I have been making fine silver earrings with Keumboo that I like to
patina. Inevitably, even if I dip both pieces in the solution at the
same time one comes up brown and the other comes up blue. Now I
recognize that patina in LOS is hard to control and some variances
are acceptable and nice but they are so different. It seems like once
that happens no matter how long I keep it in the solution it just
won’t match. Has anyone else had this problem or know of any
solutions?
Grace Stokes
Hi Grace:
I am a novice, but I was wondering if a possible solution may be to
make the earrings as one piece and do the cutting apart after the
patina. What I mean is, if for example, the earrings were going to be
rectangular, why not make one larger rectangle that has a centerline
in the Keumboo pattern. After all LOS is finished, cut down this
center line in the pattern. If I am correct, you would then have 2
earrings which were the mirror image of eachother. I wish I could
draw a picture of what I mean, but I hope it is clear.
Best of luck,
Kim Starbard
Cove Beads
How are you applying your Liver of Suphur. You mention dipping – but
what is heated, the metal or the solution?
I like to heat the metal (jewelry) and apply the liver of sulphur
with a paintbrush.
The different colors you’re getting may be to differences in
temperature.
Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
Inevitably, even if I dip both pieces in the solution at the same time one comes up brown and the other comes up blue.
I usually get mine to match by keeping a dish of cold water right by
the warm patina pot and I first heat the earrings under warm running
water, dip immediately and then into the cold, clear water. It
always seems to work for me.
Donna in VA
The process I use to patina is to scrub the piece with pumice powder
till the piece is clean. I then mix a small amount of liver of
sulfur, and I have a glass of very hot water, (or use a steamer,)
dip the piece into the hot water and use a q-tip, dip in los, scrub
the piece, dip in the hot water, continue till it gets to the color
you want. When you dip in hot water after applying los, the color
changes a little bit at a time. If you do not like the color,
rescrub with pumice powder, start over.
Be aware that the color is temporary (although it might last years),
and anything you apply to protect the color, changes the color. The
more polluted the air where you live, the faster it completely
patinates to black.
I can only tell you my method, which is to be sure the silver is
clean, then have a bowl of hot/warm water, let your pieces warm up in
this bowl, then have a bowl of the liver of sulphur solution and a
dribble of cool water running in the background… I dip the warmed
up silver pieces in the LOS, quickly, then rinse under cool water,
then dip again and rinse again, repeatedly until you achieve the
color you want. It does no good to “let it soak” in LOS, it’s the dip
& rinse that develops the layers of colors. There will be variations
in each piece, but I bet it will be more consistent.
Good luck.
Laura
How are you applying your Liver of Suphur. You mention dipping -- but what is heated, the metal or the solution?
Elaine, I have tried both ways - perhaps there is less room for
temperature mismatch by heating the pieces - it seems I have had
this problem either way. I have also tried running the pieces under
warm water and then brushing on the patina and I still get
mismatches. It doesn’t happen all the time but often enough to cause
problems. So far, from responses it doesn’t sound like anyone else
ever has this problem - there must be some variable, something I am
doing differently which is causing it. Do you clean your pieces
before applying patina?? Maybe I am leaving a crucial step out ??
Also, do you use any additives, such as amonia? And I am not applying
LOS to PMC, rather Fine Silver but I don’t think that should make the
difference. Terribly frustrated…
Grace S.
Thanks for the creative suggestion Kim! The problem with 'de-taching’
them after the patina would be the that the cutting and filing of the
once attached edge would reveal the metal and expose a burred edge so
the patina would get messed up and have to be touched up.
Grace S.
Hi Grace,
I use the Iridescent Patina that Katherine Palochak made famous, and
have always gotten matching patinas.
In fact, to be different, I purposely create different patinas. After
the first dip in the patina, I dry the piece off and use a small
buffing wheel on my Foredom to buff back down to the silver. I dip
again, dry, and buff another small spot down to the silver. Ever seen
a brindle colored dog? I have Brindle Iridescent Patinas…
I have a patina with all shades of Iridescence and varying patterns.
After the patina, I make a very weak solution of Lacquer, mix it
about 20 % Lacquer and 80% Lacquer Thinner, and dip the piece in it
to keep it from oxidizing and it gives it a beautiful shine.
People love them.
You can find Katherine’s formula for success at:
Love and God Bless
-randy
Grace, I rutinely do a dozen pairs of earrings at a time and I
haven’t had your problem. I make the earrings out of fine which has
been rolled through the mill with a dry leaf. After soldering the
hook on and pickling, I rinse and then use a glass brush with a
little dish soap to brush away the “frosted” surface. I think the
glass brush also roughs up the surface in a uniform manner. I keep
my warm patina in a small crock pot and dip both earrings at the same
time (I run them under hot water just before dipping). I do use
ammonia and salt with the los.
Donna in VA
problems. So far, from responses it doesn't sound like anyone else ever has this problem
Yep, I’ve never had this problem.
- there must be some variable, something I am doing differently which is causing it. Do you clean your pieces before applying patina?? Maybe I am leaving a crucial step out ?? Also, do you use any additives, such as amonia?
Yes, pieces should be clean and polished. Patina is the very, very
last step. No, I don’t use ammonia unless I’m doing the iridescent
plan ala Katherine P.
I like the suggestion of a previous poster, use ice water to stop
the action and dip both earrings at the same time (put them on a wire
maybe). As I said, I don’t normally dip, but in this case it seems
like a good idea to try to solve your problem.
If all else fails, you could use a different product, such as Black
Max.
Good luck!
Elaine
Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com ™
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay
Grace, I have to ask if you polish your piece before applying the
patina? I find that I get more mismatched pieces if I try to patina
after polishing. I find the best results when I remove the the piece
from the pickle and immediately heat it, and apply LOS. The level of
blackness can be stopped by dipping into water with baking soda.
That’s interesting Rita, Most of the responses have indicated that
they clean their pieces prior to doing the patina. I have done
everything as I have read I was supposed to do it including dipping
the pieces at the same time into the same liquid. It is very
puzzling, but I will keep experimenting.
Grace