Can I Reheat My Liver of Sulfur and Use It Again
From set-up to helpful tips, read why Liver of Sulfer makes such a great jewelry patina and is an essential product to have in your jewelry studio!
It looks gross, it smells gross but it makes magic. Experiment with liver of sulfur metal jewelry patinas and see how much fun yous tin have with surface finishing. Liver of sulfur is a chemical compound that oxidizes the surface of some jewelry metals to blacken or darken the metal. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
one. How To Gear up Up Liver of Sulfur
There is not a precise recommended ratio of liver of sulfur per ounce of water, for example. Most metalsmiths have their preferred approximate recipe but more often than not speaking a tablespoon or so of liquid liver of sulfur per small 8oz crock is enough. The chemical works best when information technology is warm or hot so most studios accept a small-scale crockpot designated for liver of sulfur. Plugin the crock and oestrus enough h2o to cover your piece(s) then fully dissolve liquid or crystal liver of sulfur into the warm water and you are set up to add a jewelry patina. Designate a pair of copper tongs for your patina and pickle station. They will completely blacken in the liver of sulfur. If yous choose to use the same tongs for your pickle, yous will get big blackness flakes in the liquid just it will still piece of work only fine.
two. Use The Right Metal
Liver of sulfur works all-time on silver and copper. Information technology will not piece of work if the silver has an e-blanket, anti-tarnish treatment or a plating finish of fine silver, rhodium or golden. Be sure your metal is make clean by using pickle or sandpaper then rinse. Surface contaminants will crusade the metal to resist oxidation and upshot results. Brass can sometimes be oxidized only results are highly unpredictable. Program for more trial and fault and be prepared to exist patient to get the jewelry patina y'all want. SHOP JEWELRY Canvass >>
Materials used: Copper chain, sheet, toggle with Milton Bridge enamels.
3. Expect Variation
Many factors cause variability in oxidation. You will see some patinas accept on blue, purple or green highlights. Expect some surprises and you will never be disappointed. Also, continue in mind that the larger the surface area the more variation will show. Oxidation is often most constructive on textured, stamped or engraved pieces where the whole piece is oxidized so the surface is polished back to bright or satin which leaves the contrasting dark patina in relief just.
four. Be Rubber
While this chemical is a studio mainstay, you should never be cavalier about safety precautions when firing up your crock. Liver of sulfur fumes are harmful to your health and should exist avoided. Ensure thorough ventilation - that means much more than a cracked window. The olfactory property is a good indicator of the level of fumes in an expanse. You may even desire to go along your crock exterior. Also, avoid leaning over your crock and inhaling correct above the liquid where fumes are most intense. Information technology is harmless on your peel though it may stain your peel and wearing apparel.
Materials used: Copper sheet, sterling argent chain, leather and tooth charms
five. Layer It On
Timing is tricky to main and will depend on the solution intensity and temperature amid other things. The best technique is to submerge your piece for a minute or less and so remove it, rinse in clean water and assess results. Echo until you attain the desired level of darkness in your patina. This allows you to examine your work and layer on the oxidation for greater stability. Jewelry patinas achieved subsequently a long continuous bath will often flake off the surface.
six. Use Proper Disposal
Liver of sulfur tin can legally go down the drain in most areas as long as information technology has been neutralized commencement. That ways adding baking soda to the solution until it no longer foams. This may require several rounds of calculation blistering soda, waiting for foaming to stop and and so adding more. It's messy so make sure you are in a large stainless steel sink that won't stain. The diluted liver of sulfur is likewise an excellent garden fertilizer. Some plants honey it and the compound is frequently used in commercial fertilizer products. Merely make sure the chemical is sufficiently diluted get-go.
Gunmetal Terminate
Want a gunmetal finish on your liver of sulfur pieces? Scout the video beneath to see how this beautiful cease is accomplished.
Further Reading:
4 Metal Surface Finishes for Jewelry
Creating Jewelry Finishing Effects - A Sampler of Tool Attachments & Results
Types of Silver – Learn the Grades of Silverish Alloys & Purity in Jewelry
Got questions? Email our studio coordinator at studio@halsteadbead.com. We'd love to hear from y'all. Lamentable, studio support is not available by phone. Emails only, please.
Q&A
Q:Hi, I'm trying to darken raw brass prong settings merely sometimes they plow green. Do you know how to control this? Is it because the solution is too hot? - Trissy
A: Hi Trissy. Brass is a difficult metallic to patina. We can literally exit our brass pieces in a LOS solution for an hour or more for a slight patina while information technology simply takes copper a few minutes to plow black. Here are some things we do here to patina contumely: We utilize a warm pickle pot, you definitely don't desire to boil it. Likewise, I have practical LOS directly to a contumely piece, without a pickle pot or h2o of whatsoever kind, other than just to wash information technology off when I'm finished. Y'all may have more success doing that, but it smells awful so if you can apply it outside that's ideal. Make sure to clean your brass thoroughly. Not simply soap and h2o but utilise sandpaper to roughen it upwardly a chip as well. 600 or 800 dust should do well. These tricks should assist. Practiced luck!
Q: Re: neutralizing LOS and pouring it downward the bleed: true that the chemicals will have been neutralized by the baking soda. Even so, I personally disagree that the solution tin now be poured down the drain. There tin can be a off-white amount of copper suspended in the solution. Copper is a nerve toxin; pouring the solution downwardly the drain dumps the copper into the ground and somewhen into our water table. Please do a picayune research here; if yous notice that my concerns take merit, please consider irresolute your info to propose that neutralized LOS tin be allowed to evaporate; so the sludge can be taken to the nearest HazMat location. Best, Mary
A: Neat point, Mary. Heavily used solutions may accumulate metal particulates. If you find your liquid has a layer at the bottom it is best to filter out the solids before pouring down the drain. Thanks for posting!
Source: https://www.halsteadbead.com/articles/6-tips-liver-of-sulfur
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