Liver of Sulphur...

by Sarah
(Seattle, WA)

This is Pam's Boiled Egg LoS Patina'd. See the below edit.

This is Pam's Boiled Egg LoS Patina'd. See the below edit.

I can't get liver of sulphur to adhere to my copper.


On my first try... chip form with hot water in a glass pan... immersed ... then tried agitating it with a tooth brush...

Decided it was dead LofS so I got the liquid form... and tried immersing it as well... still did not adhere to the copper...

I've cleaned the copper/used a scrubby on it so it's not that!

Now I just tried brushing the liquid form on and will let it sit for an hour...

What the heck is the problem?? I've never had this issue before but I'm used to silver/instant gratification!

Help me if you have any ideas! I would love to know If I'm doing something wrong.

Thank you!

EDIT: From Pam in Midway, GA.
This is the one I patina'd with boiled eggs, just a subtle change, only left it in the bag for a couple of hours. Maybe if I had left it longer it would have been darker.

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Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		LOS
by: Pam

Sounds like your LOS is past it's prime. If the water doesn't turn yellow it isn't any good. Try scrubbing your wire with steel wool and get down to new shiny copper, should take care of your problem. I have not used the liquid kind so can't comment on it.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		RESPONSE Copper not adhering
by: Anonymous

thanks for your comment! I came to the same conclusion myself and replace the chips with the liquid and scrubed to metal as well but STILL have the problem of it wanting to come off easily...

any other ideas?

thanks!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		LOS
by: Pam

Nope fresh out of ideas. I had a situation last week where I wanted to LOS a copper bracelet I made and did not have any. I remembered someone saying you could put your piece in a baggie with a boiled egg, well I did and it worked! It was not a dark patina, but I like the effect, made it a more mellow warm copper color. Will try to post a picture, but think I have to start a new thread to do that.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		great idea...
by: Anonymous

by golly I have some boiled eggs at this time! will try that! thanks mucho, Pam!

sarah
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		LOS
by: Pam

Let me know how your piece turns out.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		egg in action...
by: Anonymous

So I just put have a peeled hard boiled egg in a baggie with the metal... wonder how long it takes... will let you know!

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Boiled Egg Patina
by: OuchThatHurts

In order for the boiled eggs to work you have to at least cut them in half. It's the yolk that is causing the reaction. You could just pop out the yolk only to get the patina action.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Liver of Sulphur...
by: pam

Is it possible that the wire you are using is not bare copper? Thinking maybe it has a coating on it, possibly lacquer or maybe it is art wire of some kind.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Boiled Eggs Need to Be Smooshed Up
by: Christine Gierer ~admin

It's messy, but you want the yolk to be cut up a bit. I haven't experimented with how little you can get away with.

I always just chop the egg up and toss the jewelry and leave it for awhile.

Rinse later of course :)

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