Hi!
I'm glad to hear you are going to try the etching lesson. Red Enamel
Paint pens are just paint pens that are not waterbased. Most paint pens
are enamel. Ask in an art supply store. I buy the darkener at Rio
Grande Jewelry Supply: www.riogrande.com
It would probably be best if you call Rio Grande's Customer Service to
place your order if you are not familiar with the products. You want
the darkener for copper and brass. Acrylic spray can be bought at any
paint store or art supply. It is simply a clear spray paint wiht glossy
finish that you can spray over the darkened and finished piece to
protect the finish from tarnishing. I don't like using that anymore, as
I have found that ketchup is a great copper polish and it does not
damage the darkener. Ammonia based cream or liquid copper cleaners will
remove the darkener when they are shining your copper...you don't want
that!
If you use the ketchup to polish it (non toxic and it works!!!) you
won't need the sunshine polishing cloth. Just be sure when you remove
the darkener that you sand with the 600 grit sandpaper to a very bright
finish. It takes about 5 more minutes of sanding to remove all of the
darkener from the top relief of your etching. Just FYI, a sunshine
polishing cloth can also be bought through Rio Grande. Ask them to send
you a catalogue for metals as well as tools. THeir phone number is
1-800-545-6566.
