How to oxidize silver-plate?

 Hi-

I am currently making a fresh water pearl necklace linked with wire wraps...I'm just using the silver plated wire.  I would like for it to have an oxidized appearance rather than a shiny silver finish.  I suppose it will do this sooner or later anyway but would like it sooner.

Any ideas to expedite the process?

Thanks!  Also, I am new member, just posted in the Intro forum.

I don't think silver plate is meant to be oxidized, but you could give it a try. I would use the same methods as for real silver (liver of sulfer or the boiled egg method). The problem is, the plating is so thin that when you go back over it with a polishing cloth to get some nice shine back on the high spots and leave the blackened finish in the low spots, the plating will just come off. So unless you want the entire piece to stay oxidized with no bright spots, I don't think you will get a good result.

Try a test piece first, so you don't ruin your piece.

Erin

 Good point Erin.  I didn't consider how thin the outer coating is.  I've just started wire wrapping so I haven't wanted to purchase sterling silver yet until I have it perfected.  I don't mind though if this piece keeps the oxidated look, so I will look into those techniques you mentioned.  I'm not familiar with them but I'm sure a quick search will turn up something.

Thanks so much for the advice!

You don't have to buy anything to try the boiled egg method--you just basically cut up a hard boiled egg into quarters immediately after cooking it, while its still hot, (don't bother peeling it) and quickly put it in a tupperware with the piece you want to oxidize and put the lid on. The sulfer released from the egg will blacken the silver.

If you want to try liver of sulfer, I saw a new product on www.cooltools.us/ that looks great--liquid form rather than chunks--it looks easier, and they have a video tutorial on how to use it.

hope that helps,

Erin

Thanks Erin, the boiled egg trick sounds easy enough!  I appreciate your help. 

Some silver plated items have a thin, clear coating of acrylic or something so they don't tarnish and to protect the plating a little. If your silver plated wire is coated like that, it won't oxidize at all or at least not until you remove the coating. Check to see if the wire you are using is Tarnish Resistant - that might make it more difficult to oxidize, too - since tarnish is the same as oxidation.

Good Luck!

Deb

 Thanks Deb.

I actually stopped in the bead shop where I purchased the wire and inquired whether the sulphur trick would work on the silver plated wire.  The owner says it will.  She also told me that you do not have to bust open the egg...as a matter of fact you just dip the piece in the water that was used to boil the egg in as the sulphur also seeps through the shell, so no need to bust it open.

I did buy some liver of sulphur anyway, just so I could experiment with the patina but thought I would pass on the the info she gave me to you all.

Thanks y'all for your advice!

BeadyJax:

you just dip the piece in the water that was used to boil the egg in as the sulphur also seeps through the shell

Interesting. I've never heard that before.

 Would this method work on copper?  I bought some findings thru the mail that I thought would be "antiqued" but they are bright copper and I would like something more muted Any suggestions?

Nancy R

I don't think that will work on copper, but you could try it. I think the only thing I would recommend for copper is time and exposure to air (but NOT moisture).

I had a bit of copper plated chain that I'd cut when a customer decided that they wanted 16" instead of 18" <grrr> that I carried in my pocket for weeks. I'm like a guy - everything comes out of my pockets at night and goes into the pockets of the clean jeans the next morning. Sometimes, the stuff in the pockets goes through the wash. <grin> My pockets hold pens, keys, change, broken beads, tools and anything else I might pick up, so it really abused the chain. I finally looked at and discovered that it passed the test with flying colors. Then, I cleaned it up with a bit of lemon juice and salt and it looked nice - not as bright as when new, but not that antique-y color either.So - my answer would be give it time.

Deb

NancyR:

I bought some findings thru the mail that I thought would be "antiqued" but they are bright copper and I would like something more muted Any suggestions?

Like Deb, I just let the chain, beads, etc sit out on the counter unprotected for a while. I find that handling the beads or wearing the chain also speeds up the process, but I have that kind of body chemistry that oxidizes metal right away when I wear it, so this may not work as well for you.

I tried throwing some copper jump rings into a baggie with a cotton ball soaked in amonia--(that works nicely for brass), but it turned the copper an ugly dingy brown color--not a good patina.

Erin

I have used a mixture of vinegar and bleach. It only takes a quick dip and you have a greenish patina. It turns as it drys so a quick dunk is all you will need.  Try a small piece of copper and see if that is what you are looking for.