Expert: lyn buerger - 9/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: How long do I leave the patina on the lead and the zinc in my panels (Lead came and solder, zinc frame)?  Will the patinas (lead and/or zinc) stain or discolor the glass?

ANSWER: Your lead, zinc and solder need to be fresh.  If they are aged then buff them with steel wool; on large pieces I use a buffer on my electric drill.  The action of the petina chemicals should be immediate.  You should wipe off any excess immediately.  If the petinas are allowed to dry on the glass it will make spots (like the waterspots on your dishes) and the spots will not wipe off.  I accidently left petina on a panel once and 2 days later I noticed the spots and had to clean them off with a blade.  It was a lot of work and I never left one sitting again.  I now wipe off the excell and clean and wax the panel immediately.  I like to use Kem-0-pro.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Upon wiping off the excess patina, can you wash and rinse the panel with soap and water to stop the patina chemicals from discoloring the glass? Will the washing wash off dilute the patina finish? I also noticed that after applying back zinc patina to my zinc borders, that the patina tended to rub off slightly when I wiped excess solution from the zinc, even though I thoroughly polished the zinc with steel wool before applying the patina.  When do you apply a patina "finisher" (wax?) to complete the job?

Answer
Upon wiping off the excess patina, can you wash and rinse the panel with soap and water to stop the patina chemicals from discoloring the glass?
  No I do not "wash the piece with soap and water"  Since I use "noKorode" flux I usually wash
  the piece with alcohol. It seems to be the best removal of the flux. I put on the patina and
  then wipe off any excess.  You can leave the patina on for a while, several hours or overnight
  so it has time to do it's oxidation.  Sometimes if you clean the piece too soon you can remove
  the patina and stop the chemical reaction.  I find this to be... "sometimes it does and   
  sometimes it doesn't".  If I need to I can reapply the patina.




Will the washing wash off dilute the patina finish?
   yes washing will dilute the patina action

I also noticed that after applying back zinc patina to my zinc borders, that the patina tended to rub off slightly when I wiped excess solution from the zinc, even though I thoroughly polished the zinc with steel wool before applying the patina.
   Some patinas do removee more easily than others.  Also, the copper patina for solder
   will make the zinc more black than the "black patina" does.  I personally like the look
   of the copper patina so I rarely use anything else. I like it for all the warm colors.     

When do you apply a patina "finisher" (wax?) to complete the job?  
   I apply the finisher when I am done with the piece.  And sometimes that polish will
   remove some of the patina.  But the piece will continue to do it's own aging and Patina