Why You Need Anti Tarnish Paper Strips
When you have metal items for a long time or they get used a lot, they start to lose their shine and begin to tarnish. This often makes the item look old, tired and less valuable - this is where anti tarnish paper strips come in!
What Are Anti Tarnish Strips & How Do They Work?
Anti tarnish paper strips are paper strips that you leave near metal items to help prevent them from tarnishing. For example, if you keep your jewellery in a jewellery box then you could put one in there, or if you sell your jewellery you could include one in the packaging.
These anti-tarnish paper strips protect metals from tarnishing by absorbing sulphides and other pollutants in the air which cause tarnishing to occur.
They will protect silver, gold, copper, bronze, nickel, tin and plated metals. They can be used for many items from jewellery to musical instruments.
How To Use Anti Tarnish Paper Strips...
To use, simply place a strip (or trim a piece off) in an enclosed space alongside your metal items. The more air-tight the area is the longer the strips will last.
As a rough guide, one 17.5x5cm (7x2”) strip will protect one cubic foot of space for approximately 6 months. You can always trim down the strips to store with smaller pieces of jewellery in a smaller space or grip seal bag. For example, you could trim one sheet into seventeen 1cm strips.
The anti tarnish paper doesn't need to be touching the metal but just needs to be nearby. They are non-toxic, emit no fumes and leave no residue. Please note that these won't remove existing tarnish, so your jewellery should be clean when being stored away.
Replacing the strips
You should replace the strips approximately every 6 months but their effectiveness can vary depending on the environment they're stored in (for example, due to the amount of pollution or humidity in the air and how airtight the packaging is).
If your metal starts to tarnish then you should clean it and replace the strips.
How to store unused strips
If stored correctly, any unused strips should last up to 2 years; just make sure they`re stored in an airtight bag.
Time scales will vary according to your surroundings so you may even find they last much longer than the times we've given.
For any further advice regarding the contents on this page or for any other general jewellery making enquires, please feel free to get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
Also in this section:
- Guide To Sanding & Polishing For Jewellery Making
- Hand Polishing Your Jewellery With Polishing Papers
- A Guide To Texturing Metals For Jewellery Making
- Top Tools For Making Textures On Metal
- Beginner's Guide To Chasing & Repoussé
- How To Make Easy Textured Earrings
- How To Make A Hammered Copper & Silver Heart Pendant
- How To Make A Textured Cuff Bracelet
- How To Make A Metal Leaf Decoration
- How To Use Doming Block & Punches For Jewellery Making
- How To Make Domed Metal Earrings With A Doming Block
- How To Engrave Your Drawings On Art Clay Copper
- Textured Washer Bracelet Tutorial With Guest Jeweller Laura Grey
- Barrelling Machine For Polishing Metal - Everything You Need To Know
- Tumbling Machine For Polishing Stones and Glass- Everything You Need To Know
- Polishing Jewellery Q&A With Stephen M Goldsmith
- Town Talk Products For Cleaning & Caring For Jewellery
- Creating A Resin Bird Pendant With Designer Sarah Hoare
- VIDEO: How To Create Patina With Liver Of Sulphur
- 2 Ways To Apply Liver Of Sulphur
- VIDEO: How To Use Silver Plating Solution
- How To Clean & Prevent Tarnished Jewellery
- Why You Need Anti Tarnish Paper Strips
- How To Use Midas Finish Seal Lacquer
- How To Use Renaissance Wax To Prevent Tarnished Jewellery
- VIDEO: Working With Crinkle Metal Sheet
- A Guide To Using Mokume Gane Metal For Jewellery Making
HAVE A QUESTION?
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team who will be more than happy to give you advice over email or on the phone.
You can learn more and find inspiration by visiting our Jewellery Making Tutorials, Jewellery Making Kits and YouTube Channel. Don't forget to follow us on social media and tag us in your designs on Instagram & Facebook, we would love to see!