custom metal coating

January 2019

United States Capitol Visitor Center – Days 7-10

2019-01-25T16:02:51-07:00January 25th, 2019|How we do it|

Readying and Applying Metal Patina Day 7: January 22, 2009. With the spray application of LuminOre® Bronze completed, the outer frame project is nearing the half-way point. The sprayed metal requires some time to cure and fully harden prior to the finishing steps. Despite the frigid temperatures, shop heat is left at 74 degrees overnight to aid the process. We can’t wait to see the gas bill for this month. During the cure process, the metal coating develops a bit of a sticky glaze on the outside which must be removed before patination and final finishing. Again, mostly hand work. We usually remove the glaze with a light abrasive blast, and this was no exception. Some of day 7 is spent sandblasting, but the remainder of our time is used to hand-tune the frame surface so we have a nice even metal base that will take the patina and give [...]

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How to Patina, Part I

2019-01-22T10:28:13-07:00January 21st, 2019|Metal Coated|

What is Patina? Commonly pronounced in the US as pa tee’ne, or puh tee’nuh”. Most broadly defined as the observed and physical change in a surface over time caused by exposure to oxygen or other environmental elements and compounds. Hilton Resort, Hawaii On metal, it is the film of corrosion on the surface caused primarily by the reaction of the metal with oxygen. To put it in perspective, think of an old penny, a rusty pipe, or the Statue of Liberty. However, there is more to it; The natural rate of change depends upon the aggressiveness of the environment. Since the level of pollutants, rainfall, and acidity vary locally, the rate, chemical make-up, and therefore the color and depth of the patina will also vary. Rates of patina build-up and color will change year-to-year, and even seasonally. Paris Door Knob Patina is not confined to metal. It can also refer [...]

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Why LuminOre®

2019-01-29T12:12:13-07:00January 16th, 2019|Metal Coated|

With the exception of a few paints used to add a splash of color, our signs and plaques are metal-coated using the patented LuminOre® advanced composite metalizing process. Janey Freid is the founder and current principle of both Metal Facades and Atlas Signs and Plaques. Janey’s background is decorative faux finishing utilizing paints, glazes, plasters and leafs applied using many European techniques and tools. Janey expanded from faux finishing and enjoyed great success in interior and exterior decorative concrete acid staining and finishing and now has grown to selling signs all over the world. Custom Sign for Bark of the Town   Most of Janey’s experience revolved around coatings or altering the look of a common surface into the uncommonly beautiful. A search for metal finishes led to LuminOre. Research showed that LuminOre was not the only manufacturer of liquid metal coating, but all the others were pretenders [...]

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