How to Oxidize Copper Jewelry

Mimic the look of naturally oxidized copper.

A new piece of copper has a warm, shiny, orange-pink glow. Through exposure to oxygen, it will begin to form a layer of black-brown oxide. Many people consider this the charm of genuine copper, and desire this look. If you have a copper item and prefer the oxidized look but do not want to wait years for it to develop, use natural or chemical ingredients to accelerate the process.

Things You'll Need

• Pot
• Water
• Eggs or liver of sulfur
• Plastic zip-close bag or small glass jar
• Spoon or metal tongs
• Cutting board

Instructions

Natural Method

1. Boil two to four eggs in a pot of water for about 15 minutes.

2. Remove the boiled eggs and place them on a cutting board. Crush the eggs including the shell using a spoon.

3. Place the crushed eggs in a plastic zip-close bag. Choose a large enough bag to accommodate your item. As an alternative, you can use a large airtight container.

4. Place the copper item in the plastic bag and zip the top. If you place more than one item in the bag, do not allow the two items to touch so that they will oxidize on all sides. Make sure to include the egg yolks, because they contain the sulfur that oxides the copper.

5. Remove the items from the plastic bag using metal tongs after 20 minutes. You will see that the item has turned darker. If you prefer a darker patina, leave the item in the bag overnight.

6. Remove the item from the bag and rinse it with lukewarm water to remove the eggs.

Chemical Method

1. Fill an old glass jar with hot tap water. For a small item, such as a necklace or earrings, use an 8-oz. jar.

2. Drop a pea-size lump of liver of sulfur into the jar of water.

3. Drop the item you want to oxidize into the solution for a few seconds. Copper turns black almost immediately. As an alternate method, dip the item into the water for a couple of seconds. Continue dipping it until it becomes as dark as you want.

4. Rinse the items with cold water once it has the amount of oxidation you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the pieces of copper that you plan to oxidize using a soft, dry cloth. This will ensure that debris does not cause uneven oxidation.

• You can find liver of sulfur in a liquid or gel form.

• If you prefer a patina, mix one part bleach with one part vinegar and spray it on the item everyday for a week or more. Leave the item exposed to oxygen and it will develop a green coating.

• Remove the oxidation from a copper surface by rubbing it with fine steel wool.

• This process will not work on copper-coated wire. If it is coated, soak it in nail polish remover to dissolve the coating.

References

• Beading Help Web: Egg Your Jewelry!
• Beading Daily: The ABCs of Oxidizing
• Jewelry Lessons: Oxidizing Copper
• Etsy: Tips on Using Liver of Sulphur