[Jewelry making - Article 00006] - Re: [Orchid] Cleaning silver and freshwater pearls

[Peter W . Rowe]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


>          I can't imagine that TSP would be safe for pearls.  The
>     purpose of TSP commercially is to make painted surfaces dull, like
>     a fine sanding, so a new coat of paint will stick better. 
>     Certainly that is not what anyone would want to happen with a pearl. 

    That portion of a paint's binder that TSP affects is quite different
    from pearls.  TSP is a strong alkali and a detergent/surfactant.
    That makes it a powerful cleaner and degreaser, and it does indeed
    give points a better "tooth" for a new paint coat.  But the fact
    that it does this to paint is not an indication that it will do it to
    any surface.  it's not like a physical abrasive.     I've used it as
    a cleaning agent in place of stronger stuff (lye) in a "boil out pot"
    use, for difficult cleaning jobs, or where the ultrasonic isn't
    appropriate.  I've never seen it damage a cultured pearl, and we're
    using it at a slow simmer, just below boiling.  Of course, I suppose
    there's a first for everything.  Don't, of course, use it on strung
    pearls.  It might damage the thread they're strung on... 

Peter


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________