Advice on Removing Tarnish From Silver Cantle

[Dram]

I should add that I was planning on using a silver polishing cloth. Any harm in that?

[tyger]

Just a word of caution here. Many objects, not limited to metal and wood, develop color and overall appearance with time. The color is called 'patina.' Patina takes time, and while it can be accelerated artificially, nothing matches color that time brings to an item. Objects with patina are invariably worth more than those whose patina has been removed (lost).

So, if you want bright metal, and do not have an old item whose patina will be lost, or whose monitary value you treasure, or that might some day be sold to somebody who will pay for that patina, by all means use polishing compounds and chemicals.

[Dram]

Just a word of caution here. Many objects, not limited to metal and wood, develop color and overall appearance with time. The color is called 'patina.' Patina takes time, and while it can be accelerated artificially, nothing matches color that time brings to an item. Objects with patina are invariably worth more than those whose patina has been removed (lost).

So, if you want bright metal, and do not have an old item whose patina will be lost, or whose monitary value you treasure, or that might some day be sold to somebody who will pay for that patina, by all means use polishing compounds and chemicals.

I am familiar with patina however, aren't tarnish and patina two different things?

Also I mentioned a polishing cloth not compounds and chemicals.

I don't have a problem with patina, but I do have a problem with a sterling silver cantle being brown and black.

What I am trying to do is find a safe way of removing the heavy tarnish.

[MacBean]

Silver tarnishes and you have to polish it. I think it's that simple. However, to avoid having to polish, can I recommend keeping the sporran in a zip-lock bag? It's an odd thing, but there isn't enough oxygen in the bag to result in much tarnishing. I think you will find it stays bright much longer, perhaps indefinitely.

[CMcG]

<snip>
So, if you want bright metal, and do not have an old item whose patina will be lost, or whose monitary value you treasure, or that might some day be sold to somebody who will pay for that patina, by all means use polishing compounds and chemicals.

I am familiar with patina however, aren't tarnish and patina two different things?
<snip>

Silver tarnishes and you have to polish it. I think it's that simple. <snip>

My cantle has quite a lot of detail embossed on it and I like the way it looks with peaks shiny and valleys dark. That is to say, I leave the "patina" in the furrows, which gives a nice relief. I think tarnished silver looks unkempt and Dram is wise to want to give it a cleaning.

My sporran is fifty years old (from my dad's youth) and gets polished once a decade or so with a non-toxic, non-abrasive, anti-oxidant paste and a soft cloth. Still looks good! To each their own, but I prefer polished silver.

[Slag101]

For all my reproduction civil war brass I use a product called Blue Magic. You can get it at any good auto parts store. It isn't as harsh as brasso, and works twice as well. However, be mindful not to get it on anything not made of metal, i.e. leather, fur, wood, etc.

[csbdr]

I am familiar with patina however, aren't tarnish and patina two different things?

Also I mentioned a polishing cloth not compounds and chemicals.

I don't have a problem with patina, but I do have a problem with a sterling silver cantle being brown and black.

What I am trying to do is find a safe way of removing the heavy tarnish.

Iguess it depends on your point of view. Take coins, for instance. Tarnish IS patina there. Polished silver coins are beautiful, but if you remove the patina/tarnish the value is VERY adversely affected.

You've recieved goo advice on removal. If you have a piece whos VALUE you are concerned about, I'd have it appraised and ask the appraiser about the polishing and what effect it would have. If not, definately polishish it.