Sterling or Fine Silver?
 

Does anyone know how to tell the difference between sterling silver &
fine silver?
I have a bunch of sheet & wire that's pretty old, with fine & sterling
silver mixed.
Is there a heating/color change/soldering type trick to tell which is
which?
Much Thanks!

If you heat it in an oxidizing atmosphere the Copper in the Sterling will
oxidize and turn black. If you then dunk the heated section into a pickle
soln. it will brighten back up. If you heat Fine Silver it doesn't blacken
at the lower temperature required for Sterling's Copper to oxidize.

--
Don Thompson

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before
them, glory and danger alike, and notwithstanding go out to meet it."-
Thucydides

"Men are never really willing to die except for the sake of Freedom:
Therefore they do not believe in dying completely."-
Albert Camus


"Jenny" wrote in message
...
Does anyone know how to tell the difference between sterling silver &
fine silver?
I have a bunch of sheet & wire that's pretty old, with fine & sterling
silver mixed.
Is there a heating/color change/soldering type trick to tell which is
which?
Much Thanks!

Jenny wrote:
Does anyone know how to tell the difference between sterling silver &
fine silver?
I have a bunch of sheet & wire that's pretty old, with fine & sterling
silver mixed.
Is there a heating/color change/soldering type trick to tell which is
which?
Much Thanks!

The melting temperature of fine silver is higher and when it´s molten the
cohesion ist also higher.

Sterling silver stays a little bit harder alfter they were both glued.

--
Heinrich Butschal
casting technologies
http://butschal.de/werkstatt