How to Polish and Finish Copper Jewellery

Learn the methods and options for polishing and finishing your copper Jewellery with this guide.
For more hints, tips and projects, visit www.createwithcopper.co.uk

[@mrgorky777]

OMG! I am self-taught and this tutorial was desperately needed. Which grit and polishing gizmo to use has been demystified finally.

[@MindlessMum16]

Excellent copper finishing info. Easy to understand, to the point and very well filmed. Thanks so much.

[@LilyTree]

Thank you!

[@seanlinnan2719]

Very helpful. I'm trying to get my copper Cuban bracelet to shine like a gold one. And thrn seal it so it wont tarnish fast. This is exactly what I was looking for

[@artisanarts2045]

You're such a great teacher! Thank you!

[@lass-inangeles7564]

Thank you, Lily! Most informative! For US viewers: 'Pendulum' polisher means Dremel Rotary with a Shaft extension kit which can be hung on a stand. It is the standard Dremel tool that you see in nail salons, and woodworking. I also found a cheaper alternative for wax. Renaissance Wax costs $15 for 65 ml or 2.5 oz. You can buy the EJ Eaton Microcrystalline Wax 8 oz for $19 on Amazon. Same item, good reviews. Microcrystalline Wax is not the same as carnuba wax or beeswax. MC Wax Polish is derived from crude oil and has polyethylene compounds and dries to seal the item. Renaissance Wax is a brand of microcrystalline wax polish that is encountered in antique restoration and museum conservation. It is also used for the polish and conservation of gemstones and of organic materials such as wood, ivory, and tortoiseshell.

[@richardbouska1504]

Thank you so much I am trying to learn more about polishing and sealing copper jewelry and your comment helped tremendously!☺Very much appreciated! Many thanks!

[@kimcampbell1816]

Thank you so much for this! I've been making pieces and wondered about finishing them properly. I bought Renaissance wax but wasn't entirely sure how to finish of a piece. I'll have to be sure to buff and polish first. Great video!

[@juliejelaco5208]

Can you add a list of the products you used please, this can be very helpful to all us watching. Thank you

[@jaymewitcher1183]

thank you! thank you, thank you! I appreciate that wonderful video as usual. such a great job showing it as usual. simple but looked great! I am sure others will appreciate it too! I love your work and videos.... so glad you joined the utube family! jayme

[@LilyTree]

awww, thank you, and you're welcome!

[@briansimmons9242]

Thank you for such a straightforward and practical "how to" vid. Very helpful

[@LilyTree]

Thank you and you're welcome!

[@savannahmurdza1148]

this was truly fantastic. thank you so so much for your teachings

[@natalieloban3911]

Love your tutorials!

[@ceafva]

Thank you VERY much. One of my weak spots is polishing. I turned to youtube to see how I can improve my skills. This video was to the point, just the right info...perfect to help me. Again, thank you. I've subscribed and will look for additional videos you have.

[@LilyTree]

Thank you! I'm glad it helped! There seem to be so many choices when it comes to polishing tools! I think the trick is to get the basics down, then experiment with the different tools/materials until you find your favourites. 🙂

[@susane945]

Thanks! So helpful! ❤❤

[@susane945]

Always very informative. Thank you. 🏵️❤️

[@kurokenji9153]

Thank you for the video! It was really helpful

[@stlounsbury]

Very helpful, thank you so much.

[@sutela2060]

Thank you for your good and helpful video 🙏❤️

[@fatimabttt]

Brilliant information

[@clareclare6390]

Thank you so much for the polishing information. I have been trying to figure out how to keep my copper Viking knit bracelet from turning so I am looking forward to trying out the information you have provided.

[@LilyTree]

Thank you! Copper certainly loves to oxidise! I'm still experimenting with options for sealing it, so hopefully I'll get another video out on that in the near future.

[@RosaButton]

Thank you, excellent instructions

[@LilyTree]

Thank you! I'm glad they're useful! 😃

[@karenw8929]

Thank you for covering the different types of wheels. Also, as far as I can tell Renaissance wax is available in both EU and US. I use it to seal paintings.

[@LEDewey_MD]

Very helpful!

[@LilyTree]

So glad!

[@eileenshousekeeping]

You are awesome thank you

[@sandybrown1529]

You are such a great teacher, and do beautiful work with jewelry. The wax and polishing items can they be found in the same department that you get your wires and craft products?? I have seen so many of your items that are just beautiful, and you take your time and speak soft and slow that anyone should be able to understand what you are doing. Please keep up the great work for us. Thank you so much. Love you as a fan........

[@annploetz8916]

Thank you for the excellent information. I personally don't like Renaissance Wax for wire wrapped weaved pieces. I think Protectaclear works so much better.

