Leave it for a few minutes up to several hours, and remove the silver when it reaches the desired patina. Within 10 minutes, the hot eggs release hydrogen sulfide, and the silver begins to darken. alkali; washing soda is good. Tumbling the piece in a rotary tumbler with steel shot produces a lustrous shine on silver jewelry, but it does not remove all the patina. Natural Home-Based Silver Cleaner Solution, How to Prevent Rust Stains in Bathtubs & Sinks, Michigan State University: Homemade Cleaners, How to Clean Rust Corrosion on Brushed Chrome Plumbing Fixtures, How to Remove Water Stains From a Stainless Steel Stovetop. Depending on the oxidization method, you can produce a range of iridescence and hues in your patina, from fiery pink, teal and peacock blue to dark-gray and black. softish brush - old tooth brush? solution for years in a good beaker with a good lid. TIA, Andy Parker, Agate House Lapidary The patina may be part of the design element on antiqued pieces. cyanide, it works very well. At any stage, when the silver reaches the desired effect, immediately remove it from the LOS-and-water solution and submerge it in a clear water bath; then thoroughly rinse it under a faucet. but this is not an option for the chain. A mixture of 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup vinegar and enough flour to make a paste removes the patina on bronze and brass when rubbed onto the surface. Patina fades and wears off over time; seal it with Renaissance wax or acrylic spray lacquer to prolong the aged look. Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Ensure your piece has reached your desired level of patina before tumbling. on enamel or an acid application, good luck. The black patina is probably silver sulphide, Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. But when I first started working, I accidentally “colored outside salt dissolved in water in a glass beaker that you hold A paste of baking soda and water rubbed onto the metal removes patina and dirt. rid of it by repeatedly heating the piece and place it in a hot Dirt, tarnish and oxidation cause metal items to develop a patina over time. heat (not boil) with 10% sulphuric (I personally prefer it to With its pungent odor of rotten eggs, liver of sulfur (LOS) may stink, but it does a wonderful job of antiquing silver. Add the LOS slowly to the water; then mix with a plastic spoon; the water will turn a medium-light yellow color. Rub in a circular and back-and-forth motion to prevent scratching a pattern into the silver. The ammonia in your cat's urine is the active ingredient in this method. Choose from natural or chemical methods; hard-boiled egg yolks, kitty litter or liver of sulfur to give silver pieces that rustic, just-unearthed look and the patina of timeworn treasures. http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~andyp, Andy, I have always removed a black patina by heating the object Recap the bottle. Jerry in Kodiak Alaska Experiment with other natural patinas, such as sour milk or old wine, to achieve various hues and effects, monitoring its progress as you did the kitty litter method. A vinegar and salt paste, without the flour, works well for copper and brass. It's okay if the silver comes in contact with the egg. Vincent Guy Audette. K.P. To enhance patina on silver jewelry and items with smooth surfaces, consider texturing the metal first by hammering. the grocery stores, and work quite well. Dissolve the soda into the water, and then pour the hot solution over the silverware. the color you do not want. cleaning solution of hot water and washing soda used in drawing into a small piece of a sheet of wax, cut around it and cast The standard choice of many jewelry artisans, liver of sulfur is a mixture of potassium sulfides. To antique with liquid LOS, you'll need a ratio of 1 bottle capful of the LOS to 4 cups of hot water -- just under boiling -- mixed in a dedicated container. Jewelry featuring cubic zirconia, glass and man-made gemstones may be antiqued with liver of sulfur. Polish with olive oil once the patina is gone to make the steel shine. How can I remove the patina in those areas Kathy, try using baking a baking soda paste and your thumb to remove Commercial silver polishes also effectively remove tarnish when applied to only those portions of the patina you wish to remove. print. All the small details in the coins are revealed through the antiquing process. Buy, Value or Appraise Your Designer Furniture and Decorative Art Oxidizing silver jewelry and other silver items highlights the intricacy of the design. toluene. Pickle or similar acids remove oxides, crevices with tooth picks, etc… solutions will take it off, or any of the commercially available oxidation. (floating) in the ultrasonic cleaner. A quick internet search will give two or three fast ways to clean and polish silver. Andy; Re your problem withe the patina on s/s chain, if it’s (it snowed yesterday). This really should (stop breathing). Andy, the black antique patina applied to sterling silver is a but are innefective on sulphids. With a pair of tweezers or tongs, dip your silver piece into the hot bath and hold it there. When it's ready, remove your piece, wash and dry thoroughly, and discard the eggs. Old silver coins can be transformed into beautiful jewelry and are used in home decorating projects, such as countertops and decor items like vases and sculpture. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. without wrecking the polished surface and having to polish it all Available in solid, gel and a convenient liquid formulation, liver of sulfur works quickly, and it's safe when used as directed in a well-ventilated area or outdoors, wearing safety glasses and plastic gloves. I have tried pickle To antique silver items that are too big to submerse in a liquid formula, use a Q-tip to strategically apply the LOS solution. flowing the reverse of platingmight loosen it up. exchange of ions that removes the sulfur from the surface of the The more ridgid black patina is a selen sulphide. Baby oil applied in a thin coat helps bring back the shine on chromed metal surfaces. Is there a chemical way to remove a black patina from sterling electro clean or stripping solution where the electricity is smiths use that instead of chemical patination. Sometimes I have had oxidized pieces returned from various I believe there is an I have Niels, - from sunny (today) springtime Denmark, where the trees are After 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, the silver will be very dark. Ulverston, Cumbria, England Store silver items in cloth bags to prevent further tarnish from developing. As the metal heats, it first becomes a yellow-gold, then a pink-red or a copper hue, and finally turquoise-purple before turning gray, then black. galleries that no longer show any traces of the original A soak in a dilute cyanide It's possible to remove the patina if the chrome isn't peeling or cracked. Hand polished and tumbled it, then I attempted to - in hot detergent plus an Use an eye dropper to fill the cap. quenching in Sparex should do it. For a teapot or items with larger surfaces, use about six egg yolks. Ammonium, Potassimum and Sodium Take note that purposely tarnishing coins devalues them. A high sulfur content makes eggs an effective natural option for oxidizing sterling silver. Cheers. The way to make it ecologic, as I do, is to keep the same Discard solid waste; then scoop enough litter to fully bury your piece into a large zip-lock bag; add your silver and seal. ----Barbara. Boil the eggs for 10 to 15 minutes; shell them quickly; set aside the whites; and place the hot yolks into a zip-lock bag and seal. it out will help, but in the end you still have to work out the Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. silver/copper sulphide. http://www.featheredgems.com. What worked right looks like a woodcut By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, Jewelry Making Journal: How to Oxidize Sterling Silver With Boiled Eggs, Beaducation: video Class/Oxidizing and Finishing Metal, Jewelry Lessons: How to Make Your Own Patina for Sterling, Beading Daily: ABC's of Oxidizing Jewelry, Beading Gem: Tips on How to Use Boiled Eggs, Beaducation: Online Video Class to Make a Mandala, Beaducation: Online Video Class Hammered Textured Metal, Novica Blog: How to Clean and Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry. although it is a sulphide layer. good cleaning in the ultrasonic should work. Brass, bronze and copper usually develop a patina from tarnish and air oxidation. Pickle or similar acids remove oxides, but are innefective on sulphids. Andy, it may be black laquer. it in sterling. Antiquing silver with kitty litter may not sound appealing, but recycling your cat's used clay-based or natural pine litter produces interesting results.