Metal Casting Zone

Hello Everyone ,

I'd like to try solving a question that frequents my mind for a longer time ,since I got interested in bell castings and art castings :

Which colours are possible for Bronze??(I don't mean paint colours )
I've seen objects in silver ,grey,golden,black &all of them were not painted!
Is it possible to influence the colour of bronze??Or how does it occure that all those objects come out in very different colours?

Thanks!!!

hi julian i think you may be referring to patinas where the surface only is treated. its just a coating caused by a chemical reaction. most metals can have the same thing done to them.check our section "patinas" i did notice a thread on creating a silver patina on bronze there.

xlchainsaw wrote:
hi julian i think you may be referring to patinas where the surface only is treated. its just a coating caused by a chemical reaction.

agree
but the colour could depend on the alloy content
if you will compare aluminium bronze and lead bronze you will see the difference

crazymoulder wrote:
xlchainsaw wrote:
hi julian i think you may be referring to patinas where the surface only is treated. its just a coating caused by a chemical reaction.

agree
but the colour could depend on the alloy content
if you will compare aluminium bronze and lead bronze you will see the difference

Interesting facts to me,I knew bells get patina while getting older ,but that was news to me.
Just added 2 files of bells in different colours.

I was wondering, I have a large collection of copper. What are the ratios to make bronse. 50/50 tin copper? or is there more than one type. I also have gobs of lead is that a type of bronse as well lead/ copper? ratios?

dumpsterdiver wrote:
I was wondering, I have a large collection of copper. What are the ratios to make bronse. 50/50 tin copper? or is there more than one type. I also have gobs of lead is that a type of bronse as well lead/ copper? ratios?
you may find this a useful article.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze

dumpsterdiver wrote:
I was wondering, I have a large collection of copper. What are the ratios to make bronse. 50/50 tin copper? or is there more than one type. I also have gobs of lead is that a type of bronse as well lead/ copper? ratios?

try 11-13% Sn and rest Cu
lead bronze could be very different
try 4-6%Zn 4-5%Sn 4-6% Pb and rest Cu

www.awfraser.co.nz/bronze-alloy.html

there is a list of alloys we are making and you can have find a chemical composition on that page
for lead bronze pick LG2 stuff, LB4, LB2,EMS 403, EMS 201

for classic tin bronze pick 907

The typical brass we use would probably be plumbing parts. It's usually 60% Cu, 40% Zn, or 60/37/3% Pb.
I use 20 mule team borax or graphite as a cover.