Polish Silver method

[alvin4life]

Hi, I like to ask you guy if this method of polishing is good or bad. I just bought this off a jewelry dealer two salt shaker both were tarnish heavily almost black. The dealer is my friend. I buy from him almost ever day so as a nice thing he said he would polish it with a spinning wheel thing ,so I go to the back of the store and I give him the most tarnish one with the bent cap I told him just polish it a little to show me how it would come out so he did. He stop and show me the salt shaker. I like the result and he said I can come in any time I want and he would finish the job and do the other one to both for free since I am a loyal costumer. I want your opinion first is this method safe or should I just polish it with a local store silver polish with a cotton ball.

[JLDoggett]

these are fairly modern pieces spun sheet usually on glass bodies. The silver is often quite thin and a buff will take off far more metal than polish. I usually suggest hand polishing for two reasons: to prevent folks from ruining the patina on a fine old piece of silver or because they often get carried away and buff off detail ir even cause breaks in the silver. I know it is a pain sometimes to polish but I believe in the old motto of "first do no harm".