Polishing copper

[emroyjewels]

What's the best way to polish copper and get that lovely warm orangey colour? I'm starting with copper sheet, which has a nice patina to it, stamping and then oxidising.

When I try and polish with a pro polish pad (which does wonders for silver!), it adds a greyish tinge to the copper, and removes that lovely warm layer.

What should I be using instead to get that high shine?

Updated to add: I only have my hands, no fancy tools like polishing motors and the like, so need something I can do manually, even if it takes hours!

Many thanks!

[Dennis]

Your grey tinge might be just residual polish, so try washing with detergent or liquid soap. Following your post I tried Brasso wadding and that worked well. for a duller finish I can also suggest a wet and soapy brass brush which will leave the recesses patinated. The kind they sell in shoe repairers will do. Please let us know the result, Dennis.

[emroyjewels]

Thanks Dennis, I hopped along to Wilkinsons and bought myself some brasso wadding. It polished the copper, so it's definitely all clean and shiny.

BUT it's still a paleish grey-orange, rather than the deep orange I was trying to get back to.

I'm not sure if it's just me, because hubby thinks it looks pretty, and my camera makes it look a lovely colour, but its still much paler than it was when I first started!

It's pretty, and servicable and I'm sure my customer will love it, but the perfectionist in me is disappointed I can't work out how to get that elusive orange shade. I'm scared to post a picture because you'll all think I'm a loony as I know my camera makes it look good, but it's not right for me. Argh!

[wheely]

Personally I think it's cute, and looks lovely and shiny. I know what you mean though about the frustration of not achieving the finish you want.

[Di Sandland]

application of heat would 'redden' it up a bit

[mizgeorge]

it will darken very quickly if you just leave it in air for a little while. When it reaches the shade you like, a quick coat of renaissance wax will help stop it from oxidising further. I avoid heating finished pieces it as it can soften the metal too much in the process.