Garage Sale Silver Treasures

[Shrimp]

It never fails. When I go to a garage sale here on the island, I always come across something made of silver that inevitably is in need of some serious polishing. I'm a sucker for them because they are usually priced at 25 cents. I have this wild imagination that I will be able to melt it down into something for use in lampworking. Once I get the item polished, I totally lose interest in canibalizing it because it now looks fit for a Queen's tea party!

Other than silverware, has anyone here successfully recycled garage sale silver treasures and used the silver for lampworking? Or any suggestions of where to resell the pieces?

[one hot beader]

I'd be taking them to an Antiques dealer and having them checked out before destroying them or sending for scrap.

Apparrently back in the 70's when silver was a good price many, many priceless antiques were sold for their scrap value .

Old silver can have a far higher price on it than just the metal value!

[SadiesJewels]

So glad you said that ... many wonderful antiques and art works have been destroyed simply for metal value. I suspect a similar thing is happening now to some gold items as well as silver as people try to cash in their jewelry for cash.

Sadie

[TinaJ]

I think you must be very lucky! I only find silver plate and usually not in such good condition that a polish is all it needs.

I have had a wild thought that some of the smaller pieces might be good for slumping glas into or over. Has anyone done that and did it work? Just wondreing. . .

Check at the library for books on silver values you might have some rare pieces.

Good luck with your treasure hunting!
Tina

[Shrimp]

I'm thinking that the majority of pieces that I find are silver plate. However, it is still silver. If the recycle companies pay money for it, then there must be a way to extract the silver from it. My recent find doesn't state whether it is solid or plate. I did have a heck of a time getting the tarnish off. I found one piece that says "Reed & Barton" on it. It is numbered "14" Paul Revere Design. Nothing stating whether it is plate or solid either. I'm thinking this thread should be moved to the Metal forum.

[Firebrand Beads]

Sterling is not compatible with 104 glass, but pure "fine" silver is. That is why PMC works, and fine silver wire works, but no one uses sterling. Sterling silver is an alloy with other metals, like copper etc, to make it stronger so the flatware and tea servers didn't bend out of shape so easily. I would think these would be great to add cold to the glass, as reworked components, but I would think that the sterling would come out of the flame looking funky and that any glass added to the sterling would crack.
FWIW...

[Shrimp]

I'll just have to polish them and use them for bead bowls.

[Firebrand Beads]

consider them your e-bay retirement, lol!

[Cathy at the Beach]

usually silver plate will be stamped "EPN" or EPC. its likely very very tiny.

[nmsaddlebum]

I have seen the handles of flatware turned into watch bands or bracelets (bangle type) and they look pretty cool.

Kate

[TinaJ]

I was looking at some flatware yesterday and wondering what it would take to turn some spoons and forks into spirals and squiggles (well, not actually, but just bending them in unusual shapes) to make some mobiles and some 'yard art'. Has anyone done that? Do you have books or web sites to recommend to learn some techniques?
Tina