Ultrasonic plating?

Over the years I have noticed that sometimes when jewelry is in the
ultrasonic it comes out discolored. Today I had some gold rings come out
looking like old brass, a chain came out purple, and a silver bracelet had a
peacock effect. Rather pretty, actually, but it would horrify any customer.
The discoloration comes off with a simple rouge polishing so it isn't a big
deal but it is curious. Clearly the silver has something to do with it but
it doesn't always happen every time I have silver and gold in the same
sonic.
Any of you metallurgists out there have a clue about how I can prevent this
and an explanation for why it happens?
Thanks in advance.

chris

HoyoD wrote:

Over the years I have noticed that sometimes when jewelry is in the
ultrasonic it comes out discolored. Today I had some gold rings come out
looking like old brass, a chain came out purple, and a silver bracelet had a
peacock effect. Rather pretty, actually, but it would horrify any customer.
The discoloration comes off with a simple rouge polishing so it isn't a big
deal but it is curious. Clearly the silver has something to do with it but
it doesn't always happen every time I have silver and gold in the same
sonic.
Any of you metallurgists out there have a clue about how I can prevent this
and an explanation for why it happens?
Thanks in advance.

chris

I do.

Abrasha
http://www.abrasha.com

Sounds like you might have contaminated your ultrasonic with Liver of
Sulphur maybe?

-Stanley


"HoyoD" wrote in message
...
Over the years I have noticed that sometimes when jewelry is in the
ultrasonic it comes out discolored. Today I had some gold rings come out
looking like old brass, a chain came out purple, and a silver bracelet had
a
peacock effect. Rather pretty, actually, but it would horrify any
customer.
The discoloration comes off with a simple rouge polishing so it isn't a
big
deal but it is curious. Clearly the silver has something to do with it but
it doesn't always happen every time I have silver and gold in the same
sonic.
Any of you metallurgists out there have a clue about how I can prevent
this
and an explanation for why it happens?
Thanks in advance.

chris

hmmmmm.....nope, never use the stuff. I do use plastic coated paperclips to
hang stuff with though and I sometimes wonder if the metal on a worn one
might be involved here. I'm betting on that right now.

chris


"sbright" wrote in message
...
Sounds like you might have contaminated your ultrasonic with Liver of
Sulphur maybe?

-Stanley


"HoyoD" wrote in message
...
Over the years I have noticed that sometimes when jewelry is in the
ultrasonic it comes out discolored. Today I had some gold rings come out
looking like old brass, a chain came out purple, and a silver bracelet
had
a
peacock effect. Rather pretty, actually, but it would horrify any
customer.
The discoloration comes off with a simple rouge polishing so it isn't a
big
deal but it is curious. Clearly the silver has something to do with it
but
it doesn't always happen every time I have silver and gold in the same
sonic.
Any of you metallurgists out there have a clue about how I can prevent
this
and an explanation for why it happens?
Thanks in advance.

chris