Hi, I have a several new pieces of silver that I’d like to sell but
they have a few very light scratches due to handling. Could anyone
tell me how to remove the scratches? I am not a jewler and I do not
have any equipment.
Thanks!
Dan Tregembo
Could anyone tell me how to remove the scratches? I am not a jewler and I do not have any equipment.
Hi Dan,
You’re going to have a laborious task without any equipment.
Polishing cloths and such will remove tarnish, but do little to
remove scratches. Scratches can be removed by an abrasive or, in some
cases, burnishing process.
A burnisher is a highly polished hard steel, or occasionally stone
(like agate or hematite) tool that is used to rub a metal surface to
smooth it and remove imperfections. This will only work with slight
scratches, but may also improve the overall appearance, even if it
doesn’t remove every scratch. Burnishers can be had relatively
inexpensively from most jewelry tool suppliers.
The traditional method would be to use sanding processes…
depending on depth of the scratches… or polishing compounds on a
buff to abrade the surface down to a uniform finish where the
scratches have been removed. One would then use a successively finer
series of abrasives to refine the finish until it is highly polished.
A buffer or rotary tool (Foredom or Dremel) with buffs and polishing
compounds (like Tripoli and Rouge) would save a lot of “elbow
grease.”
I don’t mean to discourage you… just want to give you a realistic
picture of the task at hand. I hope this is of some help. Let me (us)
know if you need any clarification on this brief description!
All the best,
Dave
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio and
Carolina Artisans’ Gallery
Charlotte, NC (USA)
dave@sebaste.com
http://www.CarolinaArtisans.com
David’ right.
Polishing is a complex process and you nee the right equipment. I’d
suggest you go along to a local jeweler and ask a favor.
Tony Konrath
Gold and Stone
http://www.goldandstone.com