How to keep the patina

[HildesJewelry]

I oxidized the silver and I want to keep the silver as dark as possible, sometimes. But when I wire wrapped, some of the patina is rubbed off, when I bend the wire.
Is there anything to do to prevent this?

[BakerStDesignsCo]

what metal and oxidizer are you using? it shouldn't rub off of sterling at all....but on copper, some will rub off.

[HildesJewelry]

I use sterling silver. It`s when I bend the wire it fells off flakes.

[BakerStDesignsCo]

that's odd. it's never happened to me. Are you SURE it's sterling silver and not plated? because if it's silver plated on copper, that may happen....are you using LOS or silver black, etc.? I've never had problems with those.

[HildesJewelry]

It`s 935 silver, and I`m very sure it`s not plated or something. I use liquid LOS.

[BarronDesignStudio]

If the los is flaking it means it's to thick on the sterling and just sitting on the surface. Try the dip and rinse method. Heat the los, dip the silver, rinse, dip again, and so on. The metal goes through different colors, each time a little darker. I find using a brass brush as I rinse the piece helps the process too, and evens the color out.

[BakerStDesignsCo]

do you mean .925 sterling?

[HildesJewelry]

Thank you :-)
It`s 935 silver, a bit higher than 925.

[HildesJewelry]

barrondesignstudio,
How shall I dip it when the water is so hot?

[BakerStDesignsCo]

very cool.....I didn't know .935 existed.......nice.
you can hang it on a string or use copper tongs to dip, etc.. Don't use steel tongs, it will contaminate the metals.

[bddesigns]

Can you oxidize the piece AFTER you bend it? But I would still say to oxidize in layers as was mentioned...it shouldn't flake off for the customer either...

[HildesJewelry]

3sweetpeasjewelry,
Thank you for the tips.
935 silver aren`t common, but I`ve seen it a few places.

[HildesJewelry]

bddesigns
I might be able to oxidize after i`ve bend it. At least sometimes ;-)