Contents
Metal Jewelery
Orgainic Jewelery
Stolen from the handouts from superNOVA in Portland, Oregon.
- Handle organic materials with clean hands and wash them periodically, even if not worn, with a mild, non-chemical soap (we recommend Dr. Bronner's liqued soap) and water. You can also clean organic materials using tea tree oil. If something stronger is desired, be sure to do a spot test to avoid allergic reaction.
- Oil organic materials periodically with jojoba, olive, peanut or mineral oil. Food grade oils may break down with heat and time, so wash the plugs often and reapply oil if necessary. Frequent applications of oil may also cause the material to darken considerably.
- Don't let organic materical sget too hot, as it may cause them to crack or split. This is especially important in the case of amber, which may actually soften, or even melt. Keep amber away from long periods of exposure to direct sunlight. Caution should be taken when exposing plugs with inlays to moisture. Hot tubs and autoclaves are not recommended.
- Many materials can be brittle and may not take kindly to being dropped.
- Remeber, organic materials might not be the right choice for sensitive indeividuals, moist areas of the body, and fresh piercings. Irritation or allergic reaction can be a result.
Some species of hardwoods that are not very dense and are generally those that are lighter in color, may require occasional refinishing to keep them feelings smooth and performing at their best. Wood forms the circulatory and support system in trees. The grain you may see running up and down in your plugs is what the tree uses for the transport of water. When the plugs get wet, they may try to absorb the water, and the cells that form that grain can swell. This can make the feel less smooth than more dense species. When the plugs are sanded, they were washed several times and then sanded again to off any of the cells that may swell up if contact with water occurs. however, oer time, these cells may try to do their job again.
- We recommend that all maple and chakte kok plugs be sanded periodically. How often depends on how often they are worn, where they are worn and how often the are in contact with moisture.
- Wash the plugs with water and a mild non-chemical soap to elimiate any residue.
- Sand them gently with a piece of 400-grit sandpaper, and then polish with a piece of closth. The idea is to remove the swelled grain, not just to push it down. Wrap the sandpaper around your finger or a pen to sand the inside of flared or drilled plugs.