Featured Rainbow beaded bracelet with crystals

That’s what they remind me of! Somewhere I might still have the titanium oxide coated earrings I bought new in the’80’s. Such a neat effect!

 

I was buying solid titanium jewellery in the seventies. Lovely stuff.

 

I used to see it at craft shows, but the earrings were always pierced and I've never had holes. (most of what i like being older than I am and costume screwback, and if I had holes the findings would need to be 14k anyway.) The rainbowed titanium was called niobium if memory serves.

 

Niobium is its own separate element from titanium. It can be treated chemically to change its dull grey to colors. Not sure if it can be colors other than the green, blue & magenta I have seen.

I love it. I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 40. Even though the starter earrings were gold, my piercings weren't healing & were getting infected. After putting in some newly bought little niobium earrings & leaving them in overnight, my ears were so much better in the morning & healed quickly with them in place. I soon bought others so have a handful of pairs. The guy who made the first pair stopped using niobium, didn't like working with the chemical process.

Always wonder if the name comes from the mythical Niobe (all tears).

 

Other colors with the help of diet coke... https://hackaday.io/project/162690-...log/157637-how-to-color-niobium-withdiet-coke

 

Thanks, so interesting. Doesn't it figure, niobium not because of anything Niobe did but because of who her father was.

Do you know why it has to be Diet Coke? Something about the properties of sugar/corn syrup? (I don't know what's in Classic Coke.)

 

It's the phosphoric acid in the diet coke,many directions call for sulfuric acid. Someone found the coke to be safer.

 

A reasonable conclusion; if it's safe enough to drink it's probably safer to mess with.

 

On the other hand, is it reasonable to conclude it is safe to drink?

 

Not for me - it contains aspartame. MS and aspartame shouldn't mix much.

 

I avoid it, it gives me the runs. TMI, I know.

 

I loathe Coke of any kind. Work of the devil. Like iced tea.

 

I used to like it, but corn syrup or aspartame? Nope.

 

I've heard it can be quite an effective cleaning solution.

 

That, I'll believe.

 

Coke is lethal stuff. My kids are 9 & 12 and have never had it!. It’s one of the few things I’ve said no to.
It does take the tarnish off pennies very well though.

 

It can also be very useful for cleaning car parts, removing paint from metal, and (in a pinch if nothing else is available) helping to open a clogged drain.

Unless it’s Mexican Coke, which is still made with actual sugar, and should be drunk. Rum and lime optional!

 

Useful to know!

 

I mostly don't do fizzy drinks. There are exceptions to that rule.

 

Did someone say Ginger Beer? (LOL)