Jewelry Transformation: Adding Patina and Shine

Finishing Your Wire Wrapped Jewelry with Patina, Polish, and Metal Sealant
Start with Bare, Raw, or Uncoated wires for this process...
Hey friends! I hope this video helps you a bit in your wire wrapped jewelry adventure! I get a lot of questions about how I finish my wire wrapped and wire weaved jewelry, so I made this video for us! In this video, you'll read a bit, then watch a motion video on that subject. I'll take you through the finishing processes of how to add Patina, the final Polishing, and how to apply Metal Sealant to protect your finished jewelry. I hope you enjoy it!
Click each of these timestamps 00:00 to go straight there. ;)
** Patina Dip and Neutralizer - motion video starts at 3:36 minutes
Scrub out patina - motion starts at 5:13 minutes
Dremel polishing - motion starts at 9:13 minutes
Second Wash - motion at 11:35 minutes
Metal Sealant - motion at 12:35 minutes
Please remember to subscribe and feel free to drop me a question or comment any time. I love hearing from us and what your thoughts and ideas are about my videos. If you don't want to read the still images but just want to watch the motion video portions, then see the timestamps and just advance the video to those times.
Thanks!!
NOTE: ** A friend of mine mentioned something important about disposing of the liver of sulfur after you're done with patina and I didn't mention it in my video!! It's best to neutralize the liver of sulfur bath before you pour it down the drain. It is safe with just running water for a few minutes, but I normally pour my neutralizer solution into the drain right after I pour out the cup of LOS.
If you have questions, feel free to reach out - I also keep a Community page at the link below, you can read up about my upcoming videos there too ;)
/ perfectlytwistedjewelry
Some Discussion:
While I disclose all the products I use, please note that I do not make money from any of them (I am not an affiliate of anything)... I only offer my own experiences and what I like using.
Q. When is your jewelry done?
First, after the wrap... you can be done. None of the finishing processes have to be done at all to sell, or to enjoy your gorgeous creations!
Patina to Polish to Sealant....
Q. What is Patina?
It's the deliberate process of darkening (oxidizing a.k.a. tarnishing) your metal wires for the purpose of creating an 'antique' look. It's done with a product known as Liver of Sulphur that can be purchased online at jewelry supply sites and/or at several local hobby and bead stores. It smells like rotten eggs and you should work in a ventilated space. I use CoolTools Patina Gel ... here's the link www.cooltools.us
This process also highlights the wire weave and intricately layered designs brilliantly! The exchange is more 'work' to the jewelry. Patina possibly adds polishing and sealing considerations and time!
What if I patina my metal and just leave it that way?
The metal will be rough and dirty... the oxidation will rub off as black streaks on your skin or clothing. This is why I normally continue with Polishing and Sealing the metal.
When finishing jewelry with Patina... we usually polish to create a deliberate shine that highlights wires, weaves, and layers of intricate design.
Q. What is Polishing?
It's the process of not only cleaning your metal but also rubbing away some of the oxidation you just created by the patina process. We polish to create shine and highlight design details.
So why would I seal my metal jewelry?
It preserves your deliberate finish, it protects the metal from skin and air and habits of wearing (such as lotion on hands or makeup)...The shine lasts longer and easily comes back with a quick wipe.
Q. What is Metal Sealant?
It's a substance that resembles clear fingernail polish, that can be applied to your metal jewelry, to protect them from air, water, skin, and wear. Work in a ventilated space, read all the Safety Data information that comes with your metal sealant product and practice first on scrap pieces before you use it on your real pieces.
Learn to create beautiful, easy, wire wrapped jewelry, using traditional jewelry-making techniques and tools with Perfectly Twisted Jewelry!
#PerfectlyTwistedJewelry #DIY #WireWrappedJewelry #Tutorials

[@angieshortt1111]

This is the BEST video I’ve seen ever on the finishing process from beginning the finishing process to up for sale thank you soooo much 🙏 I had been looking for a long time, I’ve been subscribed to this channel but took a little digging & I found it! So grateful to you

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Wow, thank you! If you liked this one, check out my more detailed one... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIm1oKasmsaSo9ksi=G_UAPbg-Xxpn7FGG Thanks for watching and for your kind comment, Angie!🙏❤️🥳

[@angieshortt1111]

@@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry thank you! I’m not a member yet so I don’t have access but I’m getting there

[@patriciajohnson3608]

Thank you for your video. I've been making jewelry for 12 years, and have never seen anybody cleaning the jewelry the way you do it. Thank you so much for helping me do a better job with my jewelry. I just found your site and in the last couple of days and I've learnt more from you than I have almost anybody else. Thank you so much for all your remarkable videos you do beautiful work.

