Metal Beads

I have been making bracelets, etc. with metal beads.  I have been told they might tarnish or dull with wear.  Is this true?   Is it necessary to use a fixative?   If so, what do you use?  Do you use the fixative before you bead or after the project is finished?

Hi Denise,

You didn't mention what type of metal you are using. Sterling, copper, brass and bronze will all tarnish naturally. how quickly depends on the climate you live in (more humid climates tarnish more quickly) and your natural skin chemistry. You can clean all of those beads regularly and remove the tarnish, using various methods. 

If you are using base metal with a silver, copper, gold or brass plating, the plating will eventually wear off, leaving the dull base metal showing through. There's really nothing you can do about that. You can try fixatives, but its not a great long term solution.

There have been several threads in the past about cleaning tarnished beads, etc. If you do a search, you can read through them and probably find more info for your specific problem.

Erin

Erin, thanks for your comments.  My seller "presumes"  the metal beads are not plated, because the distributor lists the beads as either plated or no description, i.e.,  brass plated or brass.  

With regard to spraying with fixative, I have a friend who sprays with her finished piece with Krylon, but I have been told the chemicals in Krylon could eventually cause the beading thread to disintegrate.  Have you heard of this?

I did read other comments about fading beads and galvanized beads.  Sounds like nothing is certain.  I am somewhat distressed about this because some people want to buy my pieces, but I am now hesitant about selling them.  I want to be proud of my finished product.

I would say don't spray them, but do tell people who buy them to wipe them with a jewelry or cotton cloth after wearing them, make sure they put them on after any perfumes or makeup has a chance to dry, and store them in a ziplock bag with either an anti-tarnish strip or the silicone "do not eat" packets that come with shoes or purses (and change it every so often).  Jewelry that's properly cared for will stay looking nice the longest.  Does that help any?

While somewhat tangential to this discussion, I have a question about how readily/easily to discriminate for sure between sterling silver or vermeil beads and base metal or metallized plastic. I came into a large supply of beads recently (close-out stock from a craft store going out of the bead business), most of which are glass, but some are metal. I have no idea how to tell for sure what they are. Some are obviously base metal or metallized plastic as indicated by the pricing associated with them, but others are marked too high, it seems, to be of that material. I would assume all are base metal or plastic except for the fact that the stock also included a nice selection of Swarovski crystals, some apparent Hill Tribes silver, as well as some higher quality faceted glass, so it's possible the "metal" beads could also be a wide mix of quality. Nevertheless, before I use them in jewelry, I feel it's important to know what materials I'm using so I don't risk in any way misrepresenting my products. Ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Susan

Well, if it's sterling, vermeil or Hill Tribe silver, usually the package should state that.  If the packaging has been altered by the store there may be no sure way to tell. For the things that look/feel like they could be plastic you can always test one and see if you can flake off the metal.  For plated metal beads there may be no definite way to tell.  Your best bet would be either take it to an LBS where someone may have seen the brands before (if you have one), or just assume that it's all plated and tell potential buyers that the beads are silver or gold tone metal (if you're selling that is).  At least that way you've covered your behind.

It occurs to me that if you have some liquid tarnish remover, you could put a couple of suspect beads in it.  If they're plated they will basically be ruined because the tarnish remover can strip the plating off (from my experience anyway).

Thank you! That's along the lines of my thoughts. Unfortunately, nothing was in original packaging. The entire stock had been divided up into tiny plastic bags. Even my obsessive-compulsive tendencies have been challenged by the task of sorting mixtures and taking beads out of dozens of tiny plastic bags and putting them into drawers or larger bags where they are more useful to me as a designer. I will try these ideas and report back in case anyone else runs into this problem some day. Fortunately, if I try these potentially "destructive" techniques, there'll be little lost if some are ruined. Thanks again.

Susan

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Hey all,

That's a very nice piece of information everyone has shared. Even I work on making some bracelets and chains. I use different kinds of metal beads, gems, pearls for that extraordinary look. I would say its better to use any fixative after finishing the product as while making it tends to get bit scratchy and dull. For better quality metal beads and gems I trust only House of Gems, as they manufacture and import the best quality in the industry.

I mostly get sterling silver chain and sterling silver with golden filled beads from House of Gems, they make a phenomenal jewellery's. After all jewelery reflects the outlook development of a lady.

Thanks,

http://www.houseofgems.com/

 Hello,  One of my bead friends told me to put a magnet to the beads.  If the bead is sterling silver, then the bead will not attract the magnet.  The magnet will attract metal/silver plated.  This doesn't work for plastics.  thanks.

 A magnet only works if the base metal has iron in it. Copper, brass, aluminum, magnesium, pewter, and almost any other base metal are all non-magnetic. All steels have some iron in it, but some high quality stainless's have very little and a magnet won't stick to them either. I've used chrome plated steel chain for a number of things over the years including a ring that I wear almost daily. I have no problems with any metals personally, if i like it, I'll wear it, even if it rusts. *laughz*

 Billy ;o)

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Hey all,

That's a very nice piece of information everyone has shared. Even I work on making some bracelets and chains. I use different kinds of metal beads, gems, pearls for that extraordinary look. I would say its better to use any fixative after finishing the product as while making it tends to get bit scratchy and dull. For better quality metal beads and gems I trust only House of Gems, as they manufacture and import the best quality in the industry.

I mostly get sterling silver chain and sterling silver with golden filled beads from House of Gems, they make a phenomenal jewellery's. After all jewelery reflects the outlook development of a lady.