How can I refinish my bronze Thai statues

Pamela
by Pamela
A few years ago I bought some green finish bronze Thai statues. After years in the sun they are going black. Which product can I use to restore them to the original green color?
Thai pics
  9 answers
  • Lyn Buerger Lyn Buerger on Jun 26, 2017

    My thought is that this is a natural process so let nature take it's own path. Lean to love the aging process. You will be wrinkles and they get new colors. If you try to clean and start the petina process again who know what you will get. Try painting them and you will have other problems. I think they are lovely and just becoming more mature.

  • C. D. Scallan C. D. Scallan on Jun 26, 2017

    Try white toothpaste and an old toothbrush .

  • Molly Anmar Molly Anmar on Jun 26, 2017

    Have you tried washing them? The green finish is natural oxidation. The black could be mildew or mold

  • Michele Pappagallo Michele Pappagallo on Jun 26, 2017

    Yes, I agree. This is part of the aging process and they are obtaining a natural patina. If you paint them, the weather will eventually cause the paint to fade and peel, and you will most likely have a huge mess on your hands.

  • Gale O'Neal Gale O'Neal on Jun 26, 2017

    Clean that Bronze:

    1. 1) Rinse your bronze items in warm water, and dry thoroughly.
    2. 2) Place about 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small dish.
    3. 3) Drizzle a small amount of lemon juice onto the baking soda and mix until a soft paste forms (start out with just a little lemon juice and add more as needed).
  • Virginia Virginia on Jun 26, 2017

    The Thinker is an iconic bronze cast (and it just so happens that my alma mater, University of Louisville, has the very first cast of Rodin's sculpture). At my university, the original bronze had gone green and various other aging processes that obscured its original beauty. It took either one or two years to clean and restore this beautiful sculpture to its original bronze base. A group of university students made a painstaking process to clean The Thinker, and now it stands in all its original glory.


    If your statue is bronze, then you may be looking at a long and tedious restoration process. If you are up to this, you might call your local university art department and see what information you can get. You might also call your county extension service to see if they can point you in the right direction.


    Much good work to you.

  • Altalunastudio Altalunastudio on Jun 26, 2017

    I would not paint them; it makes sense to simply clean them. Once you paint an antique "anything", you substantially reduce its value. they are beautiful!

  • Chu Race Chu Race on Jun 28, 2017

    You can get how to from this link http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Metal-Rust.

  • Pamela Pamela on Jun 28, 2017

    Thank you everyone for thoughts and advice. It is much appreciated