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

What a beautiful comment to see, Patricia, thank you! Thank you for taking the time to write and thank you for watching, it makes me happy to know my videos help you!

[@amandanelson4681]

Thank you for posting this. Excellent video 😊

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching🙏❤️❤️

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Hey friends! Here's a free 'tutorial' about how to finish your wire wrapped and wire weaved jewelry! I know it's not the most exciting topic for a tutorial, but if you do metalwork, I'm hoping it's something that might be helpful! For those who work beads and use metal findings... the metal sealant section might interest you too! I show how I apply a metal sealant to my wires, but for your findings, it would be the same. It helps to keep plated metals from rubbing out, it helps to make your metal hypoallergenic (earring wires!)... it helps on chains too! I only talk on the wire, but I hope it inspires you about your findings and chains too! ❤ In this video, you'll read some of my tips and info, then watch a motion video at each subject. If you just want to watch the motion video and not read all the 'stuff' in between, then use the timestamps in the description, I show where all the motion starts in the video. Please note that while I disclose the products I use, I do not make money from any of them (I'm not an affiliate of anything). I'm only offering my personal experiences and what I like to use on my jewelry. I hope you enjoy it!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3rReWdqrr-ebck Now... back to making us more wire wrapped and wire weaved tutorials!! More coming up soon!

[@scarlettotara1]

Thank you for this tutorial. It was good to see the whole process as it gave me a better understanding whether to patina and/or seal each piece.

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for your kind comment.

[@lyndar.4833]

I just found this tutorial and OMG THANK YOU THANK YOU! I've been trying so hard to find the "final steps after patina" - I can't wait to use it!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Wonderful! Have you seen the more recent one I made? Enjoy! I hope it helps you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIm1oKasmsaSo9k&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

[@angelarosehilliard5]

Man I needed that....

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Universe always provides what an artist needs

[@jojobrew4798]

I really can appreciate how much time and effort goes into 1 piece, it is the same when I'm working with polymer clay, thank you for an in depth tutorial on this, I haven't seen another like it. And love that there is a product for sealing wires, that was going to be one of my questions lol. Thanks so much ❤️

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

You are very welcome, I love polymer clay, I wish I could work with it! There's so much talent out there on that material and it's so fun... adds so much to do with the wire too!

[@StarDestroY3r]

Thank you for sharing! I've been looking for more info on polishing pieces after patina and this was incredibly helpful!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you too, for this lovely comment!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Click each of these timestamps to go straight there. ;) Patina Dip and Neutralizer - motion video starts at 3:36 minutes Scrub out patina - motion starts at 5:13 minutes Dremel polishing - motion starts at 9:13 minutes Second Wash - motion at 11:35 minutes Metal Sealant - motion at 12:35 minutes

[@anniefredrickson6658]

Thanks!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I appreciate you, Annie, that means a lot to me.

[@rhaven50]

This was great

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thank you kindly, my dear!

[@stitchwitch64]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I learned so much from it. Your tutorials are so helpful!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for this lovely comment!

[@SignatureCaro]

What a learning experience! I do some of these steps but now know soooo much more! Thanks for sharing

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful comment!

[@TammyRhoades]

Oh wow--there's so much more to it than I realized! I've just been dipping, neutralizing, scouring, and polishing with a cloth. I bought a dremel but wasn't sure which attachment to use, so I'll have to see if the brand I got has some cloth ones I can buy. It's great to see how shiny the work can become even after oxidation! Thanks so much for putting this together. One thing I wanted to mention that I've been warned about but didn't see in your video is not putting the LOS solution down the kitchen drain after you're done with it. I heard that it can eat up your pipes...not sure if that's true, but I usually put the solution out on the back porch for a couple days and then dump it in the grass. :)

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thanks Tammy! .... You know, you make a great point!! I don't think about the drain! I normally chase the neutralizer right down the drain after the LOS ... and I also use the solution to neutral most times, but you're right, it should be mentioned to neutralize the LOS before you dump it. I've never had an issue with my drains... having thought about that too tho....I've been doing this 13 years down my drains! LOL Great mention Tammy, thank you again!

[@lindaspangler3213]

I too let the solution sit a few days then dump it in different areas of my garden. Plants and grass love sulfur.

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

@@lindaspangler3213 I think it's a great suggestion!

