Can silver take the same vigorous cleaning/polishing as nickel?

[apino]

I'm about to get my first silver plated razors (Gillette #77 and #15). To my understanding there are no specific no-no's with silver but I'm asking anyway because I may get a little obsessive with my cleaning and polishing routines.

I even suspect I may have caused some minor brassing on the handle of one of my nickel plated razors with over-zealous polishing and buffing (don't know if it's even possible with a paper tissue/cloth - probably the brassing just didn't show through the grime prior to polishing).

I have so far been using boiling, bathroom spray (non-abrasive) & toothbrush, alcohol, ultrasonic cleaner, Flitz liquid polisher (+ endless buffing to give it "that shine").

Will all of the above be ok with silver plated razors too or should I be more gentle just to play it safe?

 

[Saturn]

Check out this guide regarding how to clean tarnished silver plated razors:
http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=146433

That's all I can contribute, as I've never owned a silver plated razor myself.

 

[apino]

Thanks for the link, Saturn! I'll try the baking soda method.

From what I understood reading that thread, the black stuff that comes off of the handle with polishing is not dirt but metal particles that oxidize straight away (and turn black) when they come into contact with the polishing agent?! No wonder I always keep getting that black stuff on the cloth, no matter how long I've been polishing.

So this brings me back to my question, should I be more gentle when polishing silver? I mean, isn't silver softer than nickel?

 

[Greybeard]

Thanks for the link, Saturn! I'll try the baking soda method.

From what I understood reading that thread, the black stuff that comes off of the handle with polishing is not dirt but metal particles that oxidize straight away (and turn black) when they come into contact with the polishing agent?! No wonder I always keep getting that black stuff on the cloth, no matter how long I've been polishing.

So this brings me back to my question, should I be more gentle when polishing silver? I mean, isn't silver softer than nickel?

Yes. Silver is a soft metal and will wear off and get scuffed much more easily than nickel. You will always get black when polishing silver. The black tarnish is formed by silver solids and hydrogen sulfide which is in many substances, including skin oils, wool, latex and humid air.
It's more effective to wash silver just when it starts to get yellowish in a detergent that doesn't contain phosphates. Once it turns dark, then you have to polish it.

 

[apino]

You will always get black when polishing silver.

So you mean with nickel it's different? If I understood this right, the black stuff you get when polishing nickel is "real" grime that was there already and can/should be polished off until the cloth is clean. Whereas with silver the black on the cloth is actually tarnish that "forms" on the cloth as the polishing agent and the silver surface come into contact?

When I've been polishing nickel, the cloth gradually gets less and less stained and eventually remains clean but every time I apply a new layer of polish, the "cycle" seems to start over again: the cloth gets black. Even after two hours of constant polishing and buffing (!). I'm worried this might harm the layer of plating and/or make it thinner.

It's more effective to wash silver just when it starts to get yellowish in a detergent that doesn't contain phosphates. Once it turns dark, then you have to polish it.

Would once a month in an ultrsonic cleaner with a little bit of dishwashing detergent be often enough? I'm thinking the ultrasonic cleaner will do the same thing as the baking soda method?

 

[Greybeard]

So you mean with nickel it's different? If I understood this right, the black stuff you get when polishing nickel is "real" grime that was there already and can/should be polished off until the cloth is clean. Whereas with silver the black on the cloth is actually tarnish that "forms" on the cloth as the polishing agent and the silver surface come into contact?

When I've been polishing nickel, the cloth gradually gets less and less stained and eventually remains clean but every time I apply a new layer of polish, the "cycle" seems to start over again: the cloth gets black. Even after two hours of constant polishing and buffing (!). I'm worried this might harm the layer of plating and/or make it thinner.

No. Nickel oxidizes also. Nickel oxide forms on contact with oxygen and humidity. It doesn't darken as much as silver since the initial film of nickel oxide provides a protective barrier to the metal underneath. When you remove the initial layer, it instantly rebuilds. The moisture in the polish accelerates this. As well, most polishes contain very fine abrasive and this does wear the metal. That combination, not dirt, is the black you are seeing and will always show up no matter how clean the razor is. Excessive polishing will wear the nickel plating.
Polish it until you are happy with the shine and then stop.

Would once a month in an ultrsonic cleaner with a little bit of dishwashing detergent be often enough? I'm thinking the ultrasonic cleaner will do the same thing as the baking soda method?

