Cleaning silver

Discussion in 'Silver' started by say_it_slowly, Jun 12, 2014.

  1. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    The cleaner I'd use on that is very readily available - a Mark 1 thumb. Skin oils and acids take tarnish off sooner or later. I've cleaned a few small pieces of sterling jewelry that way. Used 'em as worry stones and rubbed. My fingers got black, but the silver ended up looking really nice.
     
  2. say_it_slowly

    say_it_slowly The worst prison is a closed heart

    It would probably be a tight squeeze for a king size pack, just 3" high, but no not rare or of the highest quality though it is signed. Can't read it though, maybe it just says Japan or something. I'll probably clean it a bit and hold on to it for awhile in case silver prices go crazy again.
    japanese sterling case 3.jpg
     
  3. 707susang

    707susang Active Member

    "Kings" are the shorts - 3" to 3 1/4". 100s, longs or talls are the longer ones.

    I agree. Although Japan seems to follow China in attraction and prices, not quite the same. If not necessary, I'd save it, and I am, till prices rise a bit? I have a few of these type myself.
     
  4. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi Sue,
    Sunshine cloths to not have to be expensive. I make my own.
    Take 2 cups cold water add ½ cup ammonia and ¼ cup liquid
    silver polish. Stir together well. Dip cloths into the solution, wring out and hang to dry. When dry put into a baggie. When it gets black wash with hot water and detergent and dip into a new solution.
    greg
     
  5. 707susang

    707susang Active Member

    Thank you, Greg! I had seen a recipe somewhere, quite some time ago. I thought it a good idea but I didn't write it down. Someone on e-bay sells polishing cloth buy the foot or yard. I bought a small piece to try, but I found it didn't work as good as I had hoped.
     
  6. 707susang

    707susang Active Member

    By the foot or yard....
     
  7. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    Nice case :) I have had items made of sterling and gold toned areas. I have also had sterling western belt buckles and bridel adornments and other items with real gold but stamped 925/14K overlay.

    Anyway, a mild dish soap WITHOUT lemon used with a soft cloth can get the tarnish off since it does not look that bad.
    When I clean my jewelry in my ultrasonic machine I used a liquid soap,Dawn or Ivory. Take a dab of the liquid on a damp cloth and rub the area until the tarnish is gone,then a clean damp cloth and remove the soap.
     
  8. User 67

    User 67 Active Member

    It might be better sold to people who roll their own tobacco or 'medicinal' herbs, (do they have a category for that?) I am unsure what the key words or description would be? Here's my A to Z:

    "Are you anywhere? Ace case for Airhead's Ashes holds Astro Turf rolled in king or regular Zig Zags."


    .
     
  9. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    The chemical type treatments will not harm gold

    Any rubbing or abrasion will
     
    User 67 likes this.
  10. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    I just dug out my sterling and brass bridle embellishments. I have always used Wrights on these and no problem. I dont know what your gold color is made of though so the dish soap would be my best bet ;)

    Can't upload the pic :(
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2014
  11. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    phphym1MmAM.jpg phphym1MmAM.jpg



    I don't know how the pic doubled? I went to a site to lower the pixils on this pic.
     
  12. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    How can rubbing harm gold or silver? I polish silver/gold all the time with no ill results. Even using my polishing wheel lightly does not harm,just removes scratches.
    BTW! Did you know that ppatina is really minute scratches?
     
  13. User 67

    User 67 Active Member

    Gold and silver are soft metals, gold, being one of the softest is very susceptible to being eventually rubbed off when it is applied thinly. But all silver and gold 'cleaning' will remove part of the gold or silver, the trick is to do it while removing the tarnish without removing much or any of the untarnished surface beneath.

    In the instance of this case, you might be tempted to scrub hard enough (polish is the polite term) to remove the silver tarnish from the silver, but silver being a harder metal than gold, you would definitely be rubbing hard enough to remove the softer gold as well.

    .
     
  14. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    Scratches are not patina

    Patina is oxides and sulfates
     
  15. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    Gold and silver both have a hardness on the Mohs scale as 2.5. Alloys make for their hardness.

    14K gold is 58.33% pure gold,sterling is 92.5% pure silver ....so gold is stronger.

    I doubt the case abobve is gold but if it is,then it is still safe to polish........gingerly.
     
    User 67 likes this.
  16. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    Ya wanna bet???;)
     
  17. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    PS
    Folks call tarnish patina when in FACT it is NOT. Patina comes from handling over time and fine minute scratches will blend together to form a warm finish.

    If you ever take a brilliant and uncirculated coin from its jacket,just handling it will create fine scratches from your fingers..
     
    User 67 likes this.
  18. terry5732

    terry5732 Well-Known Member

    Right, so Brasso makes patina

    Got it.
     
  19. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    phpHJIhSVAM.jpg

    Look at the fine scratches on this once mint coin.:( The fine scratches was from my fingers too.
     
    Last edited: Jun 13, 2014
    User 67 likes this.
  20. spirit-of-shiloh

    spirit-of-shiloh Well-Known Member

    NO Brasso RUINS it. Why are you so snarky??? I have posted this info on the AB board in the past and certain members have challanged me? Patina on copper and brass is from certain elements and is a tarnish also but collectors LIKE it,but on sterling its a different story.
    I have used oxides to purposely darken my silver in an artful way on certain areas,but the darkening is NOT patina. Contact a curator at a museum who specializes in fine silver and ask what patina is.

    I never mentioned Brasso either so DO NOT put me in DSS catagory :(
     
    User 67 likes this.
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