[@amjustjane]

I should've searched "Patina" and not tried to only eyeball through the videos. I literally just reached out to you to ask about this process and am so stoked I found this today. Do you have a suggestion for how to complete this process when soft/unknown stones are involved? If I'm being honest, I'm not positive my purchases are authentic. I'm a newbie learning the hard way sometimes, and I believe I've been duped on some stone purchases. I'd hate to ruin anything because I thought they were something they were not. Rio has a product called Black Max (🤔) that you paint/dab on and not submerge. I'd like to have a go-to for pieces that I'm unsure of. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us! You're a jewel and are very much appreciated. Be good to yourself 🪄

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Hi Jane. I've not used Black Max, so I can't speak on that. I do have a full step by step very detailed finishing video in my Members section, I hope you will consider joining... sounds to me like you're in it for the long haul, so I'd love to see you in there! There is a JOIN link at the home page of my channel. There are many ways to finish your wire wrap jewelry but here is how I do it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIm1oKasmsaSo9k

[@cmarion1544]

Thank you for such an thorough video. I've learned so much from you and really appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge. I would like to ask you though if you’ve ever used a tumbler to clean and polish your jewelry.

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thanks Marion, I do have a tumbler but I don't use it for polishing my jewelry, some folks do, I choose to use my Dremel. Be careful about the stones you put in there, that they can take the tumble! I use it for metals only, like earring hooks, clasps that I make etc. Hope that helps!

[@francinedeneault9913]

very interesting tutorial my dear!!! thank you so much! :o)

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thank you! Cheers! :))

[@susanhardy6787]

Great video! Very clearly explained! Thanks for sharing! I do most of the same things but polish with the green 3m radial discs (getting a bit pricey). I may look for cloth wheels for my foredom and get some fabulustre...although I wonder if I can use my Zam or just plain rouge? Thanks again for creating this very helpful video!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thank you! I appreciate your kind comment! I think most of the polishing agents are similar... I've not used Zam... I use Fabuluster because I don't like the red on my hands (but in trade, they're black from the Fabuluster) lol! I'm ol' school, so I haven't used the discs, I hand sand and then just do the cloth wheel for a polish. I might try the discs now too! ;) Thanks again!

[@dianna2554]

Very well done and informative tutorial on this subject. How long do those cotton wheels last?

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thanks Dianna! I get about 5 or 6 pendants done before I feel the wheel needs changing, but I also polish a lot of wire weave which chews up the wheel a bit faster. On sheet metal or traditional wire wrap, it might last a few more ;) Hope that helps!

[@dancynfairy]

Awesome! Thank you so much. I caught several things that I wasn’t doing correctly or complete enough. I really want to try a Dremel. I’m in a very limited workspace. Can you recommend a smaller dremel, if there is such a thing? Are there handheld ones. I know I’ve done a search before, but I quickly get overwhelmed with not having enough knowledge to know which type/brand I should get. I pretty much only wrap with Sterling Silver and Copper. A customer gifted me Bench Grinder? I don’t think that’s what I’m needing and I have nowhere to set it up. It was very kind of her, though

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

You know, I've not ever used another brand, so I can't honestly recommend anything else. The dremel I'm showing here looks larger than they actually are because I have it mounted... if it's free, it's about the size of a large flashlight... look them up. You might also google up the Rotary Flex Shaft that attaches to the end of a Dremel... it's much lighter than holding the actual machine. My other one is hanging, with the Flex Shaft attached for quick work. Hope that helps at least! You might also ask some other jewelry groups on Facebook if anyone recommends another brand. Visit your local Home Depot, they sell them there too, that way, you can at least see the actual size and feel it in your hand for weight.

[@dancynfairy]

@@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry Thank You! I will definitely give it a little more research

[@denisegustavson9285]

Thank you so much! This is a great video but I do have one concern. Perhaps this comes from living in an old house but I would not recommend pouring your LOS down the drain! It’s a corrosive that I would be terrified would eat my pipes no matter how much hot soapy water and baking soda I put down it.😊I pour my used soda bath into it and let it sit outside for a couple of days before disposal.

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Thank you, Denise, it's a great thing you mention! I always pour my baking soda (neutralizer) down the drain and add a bit more baking soda chaser for good measure (I'm in an old town house too)... I do mention this in my more recent Membership video for finishing jewelry but you are correct for this one... DON'T POUR LOS DOWN THE DRAIN without a baking soda chaser to save your pipes! I appreciate your comment, Denise and your valuable input.

