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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 18, 2023 7:57:25 GMT -5
I know I have sung the praises of these before, but it's worth mentioning that these are PERFECT for copper earrings. They are pricey, but on sale. They are sturdy and hypoallergenic. The color is permanent.
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 351
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Post by gunsil on Oct 18, 2023 16:49:06 GMT -5
Dang! Those are more expensive than sterling! I do see where the copper crafters could definitely use them though.
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Post by knave on Oct 18, 2023 16:54:42 GMT -5
Educate me what that is $20. How? Is copper too allergenic?
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 18, 2023 18:11:09 GMT -5
Educate me what that is $20. How? Is copper too allergenic? A lot of ppl have an allergy to copper and the patina is irritating. Also, copper is very soft and doesn't make very good earwires. Niobium, the ones I linked to, are a great alternative and the color is spot on. |
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Post by knave on Oct 18, 2023 19:33:52 GMT -5
Ahhhh now I see that it’s a pack of 20 ear wires. That makes some more sense.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,198
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Post by rockbrain on Oct 19, 2023 8:22:41 GMT -5
Thanks Tela. They have THESE too. I got some similar from Etsy but I don't think the price was as good. Better get em while you can. These are actually on closeout. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 19, 2023 8:55:15 GMT -5
Thanks Tela. They have THESE too. I got some similar from Etsy but I don't think the price was as good. Better get em while you can. These are actually on closeout. You're welcome. These are my go-tos for copper earrings- which my daughters love. Neither can wear copper. Who wants black earlobes? |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,198
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Post by rockbrain on Nov 18, 2023 11:09:27 GMT -5
I'm finally ordering from Rio. I guess I waited too long. All the copper color ones are out of stock. They have some "white" metal ones on close out. I found this quote in the description interesting. "Niobium is a reactive metal that takes on a variety of brilliant colors when exposed to various levels of electrical current, allowing you to create a rainbow of colors." I'll have to do some more research.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Nov 18, 2023 18:21:57 GMT -5
I'm finally ordering from Rio. I guess I waited too long. All the copper color ones are out of stock. They have some "white" metal ones on close out. I found this quote in the description interesting. "Niobium is a reactive metal that takes on a variety of brilliant colors when exposed to various levels of electrical current, allowing you to create a rainbow of colors." I'll have to do some more research. These folks are down in Cottonwood, AZ in the Verde Valley. They've come to speak at our club meetings a few times. The Niobium anodizing is pretty cool. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 18, 2023 22:31:07 GMT -5
I'm finally ordering from Rio. I guess I waited too long. All the copper color ones are out of stock. They have some "white" metal ones on close out. I found this quote in the description interesting. "Niobium is a reactive metal that takes on a variety of brilliant colors when exposed to various levels of electrical current, allowing you to create a rainbow of colors." I'll have to do some more research. Don't feel all alone. I went to Rio's site right after Tela posted this. I kept delaying and "updating" my cart for days with a couple packs of these in there. I was trying to decide on all the things I wanted/needed. By the time I decided to pull the trigger, the dang niobium were sold out! LOL |
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 351
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Post by gunsil on Nov 18, 2023 23:01:53 GMT -5
Dang! I can't believe a big house like Rio would run out of a finding! Only problem I've has with them was getting heavy sterling wire with marks from extruding or sterling sheet that had a coarser than satin finish to it. Then again, the only findings I buy are necklace clasps and ear studs, I make my own ear wires. Been better the last few years. I wonder if they make those Niobium ear wires in house? If they buy them tracking the actual manufacturer down might be fruitful. Or maybe a place to buy the wire? Sounds like cool stuff if you can change it's color and it's hypoallergenic too. It's easy enough to make your own wires if you had the wire.
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Post by susand24224 on Nov 19, 2023 2:20:39 GMT -5
They sell the machine for anodizing and someone actually bought one for me about a year ago. Best I recall, they paid around $250.00 for it (I may be way off). I sent it back because I wanted to buy the package deal that included some of the items that one needed to go with it (and the instructional booklet which they didn't sell separately) and never got around to ordering it again.
