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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2010-04-19, 4:37am
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Formerly Kellyhorton
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Join Date: Nov 29, 2005
Location: PA
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storing your sterling silver
I learned something in my metal smithing class that maybe you already know. silver cannot be around rubber, ie rubber bands, It ruins it. For some reason, there is some chemical reaction between the two. just thought id share
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Kelly
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2010-04-19, 5:54am
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I didn't know this about rubber. Thanks for posting!
Tina
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2010-04-19, 5:55am
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Real rubber contains sulfur, sulfur tarnishes silver.
Robert
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Robert Simmons
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2010-04-19, 6:02am
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Very interesting information,
Thank you for sharing
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Glass beadmaking since 2006.
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2010-04-20, 7:02am
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What a great tip. So well worth knowing. Thanks!
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2010-04-20, 7:17am
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Ex-lurker
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Well I guess my black rubber necklaces aren't really rubber then. I bought 500 of them in Thailand a couple of years ago with sterling ends and they have not tarnished. Maybe they don't have as much sulfur in them???
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2010-04-20, 7:28am
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Cancer SUCKS!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by melody
Well I guess my black rubber necklaces aren't really rubber then. I bought 500 of them in Thailand a couple of years ago with sterling ends and they have not tarnished. Maybe they don't have as much sulfur in them???
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Just a thought, but maybe the ends aren't silver.
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Deb in MN
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2010-04-20, 7:47am
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I think it's more that the rubber isn't rubber ... It's different and more plastc on the neckcords I have (I've forgotten the name of what it's called. I think it begins with a "b". )
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2010-04-20, 7:51am
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Micromosaic and Lampwork
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Perhaps the "rubber" is silicon. Doesn't rubber have that, um, "rubber" smell
Thanks for the info. I did not know that. I also heard that plastic bags will tarnish silver too. But I see people put an anti tarnish strip in the bag and it seems ok.
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2010-04-20, 9:42am
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Most of the 'rubber' necklace materials are synthetics, neoprene or silicone materials. Real rubber, as in many rubber bands, does contain sulfur and will cause tarnish. Putting aluminum foil on the bottom of the drawer or container will reduce also tarnishing. Sulfur is in the atmosphere (car exhaust, human exhaust, etc.) and will react with silver. The sulfur/aluminum reaction is more electrochemically favorable, so it will react with aluminum before it reacts with silver. Most of the sulfur will end up on the foil and not on your jewelry.
Robert
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Robert Simmons
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2010-04-20, 1:15pm
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Just a thought are the plastic bags okay if they stay sealed?
I thought they oxidized because of the air??
MarieAnn
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2010-04-20, 5:44pm
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Most tarnish on silver isn't oxidation - it's formation of silver sulfide, not silver oxide.
Robert
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Robert Simmons
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2010-04-26, 6:42am
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So the real expensive 'anti-tarnish' baggies I bought were a waste of money?
Tina
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2010-04-26, 8:50am
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Angie09
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TinaJ
So the real expensive 'anti-tarnish' baggies I bought were a waste of money?
Tina
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NOW THERE'S A QUESTION!!!! I bought some too!
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2010-04-26, 11:14am
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Ellyloo-YAH!
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Ohhhh I remember the day I bought a MASSIVE amount of silver snake chains (for me-like... 25!) and tucked them away for when I needed them.
The day I needed them, I brought them out, and they were ALL RUINED, because a person fastened them all together with a big blue rubber band.
No amount of tarnish liquid would get it off.
I wonder if i should make them all black just so it looks on purpose?
To give the store credit they did tell me to send them back (they were very puzzled... but you'd think a SILVER store would know!??), but i never got around to it. I don't do well with hassle.
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2010-04-26, 6:08pm
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You can probably get the tarnish off with the old baking soda/aluminum foil trick. Line a Pyrex dis with aluminum foil. Put in a tablespoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt. Add boiling water, stir to dissolve the soda (be careful, it will foam up a bit) and add your Sterling. Under these electrochemical conditions the sulfur will move from the silver to the aluminum. Your chains should look like new unless you stored them so long that the tarnish corroded down into the surface.
Robert
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Robert Simmons
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2010-04-27, 10:42am
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Ellyloo-YAH!
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This was a long time ago. I still have them, but they're probably permanent marks. But I'll give that a try!!
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2010-04-27, 5:17pm
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Robert I really love your explanations. Thank you! I am going to go put some tin foil in my silver box. I have chalk in there now and it seems to be working.
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Michelle
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2010-04-28, 6:39am
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The chalk is probably keeping the moisture levels low enough to slow the reaction.
Robert
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Robert Simmons
(Former) Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.
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