Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

A housekeeper's blunder leaves every silver piece looking like aluminum

Q. Dear sirs;
Recently my housekeeper cleaned ALL my silver; flatware and candleholders with an abrasive pad and cleaner. All the silver is scrathed making it have the appearance of aluminum. How can I restore this myself? I am willing to invest in any contraption that will bring the items back to their original beauty. I can't, at this time, consider having it professionally done because there is so much to restore. Please advise me of my options.

Thank You,

Michael Stout
Patron of fine silver - Brewster,New York, U.S.A.
July 13, 2008

Precipitated Chalk /
Calcium Carbonate
Amazon

(affil links)

A. Try precipitated chalk/water mixture(thick).After that polish with special silver polishing cloth.Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia

July 17, 2008

Most shops specialized in silverware have polishing compounds (Simichrome ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] brandname comes to mind).
G. Marrufo-Mexico

Guillermo Marrufo
- Monterrey, Mexico

Michael

If you can locate some, a paste of Colgate Tooth Powder works well at fine polishing. May be too fine, depending on the abrasive originally used.

Willie Alexander
- Colorado Springs CO
July 17, 2008

July 17, 2008

Polish lightly with 2F pumice ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] and then switch to 4F fine pumice ⇦this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] in a wet paste. Lots of work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

July 17, 2008

If it's sterling, then you can restore it with buffing pads mounted in a hand drill and white compound, both available at Sears.

If plated, there may not be enough silver left to allow restoration. It would have to be replated, which costs about as much as new.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: