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Dial Silvering Compound

Michael1962

By Michael1962
in All Things Clocks

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JohnR725 Distinguished Member

JohnR725

Posted
Posted

if you like playing with chemicals I'm pretty sure that the clock repair books have formulas for how to do the silvering powder.

it's amazing what happens if you Google clock silvering there is lots and lots of links out there is rather surprised the video below shows a different product at about two minutes. Slightly closer than ordering from the UK. although it's a bit of a sticker shock it and realize the stuff was that expensive here's a link

https://timesavers.com/i-8944166-dial-silvering-powder.html

this one probably isn't helpful to the UK again

https://priorypolishes.co.uk/product/clock-dial-silvering-restoration-kit/

searching for stuff online is quite interesting as the phrase I'm using is dial silvering powder Australia although conveniently that last word of Australia seems be missing from all the searches where finding all kinds of sites with silvering powder. So yes there is more than one company out there possibly a less somebody's making it the selling and everybody else. Or as I said you do DIY I can't remember what would be the bad if you did a wrong? Plus he still needs some silver compounds are going to be pricey

 

then I found the DIY formula thanks to @nickelsilver found at the link below.

 

 

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agg221 Member

agg221

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Silvering is one of the few things I have actually done, with success.

I followed the method described here:

https://www.cousinsuk.com/PDF/products/8514_Silvering Clock Dials.pdf

Essentially, I bought silver nitrate, dissolved it in water, precipitated it out by adding drops salt water (dissolve ordinary table salt in water and add until it stops turning cloudy when you add a drop). The white precipitate at the bottom is very fine silver chloride powder which can be filtered out and dried.

Add cream of tartar which is available as a cooking ingredient and comes as a fine powder, which is soft anyway, and ordinary salt which needs to be crushed to dust. Ideally grind the three together as described in the link, using a pestle and mortar, but this can be improvised with an old teacup (try to avoid a mug as is harder to grind the material in the corners) and a suitable pebble to act as a pestle.

I found it worked quickly and easily when taken up on a small piece of damp, lint-free paper and rubbed on.

Alec

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rjenkinsgb WRT Addict

rjenkinsgb

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This would be a cheat (or compromise, at least), but easily removable with a solvent if/when you get the authentic silvering materials:

https://theartistwarehouse.com.au/buy-art-supplies-online/painting/paint-accessories/amaco-rub-n-buff/

Look for Silver Leaf in the pulldown list.

 

 

 

The full silvering kits do appear to be available at a reasonable price on ebay australia - eg:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/252488151588

 

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JohnR725 Distinguished Member

JohnR725

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10 minutes ago, rjenkinsgb said:

free international shipping".

You should probably check just to make sure I got it right because it was very clear it would not ship to the US as apparently whatever paperwork to whatever has to be done for the US was never done so all I saw was Great Britain maybe it would shipped Australia but I suspect not

Then yes it can be shipped but? Mine came from United Kingdom after I saw demonstration while visiting the BHI. The individual who sent it to me must've been confused and labeled it clock cleaning powder. But I'm sure that confusion could get you in trouble, If anyone catches on as to what it is.

 

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