Copper gone whitish after washing.

[MortisEx]

Hi everyone. I decided to give tube mechs a go after a few regs and got a copper 4nine and derringer clone. The copper was a perfect match at the beginning and started to age together nicely. When I switched flavours I did my normal double rinse in a bowl of hot water followed by a wipe with a paper towel. I didnt reassemble everything right then but when I did the next day the outside finish of the derringer has a very strong white tone to it which doesnt rub off and hand oil wont bring it back to the normal copper tone. This didnt happen when I washed it the first time before use, only after approx 2 weeks use and 3 cotton changes when I decided to change flavours.
I did wash it at the same time as a griffin, supreme and a mutationxv2 which are all SS. Could the different metals have caused a reaction?
Should I try an acid wash or scrubbing it with a light abrasive? Any tips on washing copper atties?

 

[NealBJr]

Hi everyone. I decided to give tube mechs a go after a few regs and got a copper 4nine and derringer clone. The copper was a perfect match at the beginning and started to age together nicely. When I switched flavours I did my normal double rinse in a bowl of hot water followed by a wipe with a paper towel. I didnt reassemble everything right then but when I did the next day the outside finish of the derringer has a very strong white tone to it which doesnt rub off and hand oil wont bring it back to the normal copper tone. This didnt happen when I washed it the first time before use, only after approx 2 weeks use and 3 cotton changes when I decided to change flavours.
I did wash it at the same time as a griffin, supreme and a mutationxv2 which are all SS. Could the different metals have caused a reaction?
Should I try an acid wash or scrubbing it with a light abrasive? Any tips on washing copper atties?

could be oxidation. one little tip, and you can try it with a penny to see how it looks, is to try cleaning with... ketchup. I use ketchup to remove any oxidation. the only thing I can think of, is maybe it had some sort of coating when you got it that wore off, and now it's starting to oxidize. maybe posting pics would help.

 

[MortisEx]

Hows this? As you can see the copper body is a nice rich copper and the attie is a pasty orange white. This was not an authentic and I'm not sure if its something to do with the quality of the metal or maybe, as you said, some kind of coating that washed off. I didnt scrub it or use any chemicals or even detergent, just double wash in hot water and wipe with paper towel.

 

[NealBJr]

The derringer looks like a nice clean copper. The mod looks like it's oxidized for a bit. Give it time, and the top will change color to the rest of the mod.. but by that time, the mod would've darkened a bit more. No cleaning will darken it.

 

[Txaggiesaunt]

Being a clone, it might not be actual copper. Could be copper plated which would change color and probably eventually wear off. Just my thoughts. I'm no expert.

 

[AzPlumber]

Looks like a reaction to the minerals in the water. Same as the ketchup suggested above but a little less smelly use vinegar and salt.

 

[zoiDman]

Being a clone, it might not be actual copper. Could be copper plated which would change color and probably eventually wear off. Just my thoughts. I'm no expert.

I don't think Any Clones or Atty's are Pure Copper. Because Pure Copper is pretty soft. And things like Treads Wouldn't hold up very well.

So then it becomes what Copper Alloy is being used?

 

[BrotherBob]

Could try a Metal polish like Brasso. It is gentle on most metals, it will not scratch or mar them.

 

[sonicbomb]

Ketchup soak for 10 minutes and rinse and dry, then Brasso on both the atty and the mech. I bet you 6 internet points they will look the same.

 

[sonicbomb]

@MortisEx well, how did they turn out? I'm keen to claim my points.