Copper The Alternative Metal in Jewelry Making

Published On: 02-16-2012 06:56pm

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Category: Craft Talk

Copper can be used in jewelry as an alternative to gold and silver. Gold is way too expensive and sterling has increased 5 times its market value in the last 6 years. So, many jewelry artisans are using copper in their jewelry creations. Copper is also the main component in brass and bronze, which also is used in jewelry making. It is believed that copper has healing qualities especially for arthritis and rheumatism.

Copper is easily recognized by its reddish color. Commercial copper is practically pure, 99.9%. It does tarnish quickly so it is important to keep it stored properly when not in use. Anti-tarnish paper is commercially available that is often used with sterling metal to prevent tarnish can also be used with copper, gold, and brass. Just add a several pieces to your jewelry box. Even better, put your jewelry in small recloseable bag along with a piece of anti-tarnish paper and then place this in your jewelry box.

Copper is very malleable, more so than sterling silver, which can be formed and shaped easier than silver metal. It also becomes work hardened more quickly. When working with copper, the bending, filing, and hammering can quickly make copper very hard and could break if overworked.

Once done with making a copper piece, apply flux to your piece, anneal the copper by applying heat from a propane torch until red, allow to cool for about 10 seconds and then place in a solution of pickle (diluted sulfuric acid) till it turns bright copper, then rinse in water. This makes the copper very soft and may need to be slightly hardened to help keep its shape. However, you can allow the copper to cool longer after annealing to make the copper harder. But, I like my copper soft so that after the burnishing/polishing process my pieces will become slightly hardened anyways. For example, making ear wires, once annealed and pickled, rinsed with water, take a polishing cloth and polish your copper pieces, the rubbing action will slightly harden the ear wires.

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