Has anyone ever worked with a silver oxidizer used with PMC, called
MaxBlack? I did an Internet search and came up with only one mention
from a magazine article on PMC.
Nothing in Ganoksin archives.
Thanks, K. Hennesey
Celtic Cat Designs
Has anyone ever worked with a silver oxidizer used with PMC, called MaxBlack?
If you mean BlackMax, yes I’ve used it a lot. You don’t say what
your question is, but it works just fine.
Noel
My partner in crime in the PMC class placed her pieces in a zip lock
baggie along with two peeled halves of a near hard boiled egg. In
the morning the ilver objects were nicely blackened.
Terrie
I have used Max Black and, as a matter of fact, still have a bottle
somewhere. If BLACK patina is what you want, Max Black will be
there to give it to you!!! If you use it, be SURE to clean the back
of your piece thoroughly because it has a tendency to rub off on
skin and clothes unless you seal it with Renaissance Wax or clean it
well. I prefer the good old Liver of Sulphur. If you will go to
the Ganoksin Library and look for Patinas on Silver, there is a
WONDERFUL article on controlling the colors of LOS and LOS will take
you all the way to black, if that’s what you want. That article has
created great joy amongst my PMC friends.
Ann, in Powell, TN, who LOVES PMC almost as much as her husband,
kiddles and white Shepherd
My partner in crime in the PMC class placed her pieces in a ziplock baggie along with two peeled halves of a near hard boiled egg. In the morning the ilver objects were nicely blackened.
Terri: Sounds good - question - Did this method produce a black
that was deep and that held up over a reasonable period of time? Or
did it fade easily? K
To all - I have used max Black, but have found liver of sulpher a,
better sloution to a nice blue black patina - oh yes I have been
making PMC pendants & earings for about a year and a half now, but
I don’t use a kiln (have two ) I fire mine by torch, & I know
exactly how hot the peice is and hold the peice at temp for 12 min.
I have never had a peice crack (maybe just luck) I am in a fine arts
gallery in Salinas and the PMC does sell! As well as planished
chains and Enamels - yes having experience with metalsmithing,
casting, Enameling and pottery is a definite + I love the material
Aileen
Hello,
I don’t recommend MaxBlack or any chemical oxidizer for pmc work.
Liver of Sulfur is much better. You can use MaxBlack but you should
nuturalize well afterwards. MaxBlack is available from Rio Grande.
Shahasp Valentine
www.precieux.com
Hi gang,
A word of caution should be noted regarding the oxidization of PMC.
Remember that PMC is porous so it “drinks” and retains the chemical
and it remains active. The PMC piece should be put in the ultrasonic
cleaner for a minimum of fifteen minutes to neutralize and remove the
chemical after oxidation.
A vivid example of the active chemical still in PMC was brought to
my attention one day when I was showing some new PMC work to my
husband. We were in the studio I had on a long dress; I was seated
and laid some of the work on my lap for him to see. The fabric under
each piece discolored as the work came into contact with the dress. I
was amazed.
Blessings to All,
Cathy Wheless
Kay, It did not fade last I saw. We were in a weekend workshop and
have been distracted with the two eight week silver classes we are
taking.
It did not appear real black black, but rather darkened.
Have you ever inadvertently left a rubber band anywhere near your
silver? I have a piece of bead wire that was fastened with a rubber
band, it is a very interesting gold tinged black. I have yet to try
to get it back to appearing as silver.
I’ll keep you posted after I speak with her Tuesday evening.
Terrie
Have you ever inadvertently left a rubber band anywhere near your silver? I have a piece of bead wire that was fastened with a rubber band, it is a very interesting gold tinged black. I have yet to try to get it back to appearing as silver."
Tarnish from the sulfur in the rubber, perhaps?
-pm
I think it’s called Black Max. I don’t use it, it contains a scary
ingredient that I don’t recall at the moment, but it has a pretty
serious warning on the bottle.
Why not use good old Liver of Sulphur? Need instructions? I can
post them for you.
