I got very helpful feedback on my first try at a copper cuff lined with leather (so those of us with sensitivities could wear it without breaking out). Some weren’t so keen on the leather, though. I did find a lacquer that’s advertised as playing friendly with metal, so I *will* do some cuffs that are simply etched without the leather backing, using the lacquer as a barrier. But before I found that…
A couple of years ago I made this:
It’s still one of my favorites and I wear mine a lot. However, it’s a fairly expensive piece to make since the silver provides the structure, and silver prices keep going up (but I’ll happily make one special for you if you like it). So I thought, what if the copper does all the heavy lifting? Can I solder a much thinner sheet of silver to the copper as a liner and pierce the copper to show it from the front? That’s indeed what this is, with the copper sheet freehand doodled and etched and a winged claddagh cut out (four saw blades later). Comments? Suggestions? I probably won’t make too many of these since my time investment is fairly high, but I’m very happy with how it turned out.
Love it! If I owned this, would I be allowed to polish it??
Absolutely no silver dip; it’ll take all the color off the etched copper, too. I’ll use the lacquer on all the copper pieces to keep them from turning color, but it’s *supposed* to look like that!
That looks lovely! I love the design and the color!
WOOT!!! I absolutely LOVE it!!!!
I love it … love love love. It’s exquisite … but I keep hearing you speak of copper sensitivities. I may be mistaken, but i thought copper was naturally hypo-allergenic and anti-bacterial. Is this a composite metal that is “copper-like”? or am I mis-informed?
Actual copper allergies are rare but possible, although the skin’s reaction to copper isn’t an allergic one. It’s just what copper does on contact with salts and oxygen. If I wear silver or gold plate, I full out rust it, so I suspect I’m just more acidic than some. Copper turns me green in a very short time, and I’d just as soon avoid the look. 🙂