how to clean exterior rust of copper pipes (green colour rust)

Legacy_user

How to clean exterior formation of green rust around copper pipes please?
I note that a type of peroxide solution is said to be most suitable. What peroxide solution exactly? Will this not corrode the pipe in any way? Any other safer or better method?

Tom99

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Its called patina and people pay a lot of money for that and think its attractive. Take a look at the Statue of Liberty.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The patina works to protect and preserve the underlying copper unlike iron which rusts and deteriorates over time.[/FONT]

Nick_C

If you do clean off the verdigris, you will need to treat the copper (clear varnish for example) or it will simply come back.

greyteam1959

Clean the pipe with fine wire wool.

FreeBear

Tom99 wrote: »

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Its called patina and people pay a lot of money for that and think its attractive. Take a look at the Statue of Liberty.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The patina works to protect and preserve the underlying copper unlike iron which rusts and deteriorates over time.[/FONT]

Depends on what is causing the "patina" or verdigris to form. If it is atmospheric containments, then nothing much to worry about. If it is being caused by acidic water from say a condensing boiler vent, then it is possible that the pipe will corrode through.

Clean the pipe off with a scotch pad from the kitchen dipped in a solution of bicarbonate of soda (wire wool might be a bit too aggressive). Then either varnish or wax the pipe to give it a bit of protection once it is dry.