Ron Young is an expert on patina. He has a website for his company, Sculpt Nouveau. Most patina designed for bronze can be used on copper. His book is very informative and not too expensive. He also offers sample kits on his website and you can e-mail questions.
Good luck!
49,
Symptoms and effects of copper toxicity include metal fume fever,sneezing, nausea, and possible renal (I recall that to be kidney) damage. I hope that was part of your question.
Now I go on...
Many of these kinds of toxic metals- lead, ferrous or ferric iron (remember your radical ions?),mercury, nickel, zinc,cadmium,cobalt and some others can be effectively detoxified by a chemical process (chelation), which causes the toxic element to form a stable chemical bond with the chelating agent and permit the toxic elements to be excreted safely by the body. The cure could be more dangerous than the metals, so it might be a subject you want to discuss with your doctor next time you get a check-up... and oh-yah... you can't take it orally.
On a slightly different tangent, I doubt the effects of the Cu coating on your tig rod are any more severe than the Cu on my MIG wire. I dont think any of us are aware of adverse effects from it in anyone we know. On the other hand, I dont know what the Cu actually DOES on these consumables (I guess it's supposed to inhibit corrosion but you can't proove it by me)
Best advice you already know is to follow Bill Clinton's example and not inhale.
I close on the footnote that I'd like to have a concise table of (respirator) mask filter media and the toxic agents for which they are effective. Anyone know where I can download, borrow, or buy one?
Regards,
d