Day in the life of a Silversmith and Goldsmith. Creating one of a kind Gold and Silver Objects. Restoring and Conserving Antique Silver and Objects.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Just about had it with this project. It has taken so long....I did figure out what was holding in the bakelite. Very old epoxy. I did not know that epoxy was made in the 1940's. I think, I have learned more about bakelite than I really wanted to know. One of the bracelets was very dented and I could not go in with tools. I had to take it completely apart and put back together.
Today was a huge success. One is done. The other soon to follow.
I made a few tools for the repair. This brass mandrel and a long thin steel burnisher for pushing out from inside. The secret to removing the bakelite from the silver, was a formula that the deYoung Museum, Objects Specialist, shared with me. She saved me hours of tedious work. Acetone plus Ethanol; put it on cotton balls, then stuff the end holes of the bracelet with the cotton soaked in the mixture.
Cover with saran wrap. I used plastic wrap. Waited half hour, (was afraid to wait longer, for fear the bakelite would be effected.) Then I was able to ease the pieces out, one by one. For extra measures of safety, I covered the surface of bakelite with a soft wax. Not sure this is necessary.
I know this all sounds so boring, but one day, this info may come in handy. And you will not need to do the research I had to do. Next hours of steel burnishing to remove deep scratches and dents with a flat headed highly polished hammer, over shapes of steel or brass.
My website in QR Code. I love this new way of translating. A Smart phone can read this and you go directly to my website.
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