[Jewelry making - Article 00067] - Re: [Orchid] Quick and dirty silver patina?

[Trevor F]

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>     One thing I haven't seen on this thread about patina on silver is
>     the need to heat either the solution or the silver. 

Hello Charles,

    It was mentioned in
    http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/200409/msg00992.htm 

          "- is much improved if the bleach is warmed. An 8 hour soak at
          room temperature yields a patina that is inferior to that
          achieved after 1 minute in bleach that has been warmed to 80C
          (chemical gloves, vapor mask and good ventilation recommended).
          The latter patina is much more even and has a deeper, richer
          look." 

    I've since tried it with the bleach at other temps and find that
    50-60C seems quite sufficient to produce a deep patina in a matter of
    a minute or two. Longer makes it slightly darker and "deeper" but I
    suspect that once the surface silver has been transformed the actual
    reaction taking place tapers off pretty rapidly and therefor there's
    little change beyond that point. 

    I've tried heating the work pieces too but my pieces are quite small
    at this point, only a couple grams worth, and am finding they come
    out better if the solution and not the pieces are warmed. I making a
    50 gram sterling bracelet next so I'll try your approach with it.
    Maybe the larger mass will carry enough heat in it to achieve
    basically the same effect. 

Cheers, 
Trevor F.

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