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Nichrome Wire Turned Black
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:34 pm
by Melissa Terman
Recently, I read on the board a recommendation for nichrome wire. It's supposed to stay shiny? Mine turned black. I actually like the result, but it was not what I was planning on. If I want it shiny, what does a girl have to do?
Please, no advice that includes odd rituals, praying, incantations and/or sacrifices.
Thanks for your help.
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:40 pm
by Geri Comstock
Darn...no advice requiring the usual offerings to the kiln gods? That's my favorite kind! LOL.
Okay, well, here's the scoop without a ritual. I'd guess that your nichrome wire had some kind of contamination on it which burned to create a black finish.
If you want to get it off, you can clean it in an ultrasonic cleaner, perhaps, or buff it off.
Geri
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 10:02 pm
by Kitty
u gotta buff it.
mine doesnt turn black, but it comes out dull gunmetal gray.
i buff it with felt buff on a Foredom flexishaft, with some Diamond Brite buffing compound from Rio Grande. the Diamond Brite leaves some gunk residue, just a very small amount, which can be cleaned off with a little soap and water and toothbrush, or drop in a tumble vibe. i use a tumble vibe ... one less thing for me to do.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:49 am
by jerry flanary
No matter how weird it gets, it never gets weird enough for me...
Please, no advice that includes odd rituals, praying, incantations and/or sacrifices.
Sheesh, make up your mind, lady!
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:40 am
by rodney
can you tell me what you are using the wire for
thanks
rodney
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:44 am
by Kitty
eh! Rodney ,,,,,,,,, you talkin' ta me?
nichrome wire can be fused into earrings, formed into tiny loop, with excess clipped off.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:09 am
by rodney
hey there,,,,,,i use for this purpose FINE SILVER WIRE,,,*NOT STERLING*, its very cheap in the size that is needed, and its a precious metal,,,,,maybe this will solve the problem of wire prep,,,rodney
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 3:14 am
by Kitty
i'll have to see how the pricing is on a big spool of 22 gauge fine silver wire. i'm aware that it supposedly comes out of the kiln looking good ... i have never fired any to do a test. one thing that has kept me from doing this is the amount of wire that i snip off ... it seems wasteful, unless i were to do some silver castings, which isnt in my Top 10 at the moment. but thanks for your input Rodney ,,,, i appreciate it.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:36 pm
by Melissa Terman
No matter how weird it gets, it never gets weird enough for me...
Please, no advice that includes odd rituals, praying, incantations and/or sacrifices.
Sheesh, make up your mind, lady!
Jerry, I thought I did make up my mind. I don't like appeasing unknown forces, but I do enjoy the bizarre. Merely voyeuristic though.
Rodney, I do work with fine silver...alot...but the silver reacts to some colors (i don't always want to cap in clear) and I thought nichrome could be the answer. And, of course it's stronger than fine silver if you're extending out of the glass like for a jewelry connection.
Thanks everyone for your input. Most appreciated.