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.
copper wire turning black
Moderator: Tony Smith
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Re: copper wire turning black
try electrical wire
Copper in craft wire could just be plated.
Copper in craft wire could just be plated.
Re: copper wire turning black
thank you
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Re: copper wire turning black
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
Tony
The tightrope between being strange and being creative is too narrow to walk without occasionally landing on both sides..." Scott Berkun
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Re: copper wire turning black
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
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
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Re: copper wire turning black
[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.
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.