Accidental discovery about copper green and turquoise........

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

O.K. So I Made these beads yesterday, and when I got them out of the kiln this morning I was not liking them much. You know how reheating turns Copper Green and Turqouise gray with that metal sheen? It's great when you want it but not on these. So I was just gonna etch em. It made me sick to think about loosing the transparent colbalt look.......anyway I did my spacers first and I always do them while they are still on the mandrel, 7 of them at a time.....and when I tried to fit them in the bottle the etch wouldn't cover the top one, so I took it out after 2 seconds in there to slide them down the mandrel a little further...and when I ran them under the water all that gray washed down the drain! I saved my beads and learned a new trick I thought I'd share!! WOW! I am so happy to know this!
~Suzy~
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/rhapsodyfirebeads1/cobalt6le.jpg

[adee]

O.K. So I Made these beads yesterday, and when I got them out of the kiln this morning I was not liking them much. You know how reheating turns Copper Green and Turqouise gray with that metal sheen? It's great when you want it but not on these. So I was just gonna etch em. It made me sick to think about loosing the transparent colbalt look.......anyway I did my spacers first and I always do them while they are still on the mandrel, 7 of them at a time.....and when I tried to fit them in the bottle the etch wouldn't cover the top one, so I took it out after 2 seconds in there to slide them down the mandrel a little further...and when I ran them under the water all that gray washed down the drain! I saved my beads and learned a new trick I thought I'd share!! WOW! I am so happy to know this!
~Suzy~
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a25/rhapsodyfirebeads1/cobalt6le.jpg

Thank you Suzy!! I needed this information. Thanks for sharing it.
~Adriana :biggrin:

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

You are welcome! Sorry about the light photo! It didn't look like that in photoshop.
~Suzy~

[Listenup]

WHINK (a brand of rust remover available at Wal-Mart or Ace Hardware online) (http://www.acehardware.com/sm-whink-liquid-rust-stain-remover-pack--pi-1419417.html) is supposed to etch only opaques and not transparents. I haven't ever tested this, but if the movers ever actually deliver my household goods...and my torch...I'll give it a go to see for myself.

-Kay :waving:

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

That would be really cool Kaye! Please let us know if it works! Anyone else tried this?
~Suzy~

[kimberly]

Yes. It does work. I have used a Q-tip with a small amount of etchall on it to remove the gray from both turquoise and copper green. However, as both of those colors are somewhat soft, you need to be REALLY careful to not etch for too long. In and out of the etchall (a second or less) is all you really need, and sometimes even that will etch them slightly. Coke works better for me with no etching. Takes longer, but works great!!!

[Listenup]

I may travel without my torch, but never without beads. I did choose one of my precious few that I have with me and just put it in some WHINK for a test. I'll let you know later today how it turns out.

-Kay
(the one without an e ;-))

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

Thanks Kimberly!!! I have never tried the coke thing.

Kaye! Please post a pic??
Thanks!
~Suzy~

[suzanne]

You could also put them in toilet bowl cleaner ( I believe Stephanie knows wich brand to use)
Suzanne

[Lizabeads]

I heard or read Snow Bowl..

[krista michael]

The toilet bowl cleaner is The Works and it's 94 cents at Wal-Mart, I know because I just bought some yesterday. 5 minutes, give or take a few minutes either way and it works great!

[Lizabeads]

The toilet bowl cleaner is The Works and it's 94 cents at Wal-Mart, I know because I just bought some yesterday. 5 minutes, give or take a few minutes either way and it works great!
I'm gonna have the cleanest toilets !! I'll try that kind today...

[suzanne]

Are you gonna hang the beads in the toilet then??? Your beads should be clean.. toilet is another issue;)

[flamewerks]

I use liquid silver polish like Tarn-X to remove silvering on turquoise, copper green and the like. No worry about etching at all. I have forgotten beads in the jar for weeks and have had no problems with etching.

-Mona

[Lizabeads]

Are you gonna hang the beads in the toilet then??? Your beads should be clean.. toilet is another issue;)
That's not a bad idea.. might remind someone to clean the toilet besides me!!