posted 08-24-2008 07:27 PM            

I was at a local antiques show today & was looking at some lovely silver pieces that had a beautiful shine. The dealer told me that they use Wenol with an orange label from Germany. I was running very late so I had no time to get any further info. Have any of you heard of this brand and/or used it. Most of what I have searched shows it as cleaning all kinds of things including tire wheels.

Any comments would be appreciated. I usually use Wright's myself.

Thank you in advance for your expertise.

Jersey

posted 08-25-2008 12:44 PM            

Thank you all for your responses, and so quickly too. It is much appreciated.

Wev, the only mirror I want is the Magic Mirror from Snow White who tells me I'm the fairest of them all!! (Grin back).

Jersey

posted 09-13-2008 03:54 AM            

It gives me hope .

In England I, and a pitiful few others, have been fighting a losing rearguard action against overpolished silver for years.

Even one of the "leading" dealers told me. "My clients want their silver perfectly polished, with that lovely bright shine "

His clients need either education or shooting .

Shooting is quicker, easier and gives a perfect finish. Like aggressive or mechanical cleaning.

Nice to see the tendancy has not totally overwhelmed America yet.

posted 09-13-2008 02:45 PM            

Has anyone tried the sprays, such as Hagerty's? If so, what would it be best for?

posted 09-13-2008 05:04 PM            

First, let me agree that over cleaning silver is a crime. A lot of folks dip silver because it is easy and they are lazy.

Next, let me comment on the Hagertys spray in the blue can.. It is quick and smells like rotten eggs (sulfur), so use it outside. It is expensive.

And, On older silver, Sheffield, and and good electroplate, I use Hagertys "Silver Foam" product because it is mild. Rub on with a cotton cloth, rinse under the tap, dry with paper towels and buff up with an old cotton T-shirt.

The public usually wants bright and shiny when purchasing silver for gifts, so I comply and have the popular pattern flatware, tea services, vases, bowls, goblets, etc., professionally polished before putting them out for sale. The 'good' silver gets hand cleaned or if I am in a hurry, not cleaned at all.

Seaduck, keep looking.. There are a lot of dealers out there who care.

posted 09-13-2008 05:55 PM            

BTW I had been using Hagerty's Foam, (great for getting in crevices), then I had trouble finding it. Someone then told me about Wright's, & I do like it but I need a lot of elbow grease & repeated polishings for really blackened items. On the plus side, I found that by adding a tiny drop of dishwasher liquid to my pad with the polish, it foams up & makes it easier to go around. Also, before applying the polish I wash the item before with warm water & soap. That it seems, makes the polish spread easier. Any thoughts about this method?

posted 09-13-2008 07:48 PM            

I do possess a tube of Wenol. I have used it twice; once on a Castle Rose gravy ladle that was badly pitted and appeared to have been polished with toothpaste or something harsher. It improved it's appearance 100%. The second time, I'm ashamed to admit, was on a heavy Mexican sterling dish or ashtray that I found my cat had sprayed. The spray had dried and crystallized, and had probably been that way for a while. Half of the bottom was badly corroded. Wenol did help better than regular silver polish, but it still isn't right.

posted 09-13-2008 08:02 PM            

I get my "silver foam" at my local hardware store, or you should be able to get it through the internet.

And I do admit to adding a little plain dish washing liquid (non lemon) to the polish to get rid of the dirt.

Also, I put my just cleaned coin silver flatware into 2" by 10" plastic slips with id so I do not have to clean them more than once.

posted 09-13-2008 08:30 PM            

I use the cream, didn't know they made a polish in a bottle.

Thanks Marc!

I'll check out my hardware store. Does in come in different forms? BTW Why not the dish washing liquid with lemon, or for that matter any other "scented" type. I usually buy the no scent stuff, it's cheaper.
FYI My mother-in-law loved Fantastic for silver jewelry.

Jersey

posted 09-13-2008 10:42 PM            

Re the dish soap, Lemon and lime and orange are acids and will discolor the silver.

I found that out the hard way, and had to clean streaks off of already cleaned silver. Not fun.

Marc