[Jewelry making - Article 01439] - Re: [Orchid] Easy Telling Brass wire from gold wire?

[David L. Huffman]

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Hi Karen;

>     I'm cleaning out my studio...again...and have found some scraps of
>     either brass wire or gold wire. 

    If you've got any nitric acid around, dilute it to around 50
    percent, and a tiny drop on the brass should turn green rather
    quickly. Gold shouldn't change, although lower carats like 9K might
    turn dark. If you want a non-toxic way to handle the whole batch at
    once, put everything under a large plastic container with a small
    dish of amonia in it. The next day, all the brass will have a pretty
    blue-green patina (which would come of easily in pickle). 

David L. Huffman
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