Permaseal, thats the big problem. When yo seal it it just turns dark. If you don't, of course, it rusts.

Rub the wax into it after the lacquer dries? I will try it.
Thanks, Mele

yes let the lacquer dry for an hour or so and then add some wax we use rennaisance wax not sure if it is available in the states let the wax dry and buff off then re-apply more wax and keep building it up. it will give a lovely lustre.
let me know if it has given a desirable effect for you. Adrian

Spray with Insta-rust (you can see the copper color on the back of the petals) then while it is still wet burn it off with a torch. It will make a white residue first then turn dark. Later when it cools and is dry it will be yellow. If you don't seal it will go ahead and rust the next day. The trouble is when you seal it, it turns dark and stays that way. I have burned the sealer off with a torch and sprayed again with insta-rust while it was still hot and when it cools and dries it will be yellow again. I just can't find a way to keep it. The only thing about waxing it directly is that it will rub off. It seems to have something to do with the copper plate left by the Insta-rust and the heat. You can seal the copper plate color left by the Insta-rust and it will stay but not the yellow.
All this patina stuff is new to me and steel is hard to get very many different colors on. Its so hard to duplicate outcomes when you aren't using new sheet metal and your base may not be exactly the same each time.
Mele

Wow, that sounds really frustrating.

Auto laquer sounds like a good suggestion.

I'm wondering if the yellow color is the "burned spray" itself, and not actually attached to the metal? (as in, a powder sitting on top of the metal, as opposed to a chemical reaction of the surface of the metal). If this is the case, maybe some deep texturing in the petals could hold more of the yellow in the recesses, and maybe your clear coat would have an easier time sitting on top.

I don't know, but I wish you good luck with this.

~~~Julia

one more thought: maybe you are trying to stop a chemical reaction halfway through. You might need someone who knows about chemistry to help you with that. But have you tried spraying it while it is still white?

~~~Julia

I agree it is just on top of the metal not a reaction with it. The copper plate left by the insta-rust is the same, it doesn't bond until it turns to rust. I'll try you other suggestion.
Thanks for your help, Mele