[@karleneabelseth4913]

Thank you for this information! Your designs are so beautiful and tutorials are so helpful. I use renaissance wax as a sealant. Is this a good sealant for metal? What are your thoughts on that? TIA

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

You are so welcome! My feelings on Renaissance wax is that for wire weaved and wire wrapped jewelry, it's not the best application for it. Here's why... it's a rub on wax (at least my experience of it) and so the wax will literally get trapped and build up in the pockets of your wire weave and or pockets around the stone(s). In addition, Renaissance wax needs to be reapplied over time. The ProtectaClear is a metal sealant and so bonds to the metal, sealing it and making it safe from the affects of water, corrosion, skin, sweat, etc. It does not need to ever be reapplied. It also makes your jewelry Hypoallergenic and has many other benefits. I give the link in the video and also in my community chatter about it. Here's the link ;) read up on it and see how you feel. I show how I apply it at the end of the video (you can use the time stamps to go straight there if you don't want to watch it all again). I hope that helps!! Thanks for watching! www.everbritecoatings.com/jewelry.htm kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3rReWdqrr-ebck

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Click each of these timestamps to go straight there. ;) Patina Dip and Neutralizer - motion video starts at 3:36 minutes Scrub out patina - motion starts at 5:13 minutes Dremel polishing - motion starts at 9:13 minutes Second Wash - motion at 11:35 minutes Metal Sealant - motion at 12:35 minutes

[@anitaibarra5763]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I have been wanting to add patina to my pieces, but wasn't sure how to finish it off. This is the most informative video I have seen on the subject. I have a question, though. I just purchased some protecta Clear, but I'm not sure I got the right thing. Mine says it's a protective clear coat. Not a metal sealant. Will it work the same?

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Hi Anita! Welcome to the Membership! Yes, it should be the same stuff, it is a protective clear coat aka metal sealant... and while this little video is a good one, have you seen your Membership Finishing video? Way more detailed with me talking you through it... here is the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIm1oKasmsaSo9k At the end of it, I also show how I use the Protectaclear. Thanks for reaching out, please let me know if you have any more questions, Anita, I'm here for you :D

[@anitaibarra5763]

Awesome! Thanks for responding so quickly! No, I have not seen that video, I will watch it right now. Thank you for sharing such detailed information. It is just what I need. I'm sure I will need lots of help from time to time. 😅

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

That's why I'm here! :D Enjoy the video, ask questions any time.

[@lorriehutch5052]

Do you tumble your jewelry to polish it or just use the dremel and polishing wheels? Should you do both or just one or the other method?

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Hey Lorrie, I don't tumble my pieces with stones in them... I ruined a piece once and haven't tried again. There may be a way, but I don't use a tumbler to polish. I do use my tumbler to polish and harden metal only pieces (earring wires, findings, frames, etc)... if that helps :) You don't have to do both, no. Thanks for your comment!! Interesting topic to ponder for sure!

[@sandibutler4877]

How many of these steps if at all would you do with silver coated copper wire? Most of my work is done with that. Thank you!

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Hey Sandi! Silver, coated copper... is coated wire and will not take any of these processes. If you patina, it will not take, if you use the dremel or too much sanding or buffing ... your silver coat will wear out to copper. If anything, you might read up on the protectaclear sealant to see if it might help you with using metal sealant on plated metal (in a way, color coat is the same). I hope that helps!! When we patina, we start with Bare or Raw or Uncoated wires. I have other articles on Styles of Wire Wrap and all about the wires which talks a bit about coated vs raw metal.

[@aleitalaird5553]

Doesn’t LOS and sos pads damage the stones?

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

Hi Aleita, yes, some of them, so you should google if 'this stone' is safe for liver of sulfur... most are, there are some that should not go into it, for example, Ethiopian Opals should never go into LOS, nor be buffed out with your steel wool SOS pads. There is a different finishing process that I do, which you can find in a couple of your Membership Opal pendant tutorials. Again, most stones, agates, jaspers, quartz, chalcedony, charoite, labradorite, etc, all take the LOS treatment and finishing quite well... given I do tape up my stones when I Dremel for the polish or I use my finger and I cover it, also the polishing compound is safe for most stone, but gemstones, such as faceted, you should always take care to cover during polishing and finishing... you can also finish in different ways, not all metal needs or even will take LOS, such as gold fill wire... you can always leave sterling silver in it's natural state and just polish it, rather than patina and you can do the same with copper. Patina is an optional process.... you can also hand polish your metals with a Sunshine cloth and while it takes longer, ultimately end up with a similar shine and polish as if you used a Dremel. I hope that helps!

[@aleitalaird5553]

@@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry thank you for this detailed reply.🌹

[@ezgimaloupis]

How long do the sealing last on the wire?

[@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry]

I don't think their page says how long it lasts but it's not like a wax that has to be reapplied, it's more like a bonded coating.... but here is their link so you can read it and decide for yourself... I've been using it about 10 years and have never had jewelry returned... so I trust it anyway. www.everbritecoatings.com/jewelry Hope that helps!

[@ezgimaloupis]

@@PerfectlyTwistedJewelry Thank you so much. I will check it out.