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 19, 2023 5:34:56 GMT -5
Dang! I can't believe a big house like Rio would run out of a finding! Only problem I've has with them was getting heavy sterling wire with marks from extruding or sterling sheet that had a coarser than satin finish to it. Then again, the only findings I buy are necklace clasps and ear studs, I make my own ear wires. Been better the last few years. I wonder if they make those Niobium ear wires in house? If they buy them tracking the actual manufacturer down might be fruitful. Or maybe a place to buy the wire? Sounds like cool stuff if you can change it's color and it's hypoallergenic too. It's easy enough to make your own wires if you had the wire. I usually make my own earwires, too. But, copper is too soft for earwires IMHO. I bought a crap load of premade SS earwires because I need so many. And, I really don't like making them.
I have gotten some bad wire from Rio, but it doesn't amount to much after over 20 years of buying it.
Niobium is very hard. I doubt it would be much fun making your own earwires with it.
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 19, 2023 9:38:56 GMT -5
Dang! I can't believe a big house like Rio would run out of a finding! Only problem I've has with them was getting heavy sterling wire with marks from extruding or sterling sheet that had a coarser than satin finish to it. Then again, the only findings I buy are necklace clasps and ear studs, I make my own ear wires. Been better the last few years. I wonder if they make those Niobium ear wires in house? If they buy them tracking the actual manufacturer down might be fruitful. Or maybe a place to buy the wire? Sounds like cool stuff if you can change it's color and it's hypoallergenic too. It's easy enough to make your own wires if you had the wire. I usually make my own earwires, too. But, copper is too soft for earwires IMHO. I bought a crap load of premade SS earwires because I need so many. And, I really don't like making them.
I have gotten some bad wire from Rio, but it doesn't amount to much after over 20 years of buying it.
Niobium is very hard. I doubt it would be much fun making your own earwires with it.
...unless you're a bit sadomasochistic!  |
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 351
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Post by gunsil on Nov 19, 2023 10:35:13 GMT -5
Dang! I can't believe a big house like Rio would run out of a finding! Only problem I've has with them was getting heavy sterling wire with marks from extruding or sterling sheet that had a coarser than satin finish to it. Then again, the only findings I buy are necklace clasps and ear studs, I make my own ear wires. Been better the last few years. I wonder if they make those Niobium ear wires in house? If they buy them tracking the actual manufacturer down might be fruitful. Or maybe a place to buy the wire? Sounds like cool stuff if you can change it's color and it's hypoallergenic too. It's easy enough to make your own wires if you had the wire. I usually make my own earwires, too. But, copper is too soft for earwires IMHO. I bought a crap load of premade SS earwires because I need so many. And, I really don't like making them.
I have gotten some bad wire from Rio, but it doesn't amount to much after over 20 years of buying it.
Niobium is very hard. I doubt it would be much fun making your own earwires with it.
I am not really familiar with Niobium, but most metals can be annealed or hardened. If somebody makes ear wires of it pretty much anybody could do it with the right equipment and knowledge. Copper can be work hardened but as you have stated it is not safe for ear wires due to it's tarnishing and blackening or greening of skin. I had a girlfriend who's body chemistry tarnished silver black in a very short time. I had to make her gold jewelry making her an expensive girlfriend. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 19, 2023 10:38:32 GMT -5
I usually make my own earwires, too. But, copper is too soft for earwires IMHO. I bought a crap load of premade SS earwires because I need so many. And, I really don't like making them.
I have gotten some bad wire from Rio, but it doesn't amount to much after over 20 years of buying it.
Niobium is very hard. I doubt it would be much fun making your own earwires with it.
I had a girlfriend who's body chemistry tarnished silver black in a very short time. I had to make her gold jewelry making her an expensive girlfriend. That's funny, but she was a lucky girl!  |
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gunsil
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2023
Posts: 351
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Post by gunsil on Nov 19, 2023 10:51:33 GMT -5
I forgot to mention she actually tarnished 14K gold earrings, I had to use 18K for her! Very expensive girlfriend. Worth it though, we had a lot of fun for twenty years. I think she eventually lost all the 18K I made for her.
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,198
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Post by rockbrain on Nov 19, 2023 12:01:18 GMT -5
Dang! I can't believe a big house like Rio would run out of a finding! They were on clearance. |
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