Since I’ve gotten into making copper whistles, I’m learning about how to deal with the flat patina that develops with copper. I’ve gotten some feedback on what to do. Just passing it on.
1.) “Don’t do anything! The flat copper patina is a trademark of copper.”
2.) “After cleaning the copper with kitchen copper cleaner, rinse the whistle parts off with cold water. Helps preserve the copper shine longer.”
3.) “Mix a little salt with lemon juice, clean, rinse. Voila! Copper shine.”
4.) “After each play session, clean with cloth, and store the whistle in a box.” (Keltic Dead note: I’m now making wooden boxes for my copper whistles.)
5.) “After each play session, store in a cloth carry case to help preserve the shine.” (Keltic Dead note: My wife is helping me to design a cloth carry case for my copper whistle. I’m better with a drill press than the sewing machine. =^) )
We’re finally in the copper age with my whistle making. If you have any suggestions as to caring (shining) and preserving copper whistles, let me know. … Thanks.
I like to let metal do it’s own thing. To tell the truth, I find highly polished metals sort of garish except maybe on jewelery. I’d say let the whistles develop that well played patina.
I send my own whistles out with everything nice and shiny, but on personal ones I let the brass (my favorite fittings) age naturally.
I’ve made some copper whistles too, and I don’t mind the patina, I just leave it alone for the most part. But some of them have developed little green spots of corrosion. That’s what I don’t like. Any way to prevent that?
Yep. That’s the problem with letting the patina go too far. Those greenish spots. CuSO4. I noticed in the pop-ups of the forum site, that there’s a spray on polish for silver, copper, and brass that also leaves a wax coating on the copper after it’s polished. Maybe that’ll minimize the copper “rust” that occurs over time.
If anyone has tried that stuff, let us know how it works.
And … I noticed that Paul is making “C” barrels now for his whistles. … Ohhhhhh. Boy! … Now I gotta get busy and design some “C” copper barrels for my whistles. … The pressure is on. =^)
For those of you who don’t know, visit Paul’s website. He makes GREAT whistles. Keltic Dead hint.
Visit http://www.kelticdead.com: I still only make “D” copper whistles. … sigh …