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