Steel Jewelry and Oxidization

I got an email from a customer asking about how to protect steel jewelry from rusting. Although I think that rusty steel can be pretty dang neat, not everyone wants their jewelry to rust. I understand. :)

In the pictures below you will see the difference that time makes to steel jewelry. Dark annealed steel wire jewelry starts out looking dark gray or black, and after a few months will develop a rusty patina, reddish brown areas will develop and grow.


Here's some tips and tricks that might help people who want to keep their steel jewelry looking new.

If you have a piece of steel jewelry and it's begun to rust:

1) You'll need to buff the rust off of the piece using a very fine grade of steel wool. 0000 or 000. Buff in small movements "with the grain" of the wire. If you get some little hairs of steel wool stuck in the cracks and crevices, you should be able to pull them out with your fingers or a tweezers.

2) There are a variety of different treatments you can apply to the steel to help prevent it from rusting again. I would recommend a couple of light coats of rustoleum or another acrylic-based spray. This will evenly coat the piece without forming globs in the cracks and losing fine detail. You can also rub or brush on a layer of wax, but this tends to gunk up pieces like the ones pictured above. If you want to wax, use TreWax or a heavy-duty car wax. Then wipe with a lint-free cloth. (Old t-shirt material works great.)

3) The process will need to be repeated whenever you notice the piece has begun to rust again. Length of that time period depends largely on how much wear the piece is getting, as the protective coating will wear off as it rubs against skin or clothing.

If you are creating a piece of jewelry with steel wire:

1) If you want to brush the wire to bring up the shine and show the silver color underneath, do so before you begin working with the wire. Use a fine grade steel wool (0000 or 000) for shine, or a green scotch brite pad for matte finish.

2) Rub on a layer or two of wax. I recommend TreWax or a heavy-duty car wax. Then run the wire through a clean, lint-free cloth. (Old t-shirt material works great.)

3) Create your piece and spot treat any areas that your tools may have worn away the wax.

4) You may seal the piece with a couple of thin coats of rustoleum or another clear acrylic-based spray, if you choose.

Resolution

My new year's resolution is to actually post in my poor neglected blog.

I will be getting at least one day off work a week starting this month so I will officially have "the time," though mostly it has to do with "the energy." :)

I was gifted with some fantastic photographical accessories this holiday season: a directional digital flash and an extension tube set. Got to play around with both of them this weekend and am pleased with how easily I have achieved excellent results. I love it when it's easy. Makes me a very happy girl.

Here's a snapshot of the mini-photography-studio I have set up in my workspace.

It's pretty ghetto. But that's just how I roll.


An ottlite and part of a roll of baby shower wrapping paper, plus some of my photo props, just add jewelry, camera, and directional flash!

Here's some previews of a couple of necklaces that I will be listing in my shop this week.





Be sure to check back soon, or subscribe to my rss feed.

Happy 2012 to you all.

Kickstarter!

I submitted a proposal to kickstarter.com, a website that basically houses several fundraisers for creative projects. People pledge money to the project, and if the project reaches its funding goal, the creator gets the money, and pledgers get a reward (something created from the project!) There are several different levels of rewards for pledges ranging from $1 all the way to $1000 and everywhere in between.

My proposal was accepted! Yay!!

So now I have to make a video to put on my site and get crackin.

I'll have a link to my kickstarter page soon, check back for more details. :)

Spring cleaning!

I updated some stuff in my shop today, tidying up listing descriptions and polishing my shop policies. That's all nice and feel-goody inside, but not the most exciting part!

I also made a new banner and logo for my shop, and I am diggin it. :)

Check it out!

Etsy Finds Email

My creative tagging on this lovely item got me featured in an etsy finds email!!! WOOHOO!!! I got over 2,000 hits in my shop in just a week :)

Click here to view a copy of the email :)

Another treasury

Hello there blog.

Here's an interesting treasury I made, featuring weird and creative things I enjoy. :)

Click here to view the treasury!

Gifts that give more!

Some of you have already started shopping for gifts to give this holiday season. I know I have!!

Why don't you support a good cause, buy handmade, donate to charity, and buy something fabulous ALL AT THE SAME TIME??

There are 3 necklaces that were donated by raven's craving studios left on the Help The Gulf Coast's etsy site that are waiting for a home. They are all $15 and under, with free worldwide shipping.

Why don't you give a gift that gives more?? :)


Click on one of the images above to go to the Help The Gulf Coast's etsy site and purchase!