Hardboiled Egg? :)

[Trudy]

I've been hearing a lot about a technique of using a hard boiled egg in a box with silver jewellery to create a finish similar to liver of sulphur....does anyone have any experience of this? Does it look any good?

Im thinking of giving it a go on a wirework pendant over the weekend...

[MuranoSilver]

It does the same job only a lot lot slower.....

[mizgeorge]

It works beautifully - and is a nice option if you don't want to have too many chemicals around.

I think a ziploc bag works better than a box, and it's easier to see what's going on. Just make sure the smashed up egg doesn't touch the silver.

[Trudy]

Great, thanks guys...I will definitely try it out.


When you say a lot lot slower do you mean hours or days?

[MuranoSilver]

Depends on the egg - mine has been days....
If you use the egg hot it speeds it up

[mizgeorge]

Nic's right, warm egg (freshly boiled). Smash up a bit.

about 20 minutes for light oxidisation, several hours for heavy.

Then give it a polish back with some 0000 wire wool and it will look lufferly!

[bustagasket]

i have absolutely no idea what you lot are talking about!

[EmmaRose]

Su, rotten eggs pong right...that is the sulphur, same stuff as in liver of sulphur used for oxidising (blackening) metal....
just and fyi metal clay suppliers often have small vials of liver of sulphur for £1....
another tip, to bring out the colours dip very quickly in goddards silver dip first. coffee and cola have different (but similar) effects....
Em

[MuranoSilver]

Su
It's when you make the silver deliberately, blue, black or purple by artificially aging it to add colour depth. Liver of Sulphur or Platinol are Chemical ways, eggs is safer (well as long as you don't microvave the metal,lol) and no nasty chemicals....

[Petal]

Nic's right, warm egg (freshly boiled). Smash up a bit.

about 20 minutes for light oxidisation, several hours for heavy.

Then give it a polish back with some 0000 wire wool and it will look lufferly!

I've read with interest using the egg technique, alum and also mares urine, are there any more non toxic ways to oxidise jewellery that any of you have experience of/could recommend?

thanks in advance