Ive never heard of this. Thoughts?
1 Like
Okay, I tend to be a bit cynical when it comes to unexplainable phenomena.
Orange: citric acid and various flavor compounds. Sugar.
Pickles: vinegar, salt.
Coffee: cofee.
Salt: more salt.
Of all of the above, only the acetic acid in the vinegar and the flavor compounds in the orange are volatile, and so can travel through the air and do stuff at a distance. I haven’t tried exposing copper to vinegar fumes, but I’m sure others have, and their ruling here should be considered final.
1 Like
Here’s a quick resource from Tim McCreight, Patina Basics
There are a couple of good books that include patinas using household items, such as salt, vinegar coffe/tea and ammonia as well.
Exciting stuff,
Pam
3 Likes
Exposing copper to the fumes of acetic acid produces copper acetate, AKA verdigris.
There are lots of compounds that are, or were, made this way. Most famously, lead exposed to acetic acid fumes produces white lead, formerly used as a pigment in paints and cosmetics.
3 Likes
I see in Pam6’s link that the effect of coffee is giving ‘texture’ and subtlety to the coloration, which requires the metal to be in contact with saturated coffee grounds. Lots of good ideas there! Still, coffee won’t do diddly through fumes.
1 Like