Taking Care of Copper Instincts Furniture

At Copper Instincts, we seal all of our copper with clear paste wax (copper should never be sealed with lacquer). To preserve the finish and to keep the copper sealed and protected against spills and oxidation, a thin coat of clear paste wax should be applied to the copper every few weeks, or as needed (when water no longer beads upon the surface). We like clear Briwax best, but Johnson’s, Minwax, or any other clear paste wax is fine.

First, apply a very thin coat of any commercially available furniture or wood floor paste wax; let dry for five to ten minutes. Then, you should buff to a glossy sheen using a clean, dry cotton cloth. Each additional thin coat of wax makes the copper look richer and more beautiful.

What if my copper furniture becomes scratched or stained?

Don't worry! Copper is an amazing material that tends to heal itself over time with exposure to moisture in the air. Remember that the color tones in Copper Instincts’ copper are fired directly into the copper. If the copper gets scratched or stained it’s only the micro surface that’s been affected, and the wax sealer probably was removed as well. 

The best thing to do is leave the affected area alone and let it be exposed to the air until the copper begins to regain its original color (just like how a shiny copper penny turns brown). The amount of time required for this process varies, but it is typically on the order of a few weeks. Once the affected area has healed itself and the original color tones have recovered, the copper should be sealed again with paste wax to preserve and protect the finish.  Though the scratch will not technically be removed, it will not be visible once it turns back to the original color.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT apply any metal polishes to the copper as those will temporarily strip off the patina on the surface of the copper.