How to Patina or Clean Various Metals

Sterling Silver

Do you want your sterling silver chain, wire or findings to have a blackened or antique look? You can purchase liver of sulfur via jewelry supply houses but it has a strong smell and is a flammable chemical. If you’d like to patina your sterling silver without hazardous chemicals you can try the boiled egg method. This method is also safe to use on finished jewelry with pearls or stones in it (liver or sulfur may damage pearls and stones.)

Before you attempt to patina the silver you will want to prepare it by completely cleaning all oils from the metal surface. I prefer a strong dish soap like Dawn or Joy. Rinse completely and then rinse again. Use pliers or tweezers to handle the metal as the oils from your hands will leave a residue that will affect the patina. Dry with paper towels or a cloth towel washed without fabric softener.

You will need one chicken egg, in the shell. Hard boil the egg for at least 7 minutes. When the egg is boiled and still hot, cut it in half and place it in the bottom of a glass container (I use a large glass Mason jar.) You’ do not have to peel it. Suspend your jewelry or wire from the top of the container and attach the lid firmly. If you went to the trouble of peeling the egg and want to eat it, put the container in the fridge. If you don’t want to eat the egg, you can let the container sit on the counter. Allow the silver to ‘soak’ in the egg sulfur for 24 hours. If the patina is not dark enough, repeat with a fresh egg.

To create ‘highlights’ on a textured metal surface or on chain you can rub the patina-ed metal with a polishing cloth. The edges will clean up and the recessed areas will stay dark.

Cleaning Copper

To clean copper you can try a fresh cut lemon (bottled lemon juice doesn't work) and salt. Make a slurry of the salt and lemon juice and soak the copper in it. The copper will brighten considerably. You may need to repeat a few times if the copper is especially dark. If you can scrub at the copper with a toothbrush dipped in the lemon/salt mixture it will help, especially for ‘green’ areas.

Patina on Copper

Here are several different methods of patina-ing copper. The methods below are non-hazardous but vary somewhat in their ‘icky’ factor. Chemicals to do this are widely available, check a local paint store (not a big box hardware store but an old fashioned paint store) if you want a chemical method.

Before you attempt to patina the copper you will want to prepare it by completely cleaning all oils from the metal surface. I prefer a strong dish soap like Dawn or Joy. Rinse completely and then rinse again. Use pliers or tweezers to handle the metal as the oils from your hands will leave a residue that will affect the patina. Dry with paper towels or a cloth towel washed without fabric softener if you want a more even
patina.

Copper takes on patina (darkening to brown and eventually producing green scale) in response to ammonia in the air. Try burying your copper in used cat litter for a nice green scale. Or submerge in a glass container of urine. You can also hang the metal in your shower for a few weeks to get a patina.

To seal the patina on copper you can use clear acrylic latex paint in a spray can. I prefer Rustoleum as it goes on in very thin coats and doesn't dry as shiny as other brands. Use several thin coats, allowing it to dry completely for two hours between coats.