[Jewelry making - Article 00068] - Re: [Orchid] Resurrecting old pearls

[Neilthejeweler]

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>     temporarily string and knot them onto cotton thread and hang them
>     up, spray them with an auto etching primer, then a pearlised auto
>     spray paint in the appropriate colour 

    If you are going to try painting them do not string and knot them
    beforehand. 

    Find yourself some relatively stiff solid wire that fits the hole.
    Either a light press fit or use something like sticky wax(sparingly!
    don't get any on the outside surface of the pearl, it will prevent
    adhesion) to hold them from rotating on the wire. Space them apart
    about an inch or so. Make a handle of sorts on the end of the wire.
    In this way you will be able to rotate the 'strand' for even
    application of the spraypaint. Pearl paints need constant shaking to
    keep the tiny metal particles in suspension. So shake yer booty alot.
    Use the lightest of coats, let dry between. 

    Once you're happy with the coverage let them dry a good long time. 

    If you just pull them off the wire the paint may flake at the holes.
    To prevent this run a scalpel or razor blade around the wire at the
    hole, Cut the wire on one side of the 'pearl' and gently pull the
    pearl off. You may have to scrape the paint off the wire before hand
    to avoid binding. 

    A lot to go through but since you asked.
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