[Jewelry making - Article 00616] - Re: [Orchid] Copper Inlay

[Kay]

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>          Next to each piece is the time and temperature used to get
>     the particular color--and one of the colors is magenta! I think
>     that would look gorgeous inlaid in silver. Of course, I have no
>     idea what you'd need to do to preserve such a patina, or how the
>     process (or the necessary preservation) might affect the silver. I
>     leave that question to the experts. Always wanted to know myself. 

    Hi Lisa:  I have heat treated a number of raised copper bowls,
    obtaining for some of them the beautiful magenta color you refer to. 
    The various colors are easily obtained by simply placing the piece in
    your regular oven at around 350 degrees. Then watch very carefully. 
    After about 4 minutes you will begin to see the color changes taking
    place. What I did was cut a sheet of copper (a small sheet) in
    squares and then laid them all in a row in the oven. Each 5 minutes
    or so I took out one of the samples and glued it on a sheet of
    cardboard with the time it "baked". That way I got a total spectrum
    of colors from brown to gold to magenta to blue etc. It's a fun
    project. Naturally the length of time to achieve a color is directly
    related to the gauge. Thicker gauge takes longer and a shaped piece
    will take longer still as the entire piece heats up.  Give it a try. 
    It's fun. 

    As for protecting it - I waxed mine with plain old Johnson's paste
    wax and that was some 8 years ago and the finish is still as vibrant
    as it was then. I have simply dusted the bowls off and from time to
    time given them a new coat of wax. 

Kay

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