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Q&As since 1989
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How to color aluminum for jewelry purposes
Q. I make copper cuff bracelets with copper wire and am toying with the idea of incorporating aluminum wire to provide a different look. What problems might I see especially when these cuffs are in contact with my skin?
Dennis LedbetterHobbyist - Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 23, 2022
A. Hi Dennis. I think the main problem will be that aluminum will not maintain shininess or consistency without anodizing or a good clear coat. Aluminum & copper are galvanically incompatible, so while aluminum might be fine on the outside of a bracelet, aluminum on the inside (skin contact side) where salty sweat acts as an electrolyte doesn't sound promising.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
January 2022
Sounds like I might light up? Lol
Hobbyist - Albuquerque, New Mexico
January 30, 2022
A. Sorry, you won't even feel a tingle; but the sweat-covered aluminum probably will.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
January 2022
⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. I'm a student at Massachusetts College of Art, I'm in the metals department, and right know I'm experimenting on making jewelry with sheet aluminum because its a really light material, and I found a place that sells it really cheap. I made a couple of rings which I really like but I want to learn how to color them. Just to try out a new technique and also because I like color. Thanks!
Alexia CohenStudent for Fine art Metals - Boston, Massachusetts
2004
A. Hi, Alexia.
Coloring of aluminum is done by anodizing it, dyeing it while the anodized pores are still open, and then sealing it. We have dozens of threads about anodizing of aluminum on this site, as well as an "Introduction to Anodizing of Aluminum". Best of luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2004
A. You can color aluminum by oxidation. Electroless, and not going into anodizing. Since your items are for jewelry it would be too expensive to color it by anodizing.
Barry Umacob- Philippines
2004
I'm interested in Barry's ideas for electroless oxidation. But I certainly can't agree that anodizing is too expensive for jewelry because it's used for countless very inexpensive items including arrows, colorful coat hangers, knitting needles, keychain gadgets, arcade tokens, etc.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. Cohen
In a glass tumbler make an anodising bath with sulfuric acid the same strength as battery acid
[affil links]. Hang your aluminum jewelry, after thoroughly cleaning with lye solution and washing. Connect this to +ive of battery charger [on
eBay or
Amazon]
. Hang another aluminum plate in solution and connect to -ive terminal of charger. Let current flow for about ten minutes. Make sure the solution is not hot (55 °F)
No other metal other than aluminum in the acid. Take out, wash, and put in colour solution in water to absorb the colour 30 minutes. Take out and put in boiling water to seal the colour by changing the crystal structure of aluminum oxide. Take out and cool before you sell it. Good luck.
opinder singhhobbyist - Windsor, Ontario, Canada
2004
Please pay very close attention to the last 2 words of Opinder's advice ... you'll need it!
Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho
2004
What to use to dye anodized jewelry
Q. What do you use as a red coloring agent?
Marlene Feeley- Atlanta, Georgia, USA
October 18, 2011
Rit Dye
on
Amazon
(affil links)
A. Hi, Marlene.
You use red anodizing dye available from specialist suppliers. If you don't need professional quality results, and are just experimenting, you can use red fabric dye like RIT.
It would not shock me to find that red food dye might work for a little while. But none of these dyes will be colorfast in sunlight. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 21, 2011
Will anodizing harm cubic zirconium and gemstones?
Q. Hello, sorry if this is in the wrong place, but I make small aluminum artistic parts and have been anodizing them in a variety of ways for years now.
This year I would like to flush/burnish set (gypsy set) gemstones into my aluminum flat plates, and I would also need to anodize them. Since the burnishing will destroy the anodizing, I will have to set the stones then anodize.
That leaves a few questions
1.Will CZ or other synthetic gemstones have an effect on the process? Or will they make it through unharmed?
2.Has anyone ever heard of gem setting in aluminum where I may be able to do research?
Thank you in advance for any help on the subject.
- fort lauderdale Florida
October 3, 2014
A. Hi. Stones are not removed for gold or rhodium plating, so I doubt that they need to be removed for anodizing either. But I see some warning signs at jewelry counters these days that their stones are "coated" and I don't know the implications of putting proprietary "coatings" into an anodizing bath when they don't tell us what those coatings are. Also, remember that pearls are not stones.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
October 2014
Meltable color pencils for decorating metal
I had a short conversation with another artist who mentioned special colored pencils that could be used on metal and then heated at a low temp. Any information would be appreciated.
Amy PalmerFull Circle Studio - Bay City, Wisconsin USA
December 20, 2014
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Ed. note: Letter 16306, "Aluminum as an 'art' painting surface", doesn't mention pencils or crayons, but does talk about Gesso and other methods. Good luck.
Aluminum How-To
"Chromating - Anodizing - Hardcoating"
by Robert Probert
You'll love this book. Finishing.com has sold 880 copies over the years without ever a single return request :-)
Which wrought aluminum alloys are acceptable and best for jewelry
Q. I am interested in using one of the wrought aluminum alloys for making jewelry. I have noticed that some alloys leave a black stain on your skin. I need to avoid the black stains and also avoid toxic or allergenic combinations.
Some people use the 1000 series, which according to sources is 99%+ pure Al. My understanding is that the 1000 seres is the softest and least strong of the alloys, but that it does work harden.
I would probably tumble with SS shot to harden up the surface before buffing.
Is there an alloy that might be better for our application.
Thanks. Marty
product designer - Durango Colorado
January 6, 2015
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