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HoroSilv: US alternative?

toeshoeman

By toeshoeman
in Tools & Equipment

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toeshoeman New Member

toeshoeman

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I am looking to resilver a dial but I have not had any luck finding Horosilv in the US. Does anyone know where I can get it in the US? Or if there is an alternative that I can buy? I know I could always order it from the UK, but that gets pricey quickly.

Thanks for the help! 

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nickelsilver Distinguished Member

nickelsilver

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I think you can get silver nitrate in most drugstores (here for sure), with that- you want it dry, not in solution- cream of tartar, and salt you can make your own. 1 part silver nitrate to 8 parts salt 8 parts cream of tartar (use a scale), it's good to grind it with a mortar and pestle. Keep in a brown glass jar and away from light. It's used the same as any silvering powder. When done, rub the surface down with more cream of tartar, wet, rinse, and you're done.

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Klassiker Distinguished Member

Klassiker

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On 8/18/2020 at 4:13 PM, nickelsilver said:

I think you can get silver nitrate in most drugstores (here for sure), with that- you want it dry, not in solution- cream of tartar,

So the silver nitrate is in powder- or crystal-form I suppose? Just so I know what to ask for, when I go down to the "Apotheke". It's expensive stuff to be buying the wrong sort.

By cream of tartar, are you talking about simple baking powder (Backpulver), or specifically "Weinstein / Weinstein-Backpulver" (which is apparently potassium sodium tartrate)? According to Wikipedia, this is a chemical which has been used in silvering mirrors and electroplating, so I'm guessing that's the one to get. I of course don't have any, but I do have lots of baking powder.

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nickelsilver Distinguished Member

nickelsilver

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Yes you want the powder silver nitrate, it's more like clumpy crystals like coarse salt. Cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate.

 

It's been a while but I think I paid 80 bucks for 100 grams last time I bought silver nitrate 5 or 6 years ago. That's a lot, 20 grams or even 10 is plenty for a number of clock dials.

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