All the tips are coming either from my experience or from the following source: HOW TO RESTORE & REPAIR Practically Everything, by Lorraine Johnson Published by Penguin Group 1984. Cleaning silver (works on silver plate and Britannia metal) Needed - Basic cleaning solvent/polish - base of thioglycolic acid; silver brush. Process - 1. Wash the silver gently in very warm soapy water. Then rinse thoroughly in clean warm water. Dry with a clean cloth. 2. Apply the polish, a little at a time, with a cloth. Rub quite firmly backwards and forwards, not in a circle. 3. Use a special silver bursh to get into any parts that are not otherwise easily accesible. But do remember that many patterns are intented to have some tarnishing in the recesses, as this serves to give the contrast of shadow to the brighter polished areas. 4. Rub with a clean cloth to remove all traces of the polish. The silver should now be clean and bright. Wash it again and dry it well. Silver/Silver Plate/Coin Silver - watch cases cleaning (my buffing method) Needed: Buffing machine (w/ suction venting), two buffing wheels (make sure that the buffing wheels are not to hard from previous uses); rauge and scratch; safety glasses; pair of leather gloves and face mask. I place a plastic bag with a hole near the top. The hole lets air pass out of the bag and the dust from the buffing wheel is trapped in the lower part of the bag. The trapped dust will contain silver and gold and can be turned in to an assayer's office for reuse. 1. Depending condition of case either detail of engraving or whether if is silver plate/coin silver - determine if scratch is needed - scratch is more abrasive then rouge. 2. If scratch is used be sure to not use to much pressure while holding the case againt the wheel. Then buff in the same manner with a different wheel using rouge. 3. Hold the case at an angle to the buff wheel and about the mid-point of the wheel. This allows for maximum control of the case and will not allow you to use to much pressure. To much pressure in one place can produce an uneven shine or worse on a plate or coin silver wear through to brass or to the core metal of the case. 4. Move the case in the same direction each time, usually from left to right across the wheel. Continue on all sides and edges. A good grip is necessary or the case will become a projectile - usually slamming up against the back of the buff machine - producing severe denting and scratching. 5. After buffing with scratch and/or rouge - wash in warm soapy water or ultra-sound the case in Parson's Sudsy ammonia then rinse with warm water. I use a soft head tooth brush to remove rauge from the cracks. 6. Dry the case completely. I use a hair dryer in stuck through a hole in a box and allow to dry for 15 minutes. Caution: the case will be very hot after 15 minutes. Tim Sweet TIMEKEEPR2@AOL.COM M.O.S.T (MY OWN SWEET TIME) WATCH COMPANY. 14002 Tuckey Lane El Paso, TX 79927 U.S.A. (915) 852-2409 (See my add in the MART) Look for my Web site at: http://www.cyperportal.net/watches/timhome.html Requests and comments welcome enjoy