[@shelbymichaels7084]

Thanks for your informative videos. They are so helpful and your instructions are so lucid and precise. I have read that a tumbler will help to take burrs off copper jump rings. I have had an impossible time trying to file them down evenly. Will a tumbler with pyramids help or is there another method you recommend? Also, what is your opinion about using a clear spray gloss to protect the copper piece? Thanks for your help. Keep up the great tutorials!

[@gailgwood]

Thank you so much!

[@liudas000]

For hands - try gloves for glass industry. Those are extremely thin, slim fit, let the skin to breath, but at the same time is cut proof.

[@veronicamartinez5625]

Really nice video, thank you so much beautiful :)

[@LilyTree]

Thank you and you're welcome! 😃

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

Thanks for the tips...I've been scouring Ebay and Amazon and wasn't sure which one to buy...I'll type in microcrystalline wax and see what happens lol!

[@Mary_D.]

Hi, thanks for your wonderful videos. I would like to ask if you can use the wax on stones as well?

[@mediyarangi2991]

Hiya, thank you very much for all your tutorials. Very helpful indeed. I saw your comment below about Protectaclear. I've been using this product recently as well. It really has a great finish and so far it's lasted a good while. Do you have any suggestions about how to clean copper pieces that have been coated with Protectaclear? I understand that this product stops it from oxidizing and tarnishing but it still gets a bit dirty after a while and becomes dull. Would you recommend using a silver polish cloth or a Sunshine cloth? Or would they be too abrasive? Or just a microfiber cloth? Thanks so much in advance.

[@richardbouska1504]

Thank you so much I am trying to learn about how to polish and seal copper, this video was very helpful! ☺Thank you!

[@amandathompson4692]

Very helpful information. I have some silicone wheels and points but hate the mess that they make so I've mainly been using the radial discs and even doing much of the work by hand because I find it relaxing and i can take it in where I watch tv in the evening. Do you have any tips for keeping your bench clean when using the silicone products? My hands still get dirty when i polish by hand (and pretty rough too!), but I make less of a mess. I'm wondering if I'm using them incorrectly. Thanks again, I enjoy your channel.

[@eileenshousekeeping]

Which Drexel did you use? I had the foredom flex shaft but I see prices have gone up. Thank you again for being a blessing, this is exactly what I needed to know. 🇺🇸

[@benambadshahkpk9572]

Nice 👍 and informative vedio, but what's the proper name of luxe and other tool which is used before buffing buffing

[@boenviecharm]

When you use the wax with more fragile items does it make items more solid.

[@dainamarieschreiber5195]

I've tried the Rennaisance Wax on a few pieces, but it has a really strong petroleum smell that seems to linger on the piece. How do you get rid of it?

[@jaimemozo6796]

Hi Lily Nice video , I tried polishing my copper jewels and they where looking amazing and shinny like a mirror, after a few day they turned kind of Violet and blue colour like when metal Burns , im a little worried because I think ive damaged some nice peaces , what could It be ?

[@rhondateris2711]

Thank you so much Teresa! I'm wondering why you would use the rouge if you are going to patina a piece anyway......?

[@LilyTree]

Thank you! I don't always, but usually it is if I want the final piece to be as shiny as possible. So once you've used the patina, you don't need to do much buffing work on the high points to bring that shine back. I expect others might reverse the order, but my thinking is that if I leave polishing until after, I'll be too heavy handed and end up removing all the patina! Of course, if you want more of a satin finish you don't need to polish that far.

[@BlooStorm1]

Thx so much for your video. What handpiece are you using? I have a Foredom flexshaft I used to use for cutting jumprings for chainmaille, but now I do wire weaving and am looking for a reasonable handpiece to do what you’re doing. Do other products like a dremel handpiece work with a Foredom.? Thx in advance for your response.

[@LilyTree]

I've got a Foredom Flexshaft too! My handpiece is the quick change one (H20 I think) which makes swapping the burrs and buffs easier, but the standard one should work too. When I got it I did agonise over which handpiece to get - and chose convenience over versatility - but the ideal solution is probably to have both! I'm not sure if the dremel handpieces fit. From memory I think there are a couple (maybe more) types of fittings that flexshafts use, but I'm not sure which are cross compatible. I seem to remember the fitting has a name (or number) though, so if you can find that it should be easy to look up.

[@judydejong3789]

Lots of good information, thank you. I have a question: Sometimes I use liver of sulfur to oxidize my copper pendants, followed by using steel wool to remove the excess.. After that step, I notice when I apply the rouge, my polishing felt wheel gets black from the oxidation. Is there any way around this, or should I polish my piece with rouge first, and then oxidize the pendant second? But I still want the shiny, polished look after oxidation...

[@LilyTree]

Yes, I do tend to polish my pieces first, so I can concentrate on working through the grades and get the shine that I want. I do try to 'miss' the low points, though, so the patina has a bit more to get a grip on! 😄 Once I've oxidized it, and used the steel wool, if I want a higher shine I'll then polish the high points again - and this usually only needs doing lightly. I do find that rouge tends to make the felt wheel black anyway - with or without patina. I'd recommend trying the silicone/rubber polishing burrs - you can get fine grades for a high shine finish. I feel that they give a bit more control over where I'm polishing and seem to last longer before I replace them (they just slowly wear down). I hope that helps!

