7/5/06 | Mailbag: Darker Jewelry Chain?
We are going to be starting a new feature here at Bloglander Jewelry Making: a “From the Mailbag” section. Basically, we’ll post up questions that people have submitted about jewelry making and other related issues. The reason for this is that a ton of mail comes in asking about a particular question, and we aren’t always able to answer it properly either due to time constraints or due to lack of knowledge. So hopefully, there will be some visitors who may be able to shed some light on the issue by commenting. We’ll definitely TRY to answer these questions but can’t guarantee an authoritative answer (or any answer at all for that matter!)
From the Bloglander Jewelry Making Mailbag:
Katherine B. writes: “I was wondering if you can help me find a certain chain. I’m looking for small gauge, delicate chain that looks almost black, or copper chain. Ive looked everywhere and I saw some jewelry with it and I would like to try something like it. For earrings and necklaces. All i can find is 2mm, and that seems too thick.”
Bloglander Jewelry Making says: Hmm… having not worked with darker metal jewelry chain and with no picture to go on, this seems like a difficult question. I assume you mean “non-coated” chain, so it’s the actual metal that is almost dark (or it’s plated with a metal that’s dark). I’ve seen a few places that carry smaller gauge chain in a metal called “gunmetal”. Here’s one example, from Rings -n- Things. I’ve taken the liberty of including a pic of it below.
It looks darker to me, but I’m not sure that’s what you’re going for. I’m not even sure what metal this “gunmetal” color chain is made of, although the descriptions sometimes say “imported brass footage chain”. It’s made of soldered links and is 1.1 mm (unfortunately, looks to be out of stock). I’ve also seen something called “antiqued” chain, but I didn’t see this on their site.
July 24th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
You can darken or oxidize sterling silver with a solution available thru Rio Grande (look at their pantination products) or with a chemical called Liver of Sulfer
July 26th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
I recently added a Bulk Chain link section under the Jewelry Making supplies area of my site: http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/bulkchains/
R&T has gun metal chain and loads of other. Another good chain source you’ll find linked above is Ornamental Tea.
July 27th, 2006 at 7:43 am
Two options for tarnishing sterling silver to give an antiqued look. 1) Liver of Sulphur; available at art supply stores. Instructions on bottle. OR 2) Hard boil an egg, remove the yolk and place the yolk and your silver in a plastic bag for at least 24 hours. The sulphur from the egg will cause the silver to darken. Then use 0000 steel wool to remove the excess tarnishing. I know the Liver of Sulphur may also be used on copper but I don’t know if the egg method will work with copper. www.embellishments.com carries .5mm sterling silver along with other sizes.
August 2nd, 2006 at 7:46 am
skowood - yes, I’ve heard off the liver of sulfur trick and have been meaning to try it one of these days…
tammy - thanks for that list, I hadn’t heard of Ornamental Tea before.
kay - i’ve always wondered, does the hardboiled egg method make your silver smell like eggs? although, i’d assume it’d be the same thing with liver of sulfur. I hadn’t heard of Embellishments either.. are they a newer company?
August 20th, 2006 at 5:33 pm
Katherine B. - did you ever find a source for this chain? I have also been looking for it. I want to string beads on it and hold them in place with crimps.
January 5th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
You can find wonderful jewelry chains at adadornments.com. Kathy D has a wonderful selection and she gives excellent service. She offers several chains in the dark finish you’re looking for.
I’m looking for larger link brass plated chains to use in belts. If anyone has a source, please let me know.
September 10th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Katherine B. and Kathy:
If you are still looking for dark metal chain, we have 19 different gunmetal chains in stock. One of them is a small, flat elongated cable chain. The gunmetal chains have a dark plating in the dark grey/black range (similar to shiny hematine or hematite).
None of our chains is what we called “beading chain” that you use with tiny crimps for a “tin cup” style floating bead necklace. Our experience showed that too many people who wore this type of chain did not understand that the chain could break if it was jammed in a pocket or purse, pulled by rambunctious youngsters, etc.
Although gunmetal can range through blue-black through grey-black to brown-black, ours is grey-black.
To see chains:
To see gunmetal chains:
We hope you’ll stop by to shop.
Regards,
Paul
OhioBeads.com