How do you oxidize silver?

letter 21868

How do you oxidize silver (wire, chain, jewelry clasps)?

+++

What is the best/easiest way to oxidize silver? I can't seem to find any thing on the internet about this. I'm a jewelry artist and would like to oxidize silver chain and wire, also silver jewelry clasps.

Thanks!

Jamee J
- Pukalani, Hawaii, USA

+++

Silver can be oxidised by dipping in tellurium di oxide and hydrochloric acid 1% or dip in polysulphide solution.

Panjala Mukesh
fashion jewelry mfgr.
Hyderabad, India

+++

Thanks for your response. I have no idea what those solutions are or where to get them. Is this something easy to purchase and where would I get it? Can anyone direct me to a good book on oxidizing silver for jewelry making? thanks, Jamee

Jamee J
- Pukalan, Hawaii, USA

+++

The company you are buying your jewelry making supplies from should be able to supply you with an oxidizer for silver. " Liver Of Sulphur [linked by editor to product info at MisterArt]" works and there are others.

Neil Bell
Red Sky Plating

Albuquerque, New Mexico

+++

I have used "Silver Black" a few times, but have been told the black rubs off of the chain. Maybe I need to clean it better before I put it out to sell. Tim McCreight has a book called "The Complete Metalsmith" and he talks about coloring metal, and mentions Liver of Sulfur.

Try inter library loan.

Roxy Lentz
- clarksville, IN

+++

To oxidize silver: Sulphur [link is to product info and sourcing at DudaDiesel]. It looks like little broken pieces of yellowish dirt. USE CAREFULLY....It works almost TOO well. Which will require much polishing OFF the oxidation where it is not wanted.

Louine Smith
- South Texas

+++++

You can also get a nice oxidized finish by putting silver jewelry in a plastic or paper bag with something that gives off sulphur. I always forget what it is, but it is some food item, like a hard boiled egg or such...I'm looking around on the internet, too, since I can never seem to remember what the item is!!!

Karyn Lowe
joi d vivre designs - Thousand oaks, CA, USA

+++++

Did anyone find out the natural way to oxidize silver? ie: put an egg in a bag, etc? Also, how much does this sulphur stuff cost if you buy it from a catalog?
Thanks!

August Miller
August Design - Atlanta, GA USA

Hi. The "egg in a bag" is described in letter 1178.

Here are links to liver of sulphur as a liquid or a powder --

Regards and good luck,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

[disclosure: finishing.com may earn a commission if you buy through these links]

++++++

Wow, the "egg in a bag" really worked, it worked well and fast. I used the fresh (warm) hard boiled egg in the baggies and mashed it up through the plastic. I inserted the objects to be oxidized and was stunned to see how quickly it worked. I wrapped sections of the objects in saran wrap where oxidation wasn't desired. The result was glorious. I had the desired tone in 1 hour. Thanks guys!!

Lisa Lynn Bocook
- Bryson City, North Carolina

August 27, 2008

Hi Everyone,
I am a designer at a jewelry company and I have made some plain round bangles that we oxidized with liver of sulfur. We then sealed the oxidation with a clear coat lacquer from rio grande. After a few weeks the bangles have turned lighter and blotchy. My Question is; Is there a way to oxidize a bangle that is durable and won't fade? If there are any ideas please share:)

Aimee Rebecca
Jewelry Designer - Los Angeles, California, USA

September 13, 2008

Does oxidizing silver with either an egg change the gold that is on the piece of jewelry?

Trish Marx
- New York, New York

December 31, 2008

The easiest cheapest, most readily available method of oxidizing silver is the use of ordinary household bleach. It turns the silver a dull, dark gray.

Ken Cooper
- Atlanta, Georgia

Legal disclaimer boilerplate button