Dial slivering

[Redwood]

I understand the how it’s done with slivering compound  and lacquer but there is another product called dial finishing compound, is this compound needed if so how is this applied.

[wls1971]

When silvering a dial you are depositing silver salts onto the surface of the brass, this can look quite matte and dull grey the finishing compound is a very fine abrasive it lifts the lustre of the silver and makes it look brighter, usually the silvering salts come with a tub of finishing compound from most sellers on ebay. I have found that the silvering salts available on ebay are quite variable in quality the finer powders work better, some are quite gritty and not very good.

I have found this to be the best not cheap but it has done a fantastic job on many dials for me:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clock-Silvering-Powder-Trade-large-500g-PLUS-500g-Finishing-Powder/324107918063?hash=item4b76565aef:g:NwwAAOSweW5VBpzI.

The finishing compound can be applied when the dial has been washed and dried use a soft cloth or brush and lightly rub in much the same way one would use french chalk.

Edited April 8, 2020 by wls1971

[watchweasol]

Hi Redwood  find attached the pdf of the spec sheet for finishing powder and how to use it,  hope its informative.                Cheers

finishing-powder.pdf

[nickelsilver]

The finishing powder is just cream of tartar (also a component in the silvering powder), which is probably cheaper to buy in bulk at a good drugstore than the branded Horosilv stuff (it is for me anyway).

[Redwood]

Great, now I understand. Thanks a lot 

[clockboy]

I have silvered clock dials and I found the key is for the dial to be absolutely clean. After some practice it is quite easy to achieve. 

I just followed this guys technic.

 

[Redwood]

Do I apply the finishing compound in the same way, a little water and rub gently ? 

[watchweasol]

Hi It seems so,  The finishing powder applied in a circular motion  then washed off,   c I suppose it is used to  final polish the surface before using the lacquer.

[Redwood]

Cool. All done and quite impressed how well it works the dial is a half penny from 1963. My wife’s berth year, I turned it down to .4mm, buffed and polished it first, ultrasonic cleaned, acetone rinse and then the slivering.

 

[Redwood]

Quite hard to get a good picture