Hi, I’m new to jewelry and metal work, and I have a very basic
question.
The other day I stamped and then annealed a sterling washer. After
annealing, I scrubbed the disk with fine steel wool and then then
polished with an emery-impregnated rubber disk. This left a nice dark
color in the stamped areas and a soft, shiny silver color in the
higher areas of the washer. It now looks a lot like it would if it
was treated with liver of sulfer, and I didn’t have to use any
chemicals. Is this an acceptable (durable) means of adding depth? I
would like to be able to get the patina effect without using
chemicals. I did search the site for any reference to adding color
with heat, but didn’t find anything. Any advise/comments?
Thanks much