Targeted Patina

by Judy Larson

Patina can add beautiful dimension to textured jewelry pieces. The piece would be pretty without it, but with it, WOW!

However, there are times when covering the entire piece with patina, such as a dip in liver of sulfur will do, is not the desired look. What can be done?

Instructions

Areas without patina can be masked off, but patina may leak under masking on textured pieces.

Sometimes, masking or sealing the area is impractical or impossible.

That's where Midas Black Max patina comes in.

Because it contains hydrochloric acid, gloves and eye protection must be worn when using it in a well-ventilated area.

Follow all precautions and usage instructions on the container carefully.

That said, this product is easy to use.

I didn't want to pour the solution into a container for immersing pieces, as it could splash or tip over.

Plastic refillable watercolor pens offer a perfect solution.

I used an eye dropper to fill the brush tube.

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - , General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, refillable watercolor pens

The brush has discolored since filling the tube, and small black specks have settled at the bottom.

Despite this, the patina still works like a charm.

Only a small amount of liquid is needed when brushing the solution onto metal, which turns black immediately.

Because I don't use it on everything, I still have plenty of liquid left after filling the tube five years ago.

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - , General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, patina in a refillable pen

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - , General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, watercolor refillable brush

To prevent leaking, I store my pen upright alongside pens, pencils, markers, and scratch awls on my desktop.

This way, I won't forget about it.

The original container is kept separately in a cool, dry place with other chemicals, out of reach of children and pets.

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - , General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, patina in specific places

How to use Black Max

Cover your work surface with two layers if you want to protect it from stains, or one layer if you don't mind.

Wear plastic gloves, eye protection, and breathing protection if your workspace is not well ventilated.

Be near a place where you can flush your eyes with water, just to be extra careful.

The great thing about the pen is that the solution is contained and won't splash.

In this project, the goal was to avoid patinating the snap sets to obtain as much sparkle to the CZ's as possible, which would not be possible with liver of sulfur.

Black Max in a water coloring brush pen is easy to use to blacken the surface of the metal. Allow the Black Max to dry.

Since an acid was used, it is best to neutralize it by dipping the pieces in a baking soda water solution and immediately rinsing them. Leaving them in for any length of time will remove much of the blackening.

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - How to use Black Max, General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, patinating specific areas

Use fine sanding pads to remove the patina from the raised areas to highlight the design and texture of the pieces.

Set the CZ's in the snap sets. The brightness of the polished white silver will add extra sparkle to the CZ's.

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - , General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, sanding pads take off patina

Judy Larson's Targeted Patina - , General Education, Oxidizing Wire, Oxidizing, Antiquing Wire, Antiquing, sanding, filing, polishing, patinated pendants

Materials

Metal blanks in a variety of metals

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Sterling Silver Snapsets and Prong Settings

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Swarovski Crystal Beads- Variety of sizes, shapes and colors

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Tools

SANDING SPONGES ASST- 5PC- 1EA GRIT 100-400

ABR-600.90

ABR-600.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $9.95
Gold Club Price: $7.46

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WireJewelry Ultra Pro Micro Abrasive Polishing Pads, 20 pack

G9-5-20PK

G9-5-20PK
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $8.95
Gold Club Price: $6.71

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Plastic refillable watercolor pens

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

Midas Black Max Oxidizer

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

CLEAR SAFETY GLASSES

GLS-120.40

GLS-120.40
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $4.95
Gold Club Price: $3.71

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7 Piece Mini TruStrike Hammer Set with Stand

HAM-520.70

HAM-520.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $140.54
Gold Club Price: $105.40

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Category: General Education
Technique(s): Oxidizing / Antiquing, Finishing

Reviews

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Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!