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Daily Wire Tip Oct. 11: Ionic Jewelry Cleaner

By on October 11, 2009
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
October 11, 2009

Question:

I have an ionic jewelry cleaner and when I use it for my sterling silver jewelry I get black marks on the silver. Is there anything I can do to keep this from happening?

Answer:

Although I have been using a Speed Brite for many years, I couldn’t find any written instructions so I went directly to the source. Speed Brite says: “Shorter cleaning time is recommended for silver. Unless using a stainless steel basket, silver pieces and chains should not touch each other in the tank. Slight darkening may occur where the pieces touch. Re clean to remove darkening. Unclasp chains and attach clip to one end. Pull through solution to clean.” I hope this helps! (I tried it today and it works as described, however I did have to do a bit of polishing with a cloth when I was finished as well.)

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

5 Comments

  1. avatar

    Bernardette

    October 11, 2009 at 8:16 am

    I put a small sliver of hand made scent free oliveoil(castile) soap in the cleaner it loosens the tarnish and when I take out the jewelry piece a simple soft lint free cloth to dry off the piece the tarnish comes right off
    I also use an ammonia free ionic cleaner.

  2. avatar

    Debra hieftje

    October 11, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    What is the best way to get marks of of wire after wrapping. I keep getting marks from my tools.

  3. avatar

    mike bethel

    October 11, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    I am now going to do some twisting of wire over rocks and shells but I don’t know the gauge of wire I know its thin but how thin can you help.

  4. avatar

    Ellen Pridemore

    October 11, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    I have found that Ionic cleaners are good for some things, but I also have found that just using my Dremel tool with a buffer tip shines my pieces wonderfully and they do not tarnish up right away either. This way I don’t worry so much about the hardness or dyes in some stones or black marks from cleaning.

  5. avatar

    Margaret Bubner

    October 11, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    Hello ,
    Please can you recommend a glue that is fume free ( or very low fumes) that I can use for working with glass on glass ( crystals on crystals ) A glue that will set just about straight away .

    I have recently tried a two part glue which while it worked , nearly made me pass out with the fumes & the smell from the glue went right through the house :-)

    Hope you can help

    regards

    Margaret