Help! Patchy Platinol

[Inanegal]

I keep finding that the oxidised finish on my silver either flakes a bit or goes slightly patchy and uneven. I use Platinol, applied carefully with a small brush.

Could anyone offer some advice, please?

Regards,
Nina

[mizgeorge]

Is the surface you're applying it to spotlessly clean and degreased? Platinol hates even the hint of a fingerprint or polishing compound residue.

[Inanegal]

Hi George,

It's taken straight out of the pickle after the final soldering operation and then cleaned with pumice powder and hot water.

Nina

[Dennis]

Dear Nina,
My experiments show that you get a much more even result if you first dilute a small portion of platinol with an equal part of cold tap water. Use cold water for rinsing too and you will not get any flakyness. The only colour problem can arise if you accidentally pick up a tiny piece of solder some where, because solder only goes to dark yellow.
Kind regards, Dennis.

[Inanegal]

Thanks, Dennis.

I'm going to try some experiments with platinol+water.

I also wonder whether cleaning first with Isopropyl Alcohol might help to get rid of any grease (which can be a problem, as George suggested...)

Regards,
Nina

www.ninagale.weebly.com