www.925-1000.com

Hello

I want to know if it is ok to soak a silver item in not water (I am thinking of my holy water mural font) , in the hope it will dissolve the polish residue in fine carving.

Could it damage anything, like a old soldering or repair ?

Thank you
François

Hi,
Do not worry;hot water, no matter how hot cannot damage silver.
You can use soft artist paintbrush,too.
Regards

Thank you AG2012 !
I was sure the silver could not be dammaged
I was more concerned about the solderings

Thank you for reassuring me !

Hello again,
Melting point of hard silver solder is 700-800 degrees Celsius.
Even lead tin soft solder melting point is close to 200 degrees Celsius.
Water boils at 100 Celsius (at sea level), right ?

Regards

Thank you !

I soaked the wall font in almost boiling water
I tried to loosen the stuff with a stencil brush.... nothing

I let the water cool and tried again.... nothing


I don't know what the stuff-grime is ...
What can I use to scrape it off without scratching the silver?

Thank you

François

Do NOT use anything sharp, and do NOT try to scratch it with metal.
You can use wooden toothpick, though.
Soak well and try several times - wood cannot scratch silver.
You can soak with silver polish,too and use toothpick again.
Regards

many thanks, AG2012 !

You are a great help !

Cheers
François

fripou are you certain it is polish residue and not an actual treatment to provide contrast betwen matte and shiny finish? (unless I am looking at the wrong thing . . .)

Kerangoumer2, you are quite right when you say it is not polish residue : I soaked the font for days and the 'thing' does not come off.
It came off at some points, but it is stuck for most of the engravings.

I think it should not be there , as I could scrape off some of it and that the silver work underneath is quite good ; and the placement of the "stuff" suggests it got caught in corners.
Also, it is only on the bowl and not anywhere else ; so I think it is not intentional

I whosh I could remove it