How to Repair Silver & Pewter

This turtle could be either pewter or silver

Silver and pewter can be very beautiful. Silver has a distinctive look characterized by a brilliant shine, but silver is also highly corrosive and, over time, once-glowing surfaces can turn dark and dull. Pewter, too, can tarnish and get dirty over time. Refinishing silver, more often than not, requires some cleaning and a bath in a chemical solution that removes the first layer, revealing the underlying shining silver. Immersion products actually add silver to the surface, in those instances where silver polish and cleaning just won't do.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton swab
• Cotton cloth
• Silver dip
• Silver polishing cloth
• Silver polish
• Immersion plating silver kit

Instructions

1. Clean the item to remove dirt. Many times, what appears to dull the surface of silver or pewter is just dirt. Use a gentle cloth and water to clean the silver surface, using a cotton swab for the protected areas.

2. Use a silver dip to remove tarnish on silver and pewter. A silver dip removes the very top layer of the surface, and can easily restore a finish. If the item is small, place it into the dip for several seconds and then rinse it completely. For larger items, put the solution on some cloth, and gently apply to surface, taking care to rinse completely and dry thoroughly.

3. If needed, use a silver polish. Often the first two steps are all that is needed to restore silver's shine and to remove grime from pewter, but if not, an anti-tarnish silver polish can work by applying the polish to a cloth, and then rubbing onto the surface. After polishing to remove grime and restore the shine, rinse the piece completely and dry it.

4. Try immersion plating, if still unsatisfied. While more often than not, a cleaning and restoring silver polish will restore silver and pewter's finish, immersion plating can also restore silver that has worn through and give a general shine to pewter. It works by placing an item in an immersion solution with silver particles and silver adheres to the copper and brass that has been exposed. This can have satisfactory, temporary results, but if the silver is completely gone, one many have to use the services of a professional to replate it.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use toothpaste as a silver polish as it is highly abrasive.

• Use any chemicals in a well-ventilated area.

References

• Wright's: Silver Refinishing Tips
• German Toasting Glasses: Pewter Cleaning
• Finishing: Immersion Plating FAQs