Hello and welcome back!
Today I’d like to share some tips and tricks I’ve learned about creating a patina by using the Liver of Sulphur (LOS).
Sometimes I want to create a piece with an aged look with a bit of shine.
But I don’t have the time or patience to let the piece age for a long time. This is where oxidation saves the day!
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Come along and let’s see how we can achieve patina in a short time as shown in the video below.
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The Purpose of Oxidizing Wire-Wrapped Jewelry
As I mentioned in the introduction, oxidation is used to create an aged look or patina
Let’s look at the Why first and later we’ll look at the How-To.
Have you ever seen a picture of the Statue of Liberty in New York (pictured below)?
It took a few years for Lady Liberty to turn into her verdigris patina, but we don’t have the time to wait when we do wire-wrapping jewelry!
As you can see, we oxidize our wires to create a beautiful new color. If you’re curious about the oxidation process, I have written this post on how to use Liver of Sulfur as Copper Patina.
Here are a few reasons I oxidize my wire-wrapping jewelry:
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- Creating visual texture and patina—it will add an interesting element to our pieces
- Create captivating visual designs—contrasting colors of wire can add depth to our designs
- We can recreate the look of antique jewelry—sometimes the bright orange copper doesn’t blend well with your skin tone or stones. Oxidizing can create a warmer color and a better-quality piece.
- No more maintenance! Sometimes I let pieces tarnish naturally and don’t bother polishing them—let science help you create interesting pieces!
For some stunning pictures explaining the above, head over to The Wobbly Wook. Their designs are something I aspire to.
Oxidizing Methods—Using Liver of Sulphur
Benefits and Drawbacks
I have noted there are benefits and drawbacks when you oxidize jewelry.
We’ve covered benefits at the beginning already. Let’s look at some of the drawbacks quickly:
I have suffered metal cross-contamination in the past because I oxidized copper pieces in the same batch of LOS—added strange colors to my silver wire. Needless to say, I had to make the piece again…
You need to clean properly after working with LOS. All your tools and especially your rinsing sink. It will prevent rust spots that can develop over time. My old outside sink suffered because I did not clean it properly afterward.
The process takes time. One, I was in a rush, so I left my piece for a long time while having lunch. After the LOS bath the finish flaked off.
You need multiple LOS baths to obtain patina and you cannot rush it! Which takes us to my next point below:
Always use a neutralizer after bathing pieces in LOS. Rinse off the LOS residue and return to the neutralizer for a minute or two.
This will stop the oxidation process and ensure the finish stays intact.
Tips for Maintaining Shine Without Oxidation
Below are a few products and tips I use to keep my jewelry in tip-top condition if I choose not to oxidize that piece.
I wash my pieces thoroughly with warm water and Dawn liquid detergent.
Let rub it to a shine with a soft lint-free cloth. Note: this method requires regular maintenance!
For copper pieces – natural or oxidized – I polish by hand with Nu Finish car polish.
It is a polymer and not a wax and will keep your pieces shiny for a long time.
Here are some great tips you can try – I am not saying one is better than the other, I just like experimenting with options.
For nickel silver wires and pieces, I wipe them, polish with a lint free cloth and apply Nu Finish polish to shine them up.
I seldom polish my patina jewelry. I wipe them clean with denatured alcohol or xylene to ensure the surface is clean.
To Oxidize or Not to Oxidize Jewelry
The difference between oxidizing and not makes to copper!
Sometimes, accidents happen at my work desk… I ding a piece or apply too much pressure. Sometimes my hand slips and I scratch the piece.
In these cases, I’m a huge advocate of oxidizing jewelry. It will ‘mask’ the mistake and you get a cool color scheme too!
Can you notice where were the “mistakes” I made on this piece? Probably not right? since it is being “Masked” after the oxidation.
@studio73designs Tried something a little different on this piece…used my drill to twist the frame wires for extra texture. #labradoritejewelry #labradoritependant #wirewrappedpendant #wirewrappedjewelry #copperwirejewelry #copperwirewrap #necklacelovers❤️ #handcraftedjewelry #uniquejewelrydesign #festivaljewelry #witchyjewelry #witchynecklace
Other times, I want the wire’s natural color to complement the stones I’m using. Then, I would not oxidize the piece.
I like to make smaller, easy items in pairs and oxidize the one but not the other. See which you like best.
Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer. Let your creativity flow.
Until next time, happy wrapping!
