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How to get a white Silver finish?
Folks,
I noticed that silver castings are, well, white...right after casting. One does then polish them to make them shiny like silver. How might I turn a polished piece back to the white state? I have some cast seashells that need that white finish. Thanks, Paul Wilson eliasbing.com |
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#2
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How to get a white Silver finish?
Paul WIlson wrote:
Folks, I noticed that silver castings are, well, white...right after casting. One does then polish them to make them shiny like silver. How might I turn a polished piece back to the white state? I have some cast seashells that need that white finish. Thanks, Paul Wilson eliasbing.com I get that look with the silver if I heat it up to about 1300F-1500F without coating it with a flux first. I believe the white is silver oxide. |
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How to get a white Silver finish?
Todd Rich wrote:
Paul WIlson wrote: Folks, I noticed that silver castings are, well, white...right after casting. One does then polish them to make them shiny like silver. How might I turn a polished piece back to the white state? I have some cast seashells that need that white finish. Thanks, Paul Wilson eliasbing.com I get that look with the silver if I heat it up to about 1300F-1500F without coating it with a flux first. I believe the white is silver oxide. Your very lucky to not get oxide forming at that temperature, that could be because your heating in an inert atmosphere or a reducing one or your using fine silver.Thats 999/1000 to those that dont know. Heating sterling grade thats 7.5% copper/silver without flux in an ordinary flame will turn it black in no time. so unless you know what your doing, dont. Or run a replicapable trial on some scrap first, before putting the real item in the fire. To get rid of the black youll need to dissolve the copper oxide out of the silver. For that youll need a reactive flux with flurides in it. there designed for a quite different aplication so wont be available from your normal jewellers supply house. they will do the job but theres a health risk in their use. A touch of the sorcerer's apprentice here I think. Do your research first, then run trials to get the technique right then do the proper job. that way your less likely to screw up. |
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How to get a white Silver finish?
Paul WIlson wrote:
Folks, I noticed that silver castings are, well, white...right after casting. One does then polish them to make them shiny like silver. How might I turn a polished piece back to the white state? I have some cast seashells that need that white finish. Thanks, Paul Wilson eliasbing.com Have you tried bead/sandblasting? Might be close enough to the finish you're after. Or I suppose you could invest and reheat the item to casting temp. Just remove the investment? Seems like you would still have oxides to deal with though. You said silver - is it sterling or unalloyed? Carl -- to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net) |
#5
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How to get a white Silver finish?
On Dec 9, 3:14 am, "Paul WIlson" wrote:
Folks, I noticed that silver castings are, well, white...right after casting. One does then polish them to make them shiny like silver. How might I turn a polished piece back to the white state? I have some cast seashells that need that white finish. Thanks, Paul Wilson eliasbing.com You could brush polish the piece using a fine brush to regain the white look. There are fine glass, pencil-like brushes in the market that make a great job. Or, as in reticulated silver, you could evenly heat the piece to turn it black and then pickle to remove the copper oxide layer and leave a thin white fine silver layer. Repeat the process until you are happy with the result. Sarit. http://sarit-jewelry.com |
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