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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

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  #1  
Old 2010-04-19, 4:37am
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Default 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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  #2  
Old 2010-04-19, 5:54am
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I didn't know this about rubber. Thanks for posting!
Tina
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  #3  
Old 2010-04-19, 5:55am
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Real rubber contains sulfur, sulfur tarnishes silver.

Robert
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  #4  
Old 2010-04-19, 6:02am
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Very interesting information,
Thank you for sharing
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  #5  
Old 2010-04-20, 7:02am
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What a great tip. So well worth knowing. Thanks!
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  #6  
Old 2010-04-20, 7:17am
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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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  #7  
Old 2010-04-20, 7:28am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by melody View Post
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???
Just a thought, but maybe the ends aren't silver.
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  #8  
Old 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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  #9  
Old 2010-04-20, 7:51am
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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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  #10  
Old 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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  #11  
Old 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??
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  #12  
Old 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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  #13  
Old 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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  #14  
Old 2010-04-26, 8:50am
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Quote:
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So the real expensive 'anti-tarnish' baggies I bought were a waste of money?
Tina
NOW THERE'S A QUESTION!!!! I bought some too!
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  #15  
Old 2010-04-26, 11:14am
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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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  #16  
Old 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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  #17  
Old 2010-04-27, 10:42am
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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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  #18  
Old 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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  #19  
Old 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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