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~

[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!!