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01-16-2022, 04:03 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 173
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Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
I've been reading up on using the boiling salt water method for cleaning the reflectors. My question is - has anyone had any luck spraying them with lacquer or other substance after they are cleaned and shiny to preserve them? I've seen it work with brass, stainless steel, and aluminum. Thanks!
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01-17-2022, 07:18 AM | #2 |
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Location: Western North Carolina
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
Any coating is going to reduce the reflectivity.
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01-17-2022, 10:25 AM | #3 |
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
x2. It can also crack and craze with heat, a mess to clean off.
I've found salted white vinegar to be very effective for removing tarnish at room temperature. The modern aluminized reflectors are a more permanent solution. |
01-17-2022, 10:47 AM | #4 |
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Location: Western North Carolina
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
The modern aluminum reflectors have a thin coating of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) to protect the aluminum. It is not as reflective as bright silver but will not tarnish.
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A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past. |
01-17-2022, 02:41 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gold Country
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
When I had my original reflectors re-silvered many years ago, the plater recommended I wipe them down with a flannel cloth once per year
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01-17-2022, 05:10 PM | #6 |
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
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01-18-2022, 05:28 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
The best preservative I have found is installing them. The cork seal works very well if done right and it is close to air tight thereby reducing oxidation.
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01-18-2022, 07:07 PM | #8 |
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Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Re: Preserving cleaned silvered reflectors
Go to an artist supply store and get a tube of Lamp Black. This is used for oil painting. Using a flannel cloth, smear the Lamp Black onto the silver part of the reflector. Using a clean flannel cloth rub the smear away. It will look new again. Use only flannel as any other kind of cloth will leave scratches in the silver especially if you try to use micro fiber. Lamp black is carbon residue left on the inside of an oil lamp. The first time I cleaned a reflector, I had an oil lamp and was shown how raze the burning wick up high to make it smoke and soot would build up inside the globe. Take the globe off and run the flannel cloth around the inside so that the carbon would stick to the cloth. Then rub the silver with the lamp black. An old timer showed me how to use cigarette ashes on the flannel cloth and this worked as well. I would hesitate to do this today, who knows what is in cigarettes today. If your reflectors are not actually silver plated, this process will not work.
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