copper wire turning black

[raphy]

Is there a spray to use to keep the copper wire looking like copper after I have fired it. I like to make masks with copper coming out of the glass for beads. When I look at other artists' work their copper looks like copper, mine looks black even after wire brushing it does not look wonderful. Is there a certain wire that is better than the usual craft shop type, ( maybe that is not solid copper ).
Thankyou.

[Kevin Midgley]

try electrical wire
Copper in craft wire could just be plated.

[raphy]

thank you

[Tony Smith]

Reaching way back, I remember people using a borax solution (dissolve borax in alcohol) to dip their wire in it prior to putting it in for firing. I think they used regular laundry borax.

Tony

[jim simmons]

What tony said. The borax turns to glass and protects the wire.
Make the solution as strong as you can.
You can also use water to dissolve the borax.
Hot water and keep adding borax until no more will dissolve.
The other Jim

[Goldfinger]

[quote="jim simmons"]What tony said. The borax turns to glass and protects the wire.
Make the solution as strong as you can.
You can also use water to dissolve the borax.
Hot water and keep adding borax until no more will dissolve.
The other Jim[/quote]

This is called a super saturated solution.