How to age copper sekigane

[Japan2112]

Hi all,

I have an iron tsuba that had been overcleaned. The iron, not so bad, but the sekigane is bright and clean.

I plan to hang it in my outdoor screened porch for sun and weather to patinate. I expect that this will get it done in a month or two.

Does anyone have experience with any way to enhance this process?  I wouldn't mind the sukashi or iron itself to age a little.

 

Thanks all,

 

Mark C. 

[ROKUJURO]

Hang it on Ford Hallam's porch, that will work.

[Japan2112]

ha ha. It's not that far gone.

[vajo]

Marc the sekigane is normal patinated with rokusho a patination powder.

 

Here is an interesting article.

 

Japanese-irogane-alloys-and-patination.pdf (ganoksin.com)

[Steves87]

I can't seem to find the source, but I have heard people rubbing boiled egg yoke on them

[Japan2112]

Thank you, all. It has been recommended to try some options out on an old penny... good advise

[Geraint]

Better yet a bit of copper wire.  Coinage is never copper as it is too soft, whereas the sekigane almost certainly are.

 

All the best.

[Curran]

Mark,

 

Here in Florida, just leave it under an overhang on the porch. Don't try to accelerate it.

 I had a lot of scrap copper over here from various house and art projects. You can do all sorts of things. I advise you don't. Florida atmosphere chemistry does 'real good' all on its own.

 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Same here, in Hawaii. I have a shelf in my bathroom that's open to the tradewinds, & it has 3 tsuba repatinating, right now.

 

Great article, Chris- - thanks!

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning Gentlemen,

 

The term used for hanging Tsuba etc under the eaves for natural patination is Nokishita    軒下      のきした 

[vajo]

I thought he meant only the copper sekigane not the whole tsuba? 😀

 

 

Rokusho Patinated

 

 

[Ford Hallam]

Seki-gane in iron can't be patinated in a rokusho or any copper salt solution because of the galvanic action that is created between the copper and the iron. What you get instead is a seriously problematic copper flash plating on the iron. 

 

Best bet is to just leave it alone, time will do a better job than most amature fussing.

[Japan2112]

Hanging it in my Florida screened porch it is. Thanks again, all.