Preparing the Solutions

1. Warm up 1 cup of water and add about 2 drops of the liver of sulfur in a container like a bowl or jar. (Do not use containers used for food!) Stir the solution. It should be a bright, neon yellow color when completely mixed. 
2. Have another container with a cup of water and one tablespoon of baking soda set aside to neutralize the jewelry piece. 
3. Using scrap wire to hold the piece, dunk it in the solution until it becomes very dark brown to black. 
4. Remove it from the liver of sulfur and place it in the baking soda solution and mix it around for about 30 seconds to neutralize it. 
5. Rinse the piece and dry with a paper towel. 

Notes about liver of sulfur:

1. Be sure to use this solution in a well ventilated area. 
2. Use gloves or use tongs/scrap wire to avoid skin contact. 
3. Check your stones! You'll want to make sure that the stone you're oxidizing won't discolor when exposed to the solution. Enter your stone in Google and look for the MOS hardness. If it's 3 or less, it may not be safe to put in the solution. 
4. To neutralize, pour into your baking soda solution or add baking soda to the liver of sulfur. From there, you can dispose of it in your sink, toilet or garden. 

Polishing Your Piece

There are a few options when it comes to polishing your oxidized pieces. Here are just a few ways that I have removed excess patina from my pieces. 

1. Pro-Polishing Pads - These micro-abrasive pads are really great at cleaning up the patina and adding a nice shine to your piece. They are great for when you're starting out and don't have the budget to invest in all the fancy polishing tools. I get mine from Rio Grande.

2. 0000 Fine Steel Wool - Another cost effective way to clean off any excess patina is to use fine steel wool and dish soap. Simply run your piece under the tap and scrub gently with soap and fine steel wool. The piece may be dull, so you may want to use a Sunshine Polishing Cloth to shine it right up!

3. Baking Soda & Toothbrush - If you don't have polishing pads or fine steel wool laying around, you can easily use a pantry staple. Baking soda! Create a paste using baking soda and tap water, apply it to the piece and scrub gently with a toothbrush. This will remove much of the patina and help to neutralize the piece. 

4. Rotary Tool - If you're looking a faster, more efficient way to clean your pieces, (especially if you're looking to clean multiple pieces at a time), I highly recommend getting a rotary tool and polishing discs. It will save your hands, (which spent a lot of time creating the piece in the first place!), do a better job cleaning your piece and will help you to clean them faster!

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I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it helpful in creating your own beautiful jewelry. If you have any questions or want to share your work, don't hesitate to reach out. 

Happy weaving!