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 Uses for unuseable flatware
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| Author | Topic: Uses for unuseable flatware |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 03-06-2006 05:28 PM
  
[26-0944] I have a entire bag of old (late 1800-early 1900) silver plated flatware. The bowl, tines and blades are in bad, bad condition, and therefore, unusable. But most of the handles are in extremely good condition. I hate having to just toss these flatware pieces out, or melting them in a furnace for scrap. Is there any creative/crafty uses for these? I'd seen windchimes with flatware as the chimes, hanging from a cup & saucer set. I'd like to be able to use just the handles and do a similar type project. Question is, what tool does one use to "snip" the business end (bowl, tines, blade) off from the handle? And what tool would one use to drill a hole in the handle so that it could be hung? Any other ideas out there? IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 03-06-2006 05:43 PM
You could use a bolt cutter or wire cutter, with a good deal of force required, but you'll get a better result with a jeweler's saw or a hacksaw with the finest possible blade -- the latter being available at any hardware store. Then you can clean the cut with a very fine file. And for the hole any drill will do, even a hand-cranked one, with a small bit -- also available at any hardware store. I've also seen bracelets and rings made from them, but usually that leaves an exposed non-silver surface at the cut end. Replating is too expensive.... Let me hasten to add: Do not do this if there is ANY question as to the piece having some value or importance! I have seen good silver butchered in this way, including scarce Virginia coin silver. Some people would probably say, Never do it under any circumstances. But if you want to do it with wrecked SP flatware, and you find a market for it, that doesn't bother me. IP: Logged |
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venus Posts: 282 |
posted 03-06-2006 06:58 PM
lots of rings and bracelets are made out of them.... saw a "scoop" for sugar or flour made out of a knife handle. the scoop part was welded on somehow. not my cup of tea any of those things, but sure better than going off to the scrap heap, like one local dealer is doing. actually the worn ware tells a story. myself off beat things and silversmiths appeal to me. Good luck Abe on your project. IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 03-07-2006 11:58 AM
Not to worry! None of it is coin or of historical value. But the business ends are deeply scratched, pitted, silverplate worn/used off, tines broken or bent near-beyond repair, etc. Not worth the effort or $$ to repair. The handles, though, are just so beautiful! The craftsmanship that went into the original design and pattern making - just kills me to NOT be able to "recycle" them in some form or fashion. (They don't make stuff they way they used to, that's for certain!) Rings and bracelets, to me, as a non-silversmith/metal worker, would turn out badly, I'm certain. Thanks for the tips on cutting! IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 03-07-2006 12:48 PM
I see people use these for handles. i.e., Opera glasses, magnifying glasses, holder for auction numbers, back scratcher, etc. Just about anything that could use an upscale handle. IP: Logged |
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Tad Hale Posts: 120 |
posted 03-07-2006 01:11 PM
I have seen key chains made where you cut off the bowl of the spoon and bend the end piece over and enclose a circular key ring. IP: Logged |
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outwest Posts: 390 |
posted 03-07-2006 11:35 PM
I would like to second the previous suggestion about rings and bracelets. In the 1970's flatware handles fashioned into rings were all the rage. They really are pretty. IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 03-08-2006 09:32 AM
I'm a strong believer in recycling everything under the sun and not just filling up trash dumps. The ideas that have been presented are all excellent, though I think there is a finite market for them. You mentioned melting as an alternative and that got me wondering whether you could recover enough silver from melting a pound of well worn electro-plated flatware to justify the cost of melting it down and separating the silver from the iron, nickle, copper, and whatever? Has anyone done a cost/benefit look at this question? About how much pure silver would a pound of very worn out electro-plate yield and how much would a melter charge to cover their costs (including the gas or electric bill to pay to heat up their crucible for the process) and make a profit. Would you wind up making or losing money by melting? IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 03-08-2006 02:19 PM
You would lose money like crazy. I don't have figures, but the smelters I know don't even bother with gold-filled pieces -- and gold is worth far more per ounce than silver! You could however melt down SP for casting sculpture, if so desired.... IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 03-08-2006 02:50 PM
Perhaps I should've been more explicit. We have a steel making mill near us that I was simply going to "donate" all this to. They aren't equipped, nor do they offer, to separate the metals. It would just be added to the furnace with the rest of the scrap. I'm a firm believer in recycling when possible - thus my request for ideas. The rings and bracelets are being done by others in mass. I was just failing at coming up with a new or creative idea for re-using them - not for resale or for making money. I'm certain that my first attempt to "bend" any handle would result in its snaping in two - even if I used a conduit bender - which I DO own. I think I'm just going to try to make the little woman a windchime - at least that's something she's been bugging me about for a few years. She'll get the chime - I'll get to recycle and enjoy the silver twinkling in the sun! Thanks, everyone!
[This message has been edited by abesilverman (edited 03-08-2006).] IP: Logged |
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venus Posts: 282 |
posted 03-08-2006 04:56 PM
abe for sure make the wind chime and both of you enjoy it. Have not seen this done but it might work especially using knives. Make them into stoppers, perfume maybe. Just figure out how to attach some kind of end to them, maybe plastic. Seems perfume bottles and their stoppers part ways often. IP: Logged |
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Raf Steel Posts: 94 |
posted 03-10-2006 06:55 AM
As a golfer, I have found a new use for broken or used forks or spoons: if you cut them down, you can make an excellent pitch fork out of them! I'll make a picture of my crude prototype tomorrow (by the way, somebody interested in registering an american patent?). My golfclubs are cheap, but I'm the only one in the club with a 19th century silver pitchfork! IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 03-10-2006 07:17 AM
Help us non-golfers ... what's a "pitch fork" IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 03-10-2006 09:21 AM
quote: From the W encyclopedia. IP: Logged |
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Raf Steel Posts: 94 |
posted 03-11-2006 12:25 PM
Here it is: made from an late 19th century fork:  IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 03-11-2006 01:51 PM
A wonderful rescue from the scrape heap. A rebrith into a beautiful and practical object and yet the essence of its prior life remains. As other golfers jump on your wonderful idea, I hope they come back and share with us some photos. Thanks for sharing. IP: Logged |
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venus Posts: 282 |
posted 03-14-2006 05:36 PM
saw two uses today for the worn silver....one was a cross necklace, not so nice workmanship,but workable with skill. By far the nicest were the napkin rings. These make sense, as people could purchase ones to match their tableware. IP: Logged |
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abesilverman Posts: 38 |
posted 03-14-2006 07:40 PM
Venus - a very ingenious idea! I'm sure the Mrs. would be thrilled if I could contort the handles into napkin rings-each guest having their own special ring. Thank you! Now, anyone want to give me hints/tips on how to bend these suckers without snaping them in two? Please, I beg of you, don't inform me they have to be heated first! IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 03-15-2006 01:30 AM
Play some soft music, offer them a glass of nice wine, compliment them on their intelligence and taste... IP: Logged |
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venus Posts: 282 |
posted 03-15-2006 06:24 PM
2 funny IP: Logged |
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