I have an old "Silver Tea Set" entered the Possum Family back in the 1800's, it was Silver plated over Pewter (from memory). Over the years it became a daily use item with the resultant dents and plating wearing thin, in the late 70's, I took it to a company that specialised in "Silver Restoration".
The tea set was taken apart, panel beaten and re-plated - after about a month absence it was returned to the Possum's Nest - Absolutely looking like it just came out of a display at the Tower of London, it was magnificent. Being now much too good for daily use it was put in Dining Cabinet cupboard and never re-used.
Current problem; it is as black as coal. Being a family heirloom I don't wish to destroy the plating by cleaning with Silvo or such other abrasive solution resulting in abrading through the silver/nickle plate.
Has anyone in the "Nomad's Brains Trust" ever personally cleaned EPNS without destroying the plating? If so, would they please tell me how to do it, and with what.
Grandad5 said
09:39 AM Dec 31, 2020
Yes, there is a way of cleaning silver by a chemical process that does zero harm to the silver itself. I'm sorry, but its been far too many years for me to remember the details but basically, it involves combining aluminium and either baking soda or for a better result what they call washing soda. (available at most supermarkets).
Google "Cleaning silver with aluminium foil for more details.
As I understand it, aluminium foil is generally used because it is commonly found in the home. An actual piece of pure aluminium works much better. Same with baking soda. Commonly found therefore commonly used but washing soda much better.
Sorry, I can't recall more details.
Jim
Whenarewethere said
09:55 AM Dec 31, 2020
Plain aluminium flashing is a 1000 series alloy with the least amount of alloying elements.
Possum3 said
10:22 AM Dec 31, 2020
Thanks Guys, I would normally have gone straight to the Web but I needed to be sure (Too many memories to destroy), - that's why I came here first.
From Dr Google; How to Clean Large Silver Items:
Line your sink with foil. ...
Pour boiling water into the sink. ...
Add 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup salt to the water. ...
Place silver pieces in the solution.
Allow pieces to soak for up to 30 minutes.
Remove items when cool and dry them off with a soft cloth.
May 6, 2020
Silver Plate;
Instructions
Bring water to a boil in a pot on the stove. ...
Inside an aluminum dish or a glass dish lined with aluminum foil, add the baking soda and sea salt.
Slowly pour in the vinegar and boiling water to your dish. ...
Place the silver into your dish, making sure each piece is touching the aluminum surface.
Does vinegar harm silver?
White vinegar and baking soda: Use this gentle cleaner to remove heavy tarnish that's preventing you from polishing your silver. Soak the tarnished piece in a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tbsp. ... Then pour boiling water over the pieces until they are covered and add 2 tbsp. each of baking soda and salt.
Craig1 said
11:28 AM Dec 31, 2020
just the washing soda and aluminium, rinse well after the soak. Salt to me makes things rust and vinegar is acidic
oldbloke said
12:04 PM Dec 31, 2020
Scratching my head. Vinegar would be neutralised by the baking soda. Makes no sense to combine e them.
Possum3 said
01:31 PM Dec 31, 2020
Buggar - fought through the NYE Hordes to go to Supermarket (Coles), bought two kilo of washing soda, two liters white vinegar two 500g non-iodised salt - Come back here read latest and now not sure - As I said before, the plated silver tea set has great sentimental value, do not want to risk damage.
Has any GN actually used the Dr Google method?
oldbloke said
06:32 PM Dec 31, 2020
You don't have something you can test it on?
Dougwe said
06:59 PM Dec 31, 2020
Possum3 wrote:
Buggar - fought through the NYE Hordes to go to Supermarket (Coles), bought two kilo of washing soda, two liters white vinegar two 500g non-iodised salt - Come back here read latest and now not sure - As I said before, the plated silver tea set has great sentimental value, do not want to risk damage.
Has any GN actually used the Dr Google method?
Hello Possum
Google Shannon Lush she will have the right solution. You could take that word 'solution' both ways mate.
Mike Harding said
07:32 AM Jan 1, 2021
Hi Possum
I have no idea about the cleaning but I am thinking it's a shame you don't still use the pot....
Possum3 said
09:10 AM Jan 1, 2021
It is a whole setting; Tea and Coffee pots, large lidded sugar pot, Milk jug and Cream pourer. A little over the top for daily use after coming in from the paddocks - That's why it stayed in cupboard for 40 odd years.
Grandad5 said
09:45 AM Jan 1, 2021
Possum, I'd like to think I'm the last person to tell anyone what they should do in any given situation. But may I pass on a decision I made for myself some years back?
My parents had a very extensive, (And expensive) silver cutlery set that I had memories of for as long as I can recall having memories. It was only brought out on special occasions or when we had guests. As soon as I was old enough the job of polishing each piece somehow became my job.
When it passed into my procession, I had the choice of following protocol or actually using it. I chose the latter. That was some 30+ years ago. It's my day to day cutlery set now and is used and washed the same as any $19.95 cheapo set from K-Mart would be.
Guess what? I've never found the need to polish it. Not once. They go into my sink and are washed just like everything else used that day. Ok, no scouring pads. That would be my only difference to other items in the sink.
