How Do I Best Clean An ABC Empire Set (Silver)?

[OV1kenobi]

Just acquired it. Now, I need to know the best method of cleaning all those nooks and crannies.

Any suggestions?

Warmest Regards,

David

 

[Sailorman]

I can't believe no ones answered this yet. Are you talking tarnish or general scum or both? You can take off tarnish without losing plating by using the baking soda/aluminum foil method. Dissolve baking soda in near boiling water in a glass container with a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom. Put razor in. Repeat as required. There is a long thread about this with the exact recipe and theory behind it somewhere here. A search should turn it up. It really, really works.

 

[OV1kenobi]

I can't believe no ones answered this yet. Are you talking tarnish or general scum or both? You can take off tarnish without losing plating by using the baking soda/aluminum foil method. Dissolve baking soda in near boiling water in a glass container with a sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom. Put razor in. Repeat as required. There is a long thread about this with the exact recipe and theory behind it somewhere here. A search should turn it up. It really, really works.

Sailorman:

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I am confident your suggestion will work for the handle, but I am at a loss at what to do for the case itself. After all, I don't want to do anything that might ruin the purple, velvet lining inside the case.

Yes, I am talking of both tarnish and general scum. Who knows how many years it has been, if ever, since this razor and case was cared for. I've a feeling that this set was sitting somewhere for many a decade under who knows what sort of conditions.

Sitting forlornly and neglected just scumming and tarnishing away, no doubt.

Warmest Regards,

David

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

David - Actually, we can't recommend a cleaning method without seeing some pictures. Not really, but post some if you get a chance.

I would stay away from the baking soda/aluminum foil trick unless you really want to get rid of the tarnish in every little nook and cranny. Personally, I think the ABC razors look best if the tarnish/patina remains in the crevices and only the top portions are shined up. To achieve this look, I have used a silver polishing cloth with great success. It allows the top portions of the intricate designs to be polished while leaving the patina in the recessed portions, which gives a really nice contrast. But if you are really wanting to get the tarnish out of the cracks, the boiling baking soda water and aluminum foil trick is incredible, just be prepared for a rather wretched smell.

Best of luck and do try to post some photos.

 

[cvixx]

Just soaking in Marvicide works for mine. In addition to disinfecting, it seems to loosen the crud enough that it just falls to the bottom of the jar. Then dry and wipe with some MAAS is all that I do. There are specific silver polishes out there but they do not seem, to me at least, to shine as well as the MAAS.

 

[Windwalker]

For the scum, I would use Scrubbing bubbles. And the baking soda trick works well for the tarnish. And yes, it does smell rather foul!

 

[BroJohn]

If it's silver, why not use some silver polish or jewelry polish?

I've not cleaned a silver razor, but was just thinking out loud.

-- John Gehman

 

[Mr. O]

As another poster said pictures would help. From my latest endeavors, I have come to know this pattern:

-scrubbing bubbles bath
-dish soap and scrub with toothbrush
-another scrubbing bubbles bath

This is to get any foreign matter off the razor. Once completed, bust out the Tarn-X. I need to take pics of my recent razor makeover but trust me this stuff rocks! After a few short timed bouts with Tarn-X follow up with Maas and polish like your life depended on it. Soak in barbicide and you're ready to go!

 

[T Rick]

David - Actually, we can't recommend a cleaning method without seeing some pictures. Not really, but post some if you get a chance.

I would stay away from the baking soda/aluminum foil trick unless you really want to get rid of the tarnish in every little nook and cranny. Personally, I think the ABC razors look best if the tarnish/patina remains in the crevices and only the top portions are shined up. To achieve this look, I have used a silver polishing cloth with great success. It allows the top portions of the intricate designs to be polished while leaving the patina in the recessed portions, which gives a really nice contrast. But if you are really wanting to get the tarnish out of the cracks, the boiling baking soda water and aluminum foil trick is incredible, just be prepared for a rather wretched smell.

Best of luck and do try to post some photos.

I held off answering for a couple of reasons, one the case interior, and two, wanted to let some other folks repsond to this good Member too . The baking Soda "trick" is perfect for the razor IF you want all the tarnish gone as stated above. Here's a link to a thread on highball's Bulldog, scroll down to post #13 where AsylumGuido outlines the process. Here's an article that explains how and why it works, as well as why it's more desirable than more "standard" methods.

Now, onto the case. For the crud, I'd try either toothpaste/toothbrush or some liquid cleaner for the crud, wiping dry. For the tarnish, do you want it all gone? Or do you want to retain some of the naturally attained patina? If you want it all gone, perhaps TarnX might be the best option (I am not normally a fan of this product for our antiques/collectibles, but in this case it may be the best bet, though it is very harsh). Then again, there is the possibility of carefully removing the case interior
for cleaning, then reinstalling it. Not a guaranty it won't get messed up though. Me, I'd probably remove the crud and enjoy the tarnish. And I'd also leave some of the tarnish on the razor (of course I've not seen this yet, pics would be a huge help!).

For the scum, I would use Scrubbing bubbles. And the baking soda trick works well for the tarnish. And yes, it does smell rather foul!

The smell is essentially sulfur being released I think. The silver plating tarnishing turns to silver sulfide. This process turns the silver sulfide back into silver.

If it's silver, why not use some silver polish or jewelry polish?

I've not cleaned a silver razor, but was just thinking out loud.

-- John Gehman

An option for sure. But being triple silver plated (the razor at least) and around 100 years old, there's no telling how much plating remains. Polishes are abrasive (that's how they work) and as such actually remove a small amount of the silver. Best to preserve it whenever possible.

As another poster said pictures would help. From my latest endeavors, I have come to know this pattern:

-scrubbing bubbles bath
-dish soap and scrub with toothbrush
-another scrubbing bubbles bath

This is to get any foreign matter off the razor. Once completed, bust out the Tarn-X. I need to take pics of my recent razor makeover but trust me this stuff rocks! After a few short timed bouts with Tarn-X follow up with Maas and polish like your life depended on it. Soak in barbicide and you're ready to go!

I wouldn't for the razor, but I might for the case, if total removal of the tarnish was desired. I personally think they look a bit better with some tarnish in the nooks and crannies though, highlights the detail to me. I'd consider the cloth method suggested by another Member further up the thread.

 

[OV1kenobi]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I think I'll heed the advice of other members of this forum, and polish the highlights, but leave the nooks and crannies well enough alone. Let the century-old patina speak for itself, while enjoying the pattern that polishing will bring out.

Warmest Regards, and Happy New Year,

David