Removing Black Spots On Silver

I have a few .999 bars i have had for 20 years & they are getting black spots. I tried MS70 and it kind of removed some of the surface stains, but not the deeper spots.

So i am trying a contest with vinegar, bleach, and honey, which someone said here last year.

The honey is soaking, vinegar did not do much, though the bleach got rid of them immediatly, though i put on a little too much and it stained wherever it went.

knowing is bullion and not worth more than spot, any suggestions on if its worth trying to do anything about this? Thanks in advance to all who chime in!

On a side note, is that area below the description suppose to be for a serial # or is it pointless on a 10oz bar?

 

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Because it is bullion, and you don't care about it showing a light cleaning, I would try a dip in this.

 

I would leave them alone, if the pic is as bad as it gets, I would leave them alone!

 

Household Ammonia on a Qtip, plenty of ventilation.
I've used this method for decades even on silver artifacts that besides coins can be polished.

 

Since it really doesnt make a difference I'd just leave it alone

 

I agree just leave it alone it's about the silver not the looks.

 

exactly Bullion as said no need to clean... but If you do want it shiny, any regular silver polish could be used as you're not worried about a "Cleaned"/"Details" grade

 

I like Bighto. makes old bodies new.

 

Who in the world would suggest using bleach on silver?

 

Anybody know what that empty bar is for?

 

Serial numbers. I’ve seen them with and without. Depends on the company producing the silver bar…different strokes for different folks… (Cited from: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/re...95293/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email)

 

I agree...its silver; tarnished or shiny...its worth the same I would imagine. I've never attempted to clean anything - glad I discovered CT when I did or I just may have tried to!

 

I figured it would give it a try. Nothing else worked on the black spots, and they dissapeard right before my eyes. I then spread it around not knowing how it would react, since it was not stained before i did. I might try a pin drop if i ever do it again, with a quick rinse. I use bleach to clean a lot of things, greasy stove top rings, our juicer, etc.

 

Bleach is great for breaking up organic stuff -- it's alkaline, which breaks down fats and proteins, and it's an oxidizer, which kills things and destroys some coloring agents.

But it's also got lots of chloride (like from salt, as opposed to chlorine), and chloride is very bad for metals in general.

Black spots on silver are usually silver sulfide. Bleach will destroy that, because it'll oxidize the sulfide to something colorless. But be really careful about thoroughly rinsing the bar when you're done, finishing with a rinse or two of DISTILLED water. Lots of other things will remove those spots as well; I'd recommend one of the dips mentioned above.

 

It's silver seal it, case it, and leave it alone.

 

I'm curious why you say that. I know it will turn zinc coins dull gray, but what other problems does it create.
I go through large batches of really dirty world coins and I wash them with a touch of Dawn and a few drops of bleach. Never know where those buggers have been. LOL

 

See above. Bleach is basically alkaline salt water with extra chlorine dissolved in it. Salt is terrible for most metals; free chlorine is worse. And zinc and aluminum are both amphoteric, reacting with both acids and bases, so coins made of either metal will be attacked by both acids and alkalis.

 

Bleach and acid is a popular combination for dissolving gold out of ores. (It gives off lots of chlorine gas, for the bad-idea cherry-on-top.) Without acid, it might not attack gold metal, at least not very quickly -- but I'm NOT trying that experiment. (Actually, I've got lots of gold-plated circuit contacts here and there, and I'm a little tempted.)