Blackening silver

eastslope

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Hello, I was just wondering what everyone uses to blacken silver, and or what is the process. Has anyone tried it on argentum silver. That most recent posted braclett was "oxidized", and have no clue how to do this. Thanks, seth
 

bronc

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Seth,
If I want to oxidize a piece, I either use "silver black" or "liver of sulfer". Both are available from most any jewelry supply. After blacking the piece, I either use a pink pearl eraser or 4/0 steel wool to remove the excess black and wind up with an antiqued finish. If I just want to darken my engraving, but leave the top of the silver bright I use either black paint or 'Grobet Background Antique" for this. Good luck.
Stewart
 

DakotaDocMartin

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Grand Forks, ND
Blackening Argentium Silver

Hello, I was just wondering what everyone uses to blacken silver, and or what is the process. Has anyone tried it on argentum silver. That most recent posted braclett was "oxidized", and have no clue how to do this. Thanks, seth

The Argentium silver blackens the best with the acidic commercial products for antiquing such as Griffith Silver Black or Midas Black Max. The traditional liver of sulfur doesn't work as fast nor as well with the Argentium Silver probably because of the germanium that is part of the alloy.
 

Tim Wells

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I use cold blue solution on brass and silver but I've never tried it on argentium. I have a scrap piece in the shop that I'll try it out on for you tomorrow and I'll update this post with the results. I use Brownells Oxpo cold blue by the way. Makes a nice deep flat black.
 

eastslope

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Thanks for the hand guys. I will order some of that stuff and give'er a try. Thanks a bunch, Seth
 

Arnaud Van Tilburgh

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Oct 3, 2008
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Belgium
Eastslope, to make silver black I use thinned chlorine, the big bottles you use for disinfect the toilet etc.
It makes white stains on your clothing.
For the parts you don't want them to become black, I use nail polish, the colour is not important :D

arnaud
 
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