Silverplate is not as fragile as we may think.
I think you could easily describe my cutlery as "Over the top" for a country bumpkin living on his own. But I see it as adding a bit of class to my life.
Jim
Possum3 said
11:35 AM Jan 1, 2021
I agree Jim, it's been hidden away for too long and I wish to use it - first it needs to be cleaned.
Peter_n_Margaret said
01:39 PM Jan 1, 2021
The black that you wish to remove is silver oxide. Every time it goes black is some more silver lost.
Maybe there is some wax or other protective coating that will slow or stop the oxidisation process?
Cheers,
Peter
Teo said
05:57 PM Jan 1, 2021
Ive seen an old Aunty do the trick with foil in the sink to clean silver cutlery. Worked well. But as Peter said dont know about the long term effects.
Craig1 said
10:53 AM Jan 2, 2021
Our Grosvenor epns cutlery set is 50 years old still looks good, washing soda and aluminium foil or the aluminium plate with holes($10). About once a year
Whenarewethere said
01:39 PM Jan 2, 2021
Stick the silverware in a cupboard with an airlock & purge the air with nitrogen as they do packaging chips & nuts etc.
Mike Harding said
06:38 AM Jan 3, 2021
Whenarewethere wrote:
Stick the silverware in a cupboard with an airlock & purge the air with nitrogen as they do packaging chips & nuts etc.
What a good idea and such a quick, simple and cheap solution.
DMaxer said
08:18 AM Jan 3, 2021
I remember reading something about this in an old Playboy magazine. It said you should....oh hang on, my mistake, I thought the heading was Family Jewels. Sorry, can't help.
I have an old "Silver Tea Set" entered the Possum Family back in the 1800's, it was Silver plated over Pewter (from memory). Over the years it became a daily use item with the resultant dents and plating wearing thin, in the late 70's, I took it to a company that specialised in "Silver Restoration".
The tea set was taken apart, panel beaten and re-plated - after about a month absence it was returned to the Possum's Nest - Absolutely looking like it just came out of a display at the Tower of London, it was magnificent. Being now much too good for daily use it was put in Dining Cabinet cupboard and never re-used.
Current problem; it is as black as coal. Being a family heirloom I don't wish to destroy the plating by cleaning with Silvo or such other abrasive solution resulting in abrading through the silver/nickle plate.
Has anyone in the "Nomad's Brains Trust" ever personally cleaned EPNS without destroying the plating? If so, would they please tell me how to do it, and with what.
Google "Cleaning silver with aluminium foil for more details.
As I understand it, aluminium foil is generally used because it is commonly found in the home. An actual piece of pure aluminium works much better. Same with baking soda. Commonly found therefore commonly used but washing soda much better.
Sorry, I can't recall more details.
Jim
Plain aluminium flashing is a 1000 series alloy with the least amount of alloying elements.
From Dr Google; How to Clean Large Silver Items:
Line your sink with foil. ...
Pour boiling water into the sink. ...
Add 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup salt to the water. ...
Place silver pieces in the solution.
Allow pieces to soak for up to 30 minutes.
Remove items when cool and dry them off with a soft cloth.
May 6, 2020
Silver Plate;
Instructions
Bring water to a boil in a pot on the stove. ...
Inside an aluminum dish or a glass dish lined with aluminum foil, add the baking soda and sea salt.
Slowly pour in the vinegar and boiling water to your dish. ...
Place the silver into your dish, making sure each piece is touching the aluminum surface.
Does vinegar harm silver?
White vinegar and baking soda: Use this gentle cleaner to remove heavy tarnish that's preventing you from polishing your silver. Soak the tarnished piece in a solution of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 tbsp. ... Then pour boiling water over the pieces until they are covered and add 2 tbsp. each of baking soda and salt.
Has any GN actually used the Dr Google method?
Hello Possum
Google Shannon Lush she will have the right solution. You could take that word 'solution' both ways mate.
Hi Possum
I have no idea about the cleaning but I am thinking it's a shame you don't still use the pot....
My parents had a very extensive, (And expensive) silver cutlery set that I had memories of for as long as I can recall having memories. It was only brought out on special occasions or when we had guests. As soon as I was old enough the job of polishing each piece somehow became my job.
When it passed into my procession, I had the choice of following protocol or actually using it. I chose the latter. That was some 30+ years ago. It's my day to day cutlery set now and is used and washed the same as any $19.95 cheapo set from K-Mart would be.
Guess what? I've never found the need to polish it. Not once. They go into my sink and are washed just like everything else used that day. Ok, no scouring pads. That would be my only difference to other items in the sink.
Silverplate is not as fragile as we may think.
I think you could easily describe my cutlery as "Over the top" for a country bumpkin living on his own. But I see it as adding a bit of class to my life.
Jim
Maybe there is some wax or other protective coating that will slow or stop the oxidisation process?
Cheers,
Peter
Stick the silverware in a cupboard with an airlock & purge the air with nitrogen as they do packaging chips & nuts etc.
What a good idea and such a quick, simple and cheap solution.