Daily Wire Tip May 2: Removing Condensation Marks from Wire
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
May 2, 2011
Question:
I have some copper wire and brass wire that I think has become tarnished. It looks like dark spots along the length of the wire. Can this be removed? I’ve tried a polishing cloth with no change. What do you suggest?
-Kathy in Kilgore, Texas
Answer:
Hi Kathy, yes sometimes condensation wreaks havoc on wire of any metal. If it were me, there are two methods I would try on copper or brass.
One option would be to use a very fine-grade steel wool and run the wire through it several times to remove those spots, then run it through a polishing cloth. Yes, the steel wool can make the wire look scratched if you use a coarse grade, but a fine grade will give the wire a nice “brushed” appearance.
An alternative approach would be using rubbing alcohol. A reader, Rose in Georgia, had a similar challenge back in November, and I recommended dampening a piece of tee shirt with rubbing alcohol, then running the wire through the tee shirt, then a polishing cloth. Both are good methods to remove condensation marks – here’s a link to her original question: Water Spots on Wire. Good luck!
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
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Filed under:Cleaning, Polishing, & Care‚ Daily Wire Jewelry Tips‚ Project Help‚ Technique Tips‚ Wire & Wire Wrapping
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Try a cloth moistened with salt and vinegar to clean brass and copper.
Don’t forget a finish after; wax or spray.
I’ll bite. What if what she has is not condensation. What if it’s actual tarnish? Will the steel wool method work on that?
Hi Lorraine, about all metal tarnish is caused by moisture reacting with oxygen and other chemicals in the air : ) Yes, fine steel wool will help remove it.
Hi,
Personally I would leave it and let it get darker. Vintage wire and Vintage anything has gotten very popular. I bought some liver of sulfer ex so I could darken my copper and gold wire and other meteals. It looks great! I dont know about where you live, or if you sell your items, but for me I sell vintage and it goes well.
Very cool solution JoAnn! Working ‘with’ the tarnish instead of against it – thanks!
I don’t know about any other metal other than copper for this method, but if you take a couple of Tablespoons of lemon juice and mix about a teaspoon of salt in a shallow glass bowl, then dip the copper in it and brush with a soft toothbrush it will make it look like new in seconds. NEVER use this on silver! The salt is terrible for silver, but it’s wonderful for copper. I have done this with wonderful success!
Hi all,
My first time posting. I have heard and tried using Worcestershire Sauce for cleaning any brass or copper metal. I just apply the sauce liberally on a paper towel and lightly rub all over the piece of jewelry I have made. Takes off all the tarnish and black spots in just seconds. Just wash with a mild soap and dry.
Neat Diane! The main ingredients in Worcestershire Sauce are vinegar and salt – already mixed for you – with a bit of molasses and spices, so be sure to wash the wire well after cleaning!
To prevent tarnish in the first place what you can do is put in one or tow of those little packs of ‘dessicator’ that come in pill bottles or other items that need to remain free of moisture..I went to my drugstore and they saved me about 2 dozen and I have put them in bags with wire and costume jewelry and have had no problem since..
hope this helps
I bought some cheap chalkboard chalk and put some in my bags of silver and copper wire and no more tarnish. Baking soda and water in a paste form will also clean copper.
I keep Tarn-X on hand to keep all my metals bright and shiny.
One dip in the Tarn-X then into water, dry it with a clean white t-shirt (I bought a new kid’s t-shirt, just for this purpose) and the tarnish is gone.
Awhile back I read somewhere about using a car polish called “NU Finish – the once a year car polish” on copper wire to keep it free of tarnish. I happened to have some and I tried an experiment. I treated/cleaned a piece of 16 gauge copper wire with it and put it on an open shelf along with an untreated piece for a couple of months. The polish works, the treated piece had no tarnish on it while the untreated piece was quite a bit darker.
I will be cleaning all my copper wire with Nu Finish before I use it to keep it looking good.
Hi Barb -thanks so very much for sharing your positive results with all of us!
I tried out the Worcestershire sauce and it worked. Thank you Diane and Dale for your wonderful recommendations.
Cool Anne! Thanks so much for reporting back : )