![]() ![]() Paper towels – for a work surface that can handle the mess also to use for dabbing the patina onto the metal, and for artistically wiping off areas of the patina.Something to serve as a “painter’s palette” to squirt the patina inks onto.Optional: Manicure emery board in a fine grit – for removing areas of patina.You can also use a small chunk of #0000 steel wool (but be careful of shedding steel wool fibers sticking onto patina that’s not quite dry). Sandpaper – small square of 400-grit or finer, for removing areas of patina.I used Q-tips and tiny craft brushes from a local craft store. I used a variety of raw brass items purchased on (you can do search there for “raw brass”). Optional: Vintaj glaze for sealing or thinning the patina inks.I used Vintaj patinas, available online and in craft stores. Opaque patina inks that are made to adhere to metal.In this tutorial, I’ll show you six jewelry patina techniques using these opaque inks. Unlike most patina processes, you can precisely control the outcome of the color on your jewelry project.Īnd as you play with this type of metal coloring, you’ll enjoy finding new ways to create with it. This is an easy way to create patina effects in a variety of colors. Simply paint or dab the patina ink onto your metal. We’ll use opaque patina inks that are made to adhere to metal. Here’s a fun way to play with a variety of jewelry patina techniques. You can brush it on or dip the piece for a pretty durable coating.By Rena Klingenberg. If a clear coat is desired to keep the piece dark longer, I recommend ProtectaClear. You can rub gently with fine steel wool to highlight a texture. I like to add a wax sealer, called Renaissance Wax, which makes the finish look rich and dark.Īs before the finish is only a reaction that occurs on the outer surface so it will wear off. ![]() Take the piece out, rinse it in cool water and dry with a blow dryer. I then rinse and put it back in the sulfur water until it darkens to the finish I am looking for. It kind of adds a smooth tone to the piece. If I am adding a dark tone to a ring, once it gets the initial dark gray tone I like to take it out and use a soapy brass brush or soft toothbrush to gently rub the patina. You'll notice the piece almost instantly start changing to red/brown then blue/purple hues. I use rubber coated tongs and make sure to gently rotate the piece every 30 seconds or so. Add enough water so you can fully submerge your jewelry item.Īdd one small piece of liver of sulfur and dissolve. ( I get mine from ) You'll want to break the chunks down into smaller pieces (roughly the size of a red pepper flake - haha that is all I can think of ).Īs before the first thing you want to do is clean your jewelry with warm soapy water and dry. The liver of sulfur comes in a small metal tin and the pieces look like rocks. Make sure you wear plastic gloves and have good ventilation. If you are making a lot of jewelry with a dark patina, liver of sulfur is the way to go. If you are in a pinch clear finger nail polish will work, otherwise you can pick up a clear coat spray/dip from your local hardware store. If your hope is to make the entire piece stay dark longer you can add a clear coat. You can even rub the piece with fine steel wool to bring the highlights out faster. ![]() This may be desired to accentuate a texture, such as the image below. Now the patina is going to wear off as it is rubbed against hard surfaces. When it reaches the desired tone just take the jewelry out and rinse it off. You can take it out at any point when you like the finish, or leave it in for hours to see just how dark you can get it. In about 10-15 minutes it should have a nice gray tone. Sometime the colors start with reds, then blues and gradually get darker. In about 5 minutes you will notice the piece changing. You can just place it right on top of the crushed egg. Then take your jewelry and place it inside the bag with the egg. Place the entire egg into the plastic baggie and break it up into small pieces. Next take a hard boiled egg and peel off the shell. It works for both sterling silver and copper.įirst you will want to make sure your jewelry has been cleaned of all dirt and oils by washing it with warm soapy water, then dry. This method is a simple solution requiring just one hard boiled egg and a small ziplock baggie. However, you can always apply a clear coat to make it last longer. Keep in mind the patina is just a reaction on the surface of the metal, so it will wear off when rubbed against hard surfaces. I am going to cover a couple methods to give your bright silver jewelry (or copper) a nice dark finish. While silver naturally has a bright finish, a dark gray/black finish can be equally desirable. ![]()
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