The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Looking for the solution to darken copper so it can be worn in jewelry

A lady told me the name of a solution that darkens copper to a brown color so it can be worn without turning your arm green when worn for a while..I need to know since I have jewelry made but don't want to sell it till it is darkened...

WL Hoevet
jewelry maker - Humansville, Missouri
June 27, 2008

---

Wl,

To blacken your copper, It won't guarantee that it won't oxidize. If you plan to blacken copper, apply water based lacquer or urethane lacquer to stop oxidation or the pathetic lacquering mr mooney always recommend. To blacken copper or simply making it dark brown, a simple potassium polysulfide would do concentration depends on the color you want to achieve the less concentration the lighter color. or there's a solution I tested which I can't post here the chemical composition because the company is making something out of it..they call it Proprietary bullshi# 5%. if you know what I mean.

Barry M. Umacob
- Philippines
July 3, 2008

---

Barry: Feel free to recommend lacquering, decline to recommend it, or specifically caution against it -- your recommendations are completely your choice. But instead you say that WL can use the 'pathetic lacquering' that I 'always recommend'. Huh? Are you recommending it while simultaneously calling it 'pathetic'? Ted Mooney, P.E. Striving to live Aloha finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey July 3, 2008