A clothes iron is a good method. You just put your copper on safe surface (I use a white pine board covered in paper), then the copper, then paper again, then the iron. This yields a stable light brick-red color uniformly over the surface. I've "cooked" my copper from anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. You get pretty much the same color. I've waxed and lacquered pieces and the red remains, so far. If you pickle or sand, the color does go away, so this is really a surface only effect!
red patina
Hi Cassanda,
A clothes iron is a good method. You just put your copper on safe surface (I use a white pine board covered in paper), then the copper, then paper again, then the iron. This yields a stable light brick-red color uniformly over the surface. I've "cooked" my copper from anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. You get pretty much the same color. I've waxed and lacquered pieces and the red remains, so far. If you pickle or sand, the color does go away, so this is really a surface only effect!
Misty-Anne