Verdigris 2013 - Scraping Pigment

I finally made the time to scrap the verdigris off the copper tube, while the rest of the house took a nap.

Every verdigris covered tube smelled faintly of vinegar.

The white vinegar produced dark green crystals on the tube, that were the most difficult to scrape off. The scrapped pigment was a teal color. The white vinegar copper tube was left with a dull, dark appearance.  From appearance, the white vinegar produced the least amount of verdigris.

Verdigris made with White Vinegar

The wine vinegar produced teal to medium green verdigris on the tube and when scraped off, the pigment was the same teal color as the white vinegar.  The tube was covered with raised areas giving it a really rough appearance that came off in chunks when scrapped. The wine vinegar copper tube was left dull, with a light rust color.

Verdigris made with Wine Vinegar

The apple cider vinegar produced the same teal to medium green verdigris as the wine vinegar.  The verdigris was smoother than the wine vinegar, but scraped off just as easy. From appearance, the apple cider vinegar produced less than the wine vinegar, but that could also have been from the dunk it took, while getting it out of the container.  Apple cider vinegar also left it’s copper tube, dull with a light rust color.

Verdigris made with Apple Cider Vinegar

Future verdigris experiment ideas include using a homemade vinegar to see if the different acidic strength would change anything.  Also, making some salt green and some soap green.