Copper Green turning gray in kiln

[DawnT]

I made some beads yesterday with dark amethyst as a base and squiggles of copper green stringer. They went in the kiln looking fine but came out with gray squiggles instead of green. I have a chili pepper tool box kiln. Any suggestions?

[Erica]

I am so going to watch this thread-the same thing happens to me, (I use a Skutt GM10F) and it's frustrating. I've found that etching turns it back into a pretty minty green again, but I don't want to etch everything I make with copper green, you know?

[Mr. Smiley]

Suzy said if you dip in the etch stuff for a few seconds, the gray comes right off and doesn't etch. I just buff with some rough and it comes right off too. Hope this helps. :D

[DawnT]

Oh great I'll do that now! Thanks!

[Kaye]

you can soak them in real coke that should help...also when working with copper green...the less time spent in the kiln the less this problem might not happen...if you soaked them alllllllllllllllllllll day long....that can help it along...vs making them end of the day before you ramp down

ps...when you only have it happen lightly on places on the bead, you can use a sunshine polishing cloth (the kind for sterling silver) and that will sometimes take it off to

[DawnT]

you can soak them in real coke that should help...also when working with copper green...the less time spent in the kiln the less this problem might not happen...if you soaked them alllllllllllllllllllll day long....that can help it along...vs making them end of the day before you ramp down

ps...when you only have it happen lightly on places on the bead, you can use a sunshine polishing cloth (the kind for sterling silver) and that will sometimes take it off to

Thanks Kaye, These were the first beads I made yesterday so they were literally in the kiln all day long.

I dipped them in etching cream and it came off but they were etched. That's ok I think they look nice anyway. I think I read that toilet bowl cleaner will work for this too??

[evenia]

I have that happen all the time with that color. I buff them with really fine steel wool. It works great then I wash them.

[krista michael]

The Works toilet bowl cleaner. 97 cents from Wal-Mart. Soak for 5-10 minutes, rinse off. Works every time!

[Rhapsody Fire Beads]

Yes! Just a quick 2 second dip and the metal grey magically disapears without etching the bead!!
Cool trick!!!
~SuzY~

[Solana]

I like the look of the copper green when it turns gray/metallic and use it in my designs! Here's an image of beads I made for a custom order I received using this technique.

http://www.sirwatson.com/images/co_antiquedcopper.jpg

If I want to make beads with lots of minty green, I stay away from the copper green and use Vetrofond Sea Green (unless I want to use the reactions copper green has with some colors).

Here's a picture of that glass (taken from Frantz Art):

http://www.frantzartglass.com/mmFRANTZART/Images/791926thumb.JPG

[Kikki]

I always keep a bottle of coke in the fridge just for the purpose of cleaning copper green beads. It works fine even when it's gone flat.
Sometimes I have to leave them in the coke for a day or so, this technique is not for the impatient! But on the other hand; coke is a lot safer to use than toilet bowl cleaner or etching liquid.

[natty]

hi,

if You encase the coper green parts, this will not happen