My bi-weekly tips are very basic, very elementary. Today's is no exception. I first learned to oxidize with an ordinary boiled egg in a plastic bag and I still use this method for small pieces. I am always surprised to learn that some artisans who seem quite accomplished, do not know about or use this easy, chemical-free method to oxidize silver or copper and give it an antique look.
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| A Warm Hardboiled Egg Squished in a Plastic Ziplock Bag |
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All you need is a small pot with water, a chicken egg, a small plastic ziplock bag and a piece of metal.
1. Boil the egg until it's hard boiled.
2. Crack the egg and shell it while it is hot.
3. Place it in the plastic bag and mash it up with your fingers.
4. Place the metal piece in the ziplock bag and seal it.
Some pieces oxidize quickly and others take a little longer. When you're done, there is no harmful chemical waste to throw out--just a squished hardboiled egg!
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| Fine Silver Rings Oxidized in Hardboiled Egg |
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| Lightly Oxidized Fine Silver Ring |
The ring in the above picture was lightly oxidized for about 20 minutes--peridot and all. It is now ready for a polish pad to remove most of the oxidation.
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| The Final Finish on Textured Rings |
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Now the textured rings have a chemical free, antique look. Safer for you and safer for--yes--the environment! No messy cleanup. Just throw the bag and the leftover boiled egg in the trash. Good luck. This works great on copper also. How can you use this process?
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