[@yowgyrl]

How long would the crystalline wax work to prevent jewelry from turning skin green? Is it permanent, or does it need to be re-applied periodically?

[@andrewe3165]

How do you remove red rouge after polishing?

[@endlesschoices9034]

Where can I buy the full kit

[@kelseyharper4225]

Is there a link to the video of preventing the skin from turning green?

[@ganapathyv5161]

Hi I need your help.i make copper rings and bracelets. I do polish with rouge with polishing motor . Immediately after I polish I pack it in plastic. But after some time even it is sealed properly(out of moisture) the color tarnishes. Please advise . Iam so thankful

[@liankok5422]

if we use polisher stone like this, is electric still work or. polisher become isolator??

[@urspendy]

how long does the wax usually keep the piece from tarnishing? what should I tell customers about maintaining it?

[@SuperTuffgirl]

Oh I didn’t know that. My apologies. ❤️

[@LilyTree]

No worries! I wish it was spelled the same both sides of the pond - it would make life simpler! 😀

[@aura.demeter]

Can i use beeswax instead ?

[@johnk8628]

Hello. After you buff those what do you apply to keep oxidization at bay ? I stay in a third world country and sealant sprays, renaissance wax etc is not available here. I am also confused about lacquer technique / plating / clear coat sealant / brasso - do all these methods provide the same final result? can you suggest something?

[@LilyTree]

Hi John, I haven't tried everything, but my current favourite is protectaclear from Everbrite. I suspect that might be another one that isn't available there, though. It is a liquid lacquer-type coating, which seems to wear better than wax (which was my initial go-to). Each of the methods you mention will have slightly different results, so you probably need to test them to figure out what works best for you. I'd be inclined to try a clear sealant/lacquer and see how it works. One thing to bear in mind is how much you're finished pieces flex and whether your chosen sealant will flex with it, or crack. Sorry I can't be more help at this stage. If you do find something that works, please let me know. I think at some point I need to do a comparison video testing out some different choices, but I suspect that worldwide availability will always be an issue.

[@johnk8628]

I will let you know after i test it. Talked with few owners of chemical stuff and experts - all suggested me that I should bend the strip before I apply the sealant spray. Other wise it may crack. Unless I dip my hands in it..I wont be able to tell 100% exactly. Yeah - material availablity is always an issue

[@verosilvaaguilera7879]

Really complicated to find some here at the end of the world in Chile. Thanks for your teaching. I've been looking for painting copper with fire, but my cuestion is if it will change the colour...keep looking and learning. Thanks again you really give an excellent class

[@pedranovadenovo9419]

Hi, where can I buy wire strands?

[@buraktalhayalcn7464]

Selamlar✋🇹🇷🇦🇿

[@DianeSwett]

Thank You - what is the name of the Wax you use.

[@LilyTree]

It's renaissance wax. I've also started using Protectaclear from Everbrite, which is a liquid you can paint on and lasts a bit longer for items worn close to the skin.

[@lass-inangeles7564]

@@LilyTree Even though Everbrite and ProtectaClear have some similar characteristics, they are different coatings and are made from different resins. ProtectaClear is a harder resin that is better on highly polished metals. Everbrite has UV blockers and is a little thicker and is better for painted metals, anodized metals and rusted metal. If you would like to know which coating is better for your project, check out the decision flow chart on each Everbrite and ProtectaClear product listed on Amazon.

[@danism2563]

Hello Lily, I learn a lot from your tutorials. You really help people and I really appreciate. I make copper knit bracelet and polish with different color dialux but the shining is fading and it turns to original copper color after few days. So does this "Renaissance wax" protect the shining or is there any other way to keep it shining for longer. Thank you very much

[@flair4crafts894]

I love copper but am frustrated with it. You can polish copper and by the time it gets to the customer it will be tarnish :( It does not stays polished for too long :(

[@FrancisR420]

What do any of these steps have to do with Polish and Finnish jewelry? Also you spelled Finnish wrong in the title.

[@Pine_pawz]

mmmm. I think to finish /finish is right. Finnish means someone from Finland.

[@mawi1172]

Where's the tutorial for this ring? 🙄

[@SuperTuffgirl]

Jewelry is spelled with one l. 😀

[@LilyTree]

Only in American English! 😉

[@paulkorakas8778]

you definite you know what you are teaching, your english is not the perfect one for millions of foreigners. we learn the abc english it seems has handreds of accents try to have something writen at same time. and you speak fast.unless d emonstration is addressed for people from your country...sub in written so tobe able to follow at same time.

[@crossphase1000]

I don’t care for jewelry from Poland or Finland.