| When
two people are at one in their inmost hearts, they shatter even
the strength of iron or bronze; and when two people understand
each other in their inmost hearts; their words are sweet and
strong like the fragrance of orchids. - I Ching
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| How
to care for bronze |
| If the
Statue of Liberty is bronze, why is it green? |
Bronze alloys contain
copper. When bronze oxidizes (comes in contact with water
and oxygen) or “rusts,” the process causes the bronze to turn
a green color. The Statue of Liberty is green - due to oxidation.
Once oxidized, this verdigris crystalline layer (called a
‘passivation layer’) actually protects, and seals the metal
from additional corrosion. Hence, the Statue of Liberty stays
green.
Go to historical parks such as Monument Avenue, in Richmond
VA, Washington DC, Gettysburg PA, or NYC’s avenues of art,
you’ll see that the bronze sculptures, of famous American
soldiers, mascots, and even some fountains, are green. Other
monuments are rich brownish bronze. The difference between
the two finishes is whether the park has decided to preserve
the bronze with wax, or let it go natural (“verdigris”). |
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| What is patina? |
| Today’s bronze art
objects come from the foundry with a chemical patina (green
film). This protective layer changes the outside metal structure
to prevent corrosion. Foundries may also add wax, lacquer, or
urethane coatings to protect the valued warm bronze color |
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| How long does it take for
bronze to get verd? |
| In direct sun, un-maintained and
exposed to the weather….more than of 5-10 years (slightly shorter
on the beach with salt water spray). |
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| How can I let my bronze
naturally turn verdigris? |
| Placing your mascot or statue outdoors
will naturally cause it to turn green, verd or verdigris (green
patina). Many people find this antique patina of green desirable,
and may want to quickly customize their bronze using a tinted
finish. Today, many foundries actually acid-etch the metal,
to give the effect of antique verdigris. |
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| How can I keep my bronze
the same original color? |
| Simply paste wax your monument
every year or coat with clear Permalac ?, urethane, or lacquer
spray. |
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| What about white spots? |
When you first get your bronze,
borax powder - used in casting - can look like crystals. The
borax may be still in the metal, but not visible until it gets
wet. If you see these crystals, simply wash them off, or clean
with paste wax.
You may also see some white spots due to residual ceramic material
from casting. Again, simply clean it up with paste wax, and
touch up the color with Kiwi wax.
After bringing your bronze home, high calcium levels in the
water often cause white spots – especially in fountains. This
happens often in locations with heavy mineral content. Remove
the spots using a good paste wax, and use de-mineralizing chemicals
to treat the water. (Note: De-mineralizing agents can be found
in most pool supply stores.) |
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| What kind of paste wax is
recommended for bronze? |
Do not use automobile paste-waxes,
as these will permanently damage bronze. Johnson’s, Boston,
or any non-abrasive, natural paste waxes are recommended.
For quick and shiny cleanups, use a spray-after-wash auto detailer
that contains only wax. |
| Can I use tinted paste wax? |
| Some foundries use Kiwi shoe paste, which comes
in brown, black, cordovan, and oxblood, to create a reddish-brown
tint and add depth. This can be done at home. However, it’s
not advisable to use it where a heavy coat of wax has already
been applied by the foundry. |
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| How long does bronze last?
|
| Almost forever! Archeologists are still discovering
Greek and Roman bronze from the Mediterranean Sea, dating thousands
of years ago. Interestingly, the very word verdigris comes from
the word “verd” (Old French: green) and “di gris” (Latin: of
Greece). These artifacts are still in good and identifiable
condition. |
| How can I repair damage
or scratches to my bronze? |
| For minor touch ups to your bronze art, refinishing
kits, metal chemical patinas, and color-solvent dyes are available
on the Internet (search under “bronze refinishing kits”). |
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| Bronze is the mirror
of the form; wine, of the heart - Aeschylus |
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