flux, oil and oxidation before applying the patina. To do that, go over the zinc with fine steel wool or bronze wool, then wipe it down with alcohol before you apply the patina.
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patina zinc
I’m having a problem getting my patina to take on Zinc. I use zinc patina. My lead patina works great, so I feel it has something to do with a step I might be leaving out.
Answer
Hi,
Patina for zinc has been discussed several times in the copper foil question and answer section. Go here to read a lengthy discussion that should answer your question.
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patina on lead came with zinc frame
by Sharon
(East Alton, IL)
The black patina takes on the lead, not the zinc.
Answer
I need more information before I can answer your question. Are you using lead came or copper foil? I know you said lead, but many people refer to solder, on copper foil, as lead. What color patina are you using?
You can either answer in the comments section below, or submit a new question.
Patina for Zinc Came
Do you have a reliable method of getting zinc came to turn black with patina? I have tried everything I can find on the internet about it, but mine usually turns out splotchy. I wonder if it needs more cleaning, but I clean until it feels like my arms might fall off. Any help would be appreciated.
Answer
Hi,
I have so little experience with zinc (I’m a lead came fan) that I can not answer your question from a professional viewpoint. However, I keep a notebook of useful information that I have read on various stained glass forums. I have several responses to the zinc patina problem. Perhaps one of these answers will help you:
*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!
*You can use black paint, rather than patina, to get a crisp, black color on zinc. A brand that works well is Tremclad, an oil base paint. It will paint over rust and doesn’t need a primer. Model paints that are lacquer based are also good and they dry completely in 3 mins.
*My glass shop had a great tip for using zinc and it works so well.
- Finish your panel and frame with zinc came.
- Rub the came with 00 steel wool till shiny.
- Apply patina for lead 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.
*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 that Product should make the zinc black, so 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.
I hope one of those answers will solve your problem
Zinc and Patinia
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.
Patina on Zinc
I have a lot of trouble with putting any patina on the zinc framing on my projects. I have used special patina for zinc but it does not work. Is there anyway for me to get my frame to match the patina on my solder lines? Thanks
Hi,
This has been discussed several times just recently. You can find those discussions at Patina Problems or Patina For Zinc Came. There are also several comments, on those page, with suggestions that other viewers have made.
If you have more questions about it, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Problems with Patina
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,
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:
- 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!
- 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. - 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.
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