lookie what I made :)

These are really great!! I personally like the patina that copper gets, because it softens the look...unless that's not the look you're going for.

nice!!!! those are really nice. i am trying to sell online also, ebay is tough they say, i do better in real life :) good luck, very nice jewelry!

alia :)

I use copper quite a lot...I do more metal work than "beading" as a whole...the beads are accents..so I LOVE copper.

I leave everything unlacquered, unless I have a customer who specifically requests it. Most seem to, as I do, like the patina.

If they wear it for a while, and decide they don't like it patinated, I clean it (lemon juice and salt) and then lacquer it.

Oh very, very nice!! I just finished up a necklace using copper findings too. Left mine in it's natural state because I like the way it changes. What kind of lacquer do you use?

-- Margie

Hi Lisa, what kind of lacquer?

Thanks! Pam

Thanks Margie :) I like your necklace too - the colors look great with the copper. I'm wondering about the lacquer too - I can see how some of the pieces would look good with the patina, but some need the shine.

And some buyers may want the shine, it's true. So now I'm wondering what lacquer works best on copper.

-- Margie

I used carnauba wax on a piece that is now about 6 months old and hasn't tarnished yet. In the damp Pacific Northwest.

Can't speak from experience beyond that one specific test case.

Deirdre

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 10:04:54 -0400, MargieK wrote (in message ):

For the tiniest of pieces, clear nail enamel is fine. I buy the "Wet 'n' Wild" brand at the drugstore. For anything larger than a clasp, ordinary clear spray enamel is just fine. Krylon or even the Wal-mart brand will work just fine. My father used to sell furniture finishes and powdered metals (don't I wish I had some of those), and I'd just use whatever clear finish he had kicking around.

Use a very light touch and keep the can moving, so you don't get drip marks. Two very light coats are better than one heavy coat that you can see. A satin finish enamel can be quite lovely, too.

Kathy N-V

That sounds good. I keep thinking that lacquer is stiff and copper is soft, and so the lacquer will eventually break off. Carnuba wax makes more sense to me, from an intuitive (but not experienced) point of view.

Tina

I doubt it will work -permanently-, any more than a hard-wax job on a car lasts forever. But it should extend the tarnish-free period for quite a long time. And it is something one could advise the buyer to renew after a salt-and-vinegar cleaning, if they wanted to retain the shiny look.

Deirdre

Your "Spotted" necklace is killing me! Whoa.