Unfortunately I have no experience with a ultrasonic cleaner. The only thing I can state with certainty is that your detergent must be phosphate free.

 

[apino]

Excessive polishing will wear the nickel plating.
Polish it until you are happy with the shine and then stop.

That's what my dad said when he saw me polishing my Aristocrat Jr. (and of course, I didn't listen).

Well, at least now I know why I didn't see that brassing before! Live and learn...

 

[Greybeard]

That's what my dad said when he saw me polishing my Aristocrat Jr. (and of course, I didn't listen).

As I keep telling my adult kids, the old man's not smarter, he's just been around a lot longer and experienced more.
I feel bad about the brassing, but now you're more experienced.

 

[apino]

I feel bad about the brassing, but now you're more experienced.

Two sides of the coin: the razor SHINES where there's no brassing.

I'd probably want to replate it at some point anyway if it stays in heavy use. I don't really worry about the razor's collectibility - I'm just angry at myself for being so stupid. Better to learn this lesson now than later, of course.

 

[Greybeard]

Two sides of the coin: the razor SHINES where there's no brassing.

 

[apino]

BTW, is the polishing liquid usually applied only once and then buffed?

I have re-applied even four or five times and buffed in between until each time no black is left on the cloth. I suppose this is definitely overkill and bad for the finish, right? Using two hours to polish a razor doesn't sound quite right.

 

[spindlecone]

When you achieve the polish you want, apply two coats of renaissance wax to the item.Google it, is amazing stuff.

 

[Oldguy]

BTW, is the polishing liquid usually applied only once and then buffed?

I have re-applied even four or five times and buffed in between until each time no black is left on the cloth. I suppose this is definitely overkill and bad for the finish, right? Using two hours to polish a razor doesn't sound quite right.

What you are doing is adding about 50 years of wear to the finish.

Len

 

[Greybeard]

BTW, is the polishing liquid usually applied only once and then buffed?

Yes. Takes me about 5 - 10 minutes. I haven't re-polished most of my razors since I did it the first time.
I use a soft toothbrush and dishwashing soap (not for the dishwasher) after every blade change just to get rid of soap scum. Then I wipe it dry with an old cotton t-shirt.

 

[apino]

What you are doing is adding about 50 years of wear to the finish.

Needless to say, I'll be more gentle from now on.

I am relieved however that the brassing I was talking about wasn't caused by my polishing after all. I looked at the eBay pictures of the razor and there were some distinct green spots on the handle, meaning the plating had already worn and the brass was showing through when I got it.

When you achieve the polish you want, apply two coats of renaissance wax to the item.Google it, is amazing stuff.

Is it used to protect the plating or for cosmetic reasons? I've started to rinse my razors in alcohol after each use - I suppose that would remove the renaissance wax?

 

[spindlecone]

Is a protective coating, used by museums for armor, Swords, guns, even paper.
You will no longer need the alcohol as water will not leave any spots.

 

[BBrad]

Would once a month in an ultrsonic cleaner with a little bit of dishwashing detergent be often enough? I'm thinking the ultrasonic cleaner will do the same thing as the baking soda method?

Ultrasonic with dish soap is great . . . I use that for both maintenance and restoration.

It is not the same, however, as the baking soda and aluminum foil method. That produces an electrochemical reaction, which causes the silver oxide (tarnish) to change back into un-oxidized silver. This reaction does not physically remove the silver, like polishing does.

I thoroughly clean silver razors with scrubbing bubbles followed by my ultrasonic using very hot water and dish soap. Once I am sure the surface is clean, I use the baking soda process followed by buffing with a clean, soft cloth.

 

[Thebigspendur]

With silver it's pretty simple, it tarnishes very rapidly and ultrasonics do nothing for the tarnish. It can remove dirt and grime on it but not the tarnish. They sell dips you can use to remove the tarnish but then you have to polish the silver if you want it to shine. You canuse a lacquor to protect it but unless you coat it with something I would just live with the tarnish that's just the way silver is and unlike solid silver, plate will wear over time.

 

[BBrad]

Hey Apino . . .

In my hast to throw my two-cents-worth in about cleaning silver . . .

I totally forgot to congratulate you on your purchase!! Nothing shines (or shaves as smoothly) as a beautiful razor such as the two you just obtained!!

While I'm more of a "gold guy" myself, silver ain't bad either!!

Let us know how much you enjoy the shaves, along with pictures of your fine restoration work!!

Regards,

Brad