Even matt black finish on Silver

What is the best way to achieve an even, matt black finish on flat
sheet silver? I have tried liver of sulphur, but get an uneven,
patchy finish every time. Sometimes the black even goes green in a
type of patina finish - what am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any advice on this.

Regards,

Sarah
Botswana
Ndoro Silver
@Designconsultancy

Hello there,

I use a product called ‘Blitz Beits’ which comes in a bottle. Warm
up the silver sheet and brush on the product. Repeat until you get
the finish that you want.

Hope this helps!

Hi,

In the UK I use a product called ‘Platinol’, which produces a matt
black finish. It doesm’t streak and produces an even colour all
over. I don’t know if you can get in in the States, but you could
try Rio’s, Midas Black Max. I know from experience it is very
difficult to achieve an all over blaqck with LOS, and it will
usually go through a range of colours, so much depends on the
temperature of the metal, the age of the LOS and various other
factores. Much better to go for an oxidizing solution.

Hopes this helps
Barbara
www.silverunicorndesigns.co.uk

Dear Sarah

What is the best way to achieve an even, matt black finish on flat
sheet silver? I have tried liver of sulphur, but get an uneven,
patchy finish every time. Sometimes the black even goes green in a
type of patina finish - what am I doing wrong? 

First of all be sure that your piece is absolutely clean. Even the
smallest amount of finger grease or similar will affect the outcome.

Next go very slow with the process, i.e. use a cold solution on a
cold workpiece and a very dilute solution. Dip your workpiece for a
minute or so, take it up and rinse it under running water, scratch
brush it with a brass brush, dip, rinse and brush again and again
till you have reached the colour you want. This process works for me,
either with liver of sulphur or a commercial product named “oxylen
oxyd” which I suspect contains selenium sulphide.

Hope this works and let us hear your results. Happy dipping.

Niels Lovschal
Contemporary and Viking Age Jewellery
Classes in Jewellery Techniques
Bornholm, Denmark

Sarah,

What is the best way to achieve an even, matt black finish on flat
sheet silver? I have tried liver of sulphur, but get an uneven,
patchy finish every time.

The surface to be treated must be absolutely clean. I ultrasonic my
work, steam it and then electoclean it as if I were plating it. Sheet
is especially vulnerable to dirt, oil and grease because so much
surface area is visible. The cleaner you can get the metal the more
even the effect will be.

L Seiger