~Elaine
Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
Studio 925; established 1992
@E_Luther
Liver of sulfer does not do well on PMC, which is fine silver.
Liver of sulfer does not do well on PMC, which is fine silver.
I have used liver of sulfer with great results on pmc. why do you
say it doesn’t do well?
cathy
I’m sure I won’t be the only PMC user to reply to this comment, but
I just finished using Liver of Sulfur on 18 completed pendants last
night, all made from standard PMC. Using the instructions located
in the Ganoksin library for Irridescent Patination using LOS, I have
some of the most lucious colors I have ever seen–irridescent
turquoise, gold, blue, green and grey.
I know it’s a matter of taste, but the only thing I EVER got from
Black Max was . . . well . . . BLACK! And if that is your
preference, then Black Max is your product.
Liver of Sulfur on PMC does work and works well. I don’t know about
other forms of fine silver but I suspect that this miracle material
called PMC has many properties that set it apart from the
traditionally accepted norms for fine silver.
Smiles and happy Tennessee sunshine!
Hello,
A bit of misappeared in another posting to Orchid Forum
Re: liver of sulphur and Precious Metal Clay and I want to offer the
correct LOS works beautifully with PMC and other metal
clays (as well as with fine silver in general). I include patinating
with LOS in all my workshops (check out my teaching schedule on
<pmcguild.com> General Classes listings).
After removing the metal from the kiln and cooling it, first, brass
brush the metal with a drop of liquid dishwashing detergent, to
brighten the surface. With PMC one should burnish the metal (via
tumbling with steel shot… the easiest method) before patinating
with LOS to prevent future gradual intensifying of the patina due to
the low density of the sintered metal. At this point you might want
to polish/finish the surface completely. Then go on to patina with
LOS.
Use a slightly weaker LOS solution than one would use for sterling,
using a warm solution and warming the metal itself under hot running
water. Be sure to actively ventilate (a fan, not just an open
window, that moves the air away from your nose) the area.
Dip the metal in the solution, rinse, dip, etc., alternating a dip
in the solution with a rinse under hot running water until the
desired patina coloration has been reached. This prevents an abrupt
darkening of the metal and allows one to have some control over the
patination process.
Wash off the metal when the desired color has been achieved. I
occasionally will rinse the metal in my ultrasound with a few drops
of soapy household ammonia for just a minute or two.
One can achieve, using this method, all the range of colors possible
with LOS in addition to deep gray with Precious Metal Clay. After
patinating, the metal can be wiped with a bit of olive oil and fine
grade pumice on a 100% cotton rag to emphasize the raised areas, or
may be brass brushed or tumbled again with a resulting all-over
patinated surface.
Hope this helps to dispel any myths about using Liver of Sulphur to
patinate metal clays.
For more on using Precious Metal Clay, check out
<pmcguild.com> and join the PMC Guild to receive the newsletter,
Studio PMC, a useful and juicy periodical containing updates on
techniques and a gallery section in each issue.
Linda Kaye-Moses
I have used liver of sulfer with great results on pmc. why do you say it doesn't do well?
Are you using any special technique?
I’ve had wonderful results using LOS with PMC! Rich coloration, no
problems. And if you don’t like the results, just refire and start
over.
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
Susan K. Hughes
San Antonio, TX 78210-1237
susan@wordwright.com
I’ve been working with PMC for about four years and use hydrocloric
acid solutions aka Black Max, Silver Black all the time. It works
great. Use it full strength for a very dark black color or dilute it
with a little water to soften the color to a pewter gray or lighter.
Just be sure to neutralize with a baking soda/water bath. I turn on
the tap and pour it down the drain to dispose of. Leave the water
running for a couple of minutes to be sure the stuff is fully diluted.
I’m glad to see interest in Metal Clay in this wonderful community.
It’s a great new medium which we’re all still learning about.
Lora Hart ~
Liver of sulfer does not do well on PMC, which is fine silver.
I use Liver of sulphur all the time on PMC and it works great.
Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
Studio 925; established 1992
@E_Luther