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 Replies: 37 / Views: 3,767 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
It's hard to come up with a topic for this one. My question is, has anyone ever toned silver with well water that goes through a water softener? I eat my cereal ( Froot Loops - Frosted Flakes - Cocoa Puffs ) using silver plated spoons. My head tells me that things taste better with them. Anyway, up here in PA we have a lot of sulphur and iron in our water. You have to have a good water conditioning system and in a pinch, it is very drinkable after treatment. My wife has cleaned my spoons to shine a few times ( which I didn't like ) and in no time, I noticed they have re-toned. You can't see the reds, blues and purples in my picture that I can see in hand, but I have taken a few pics with a stainless spoon to compare. Often times I wondered if I tried soaking some silver coins in hot water in the sink if they might be affected the same way? Of course NO SCRUBBING, just laying them on a paper towel in hot water. OK, I know this is an unusual post but I got it off my chest. LOL I will say that I have darkened a copper token nicely once by putting it in a canister of "black gun powder"  I'm thinking that the sulphur has something to do with it.    Edited by TNG
02/19/2018 8:05 pm
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
10284 Posts |
Yes, I will be waiting for someone to say ... "You're cookoo for Cocoa Puffs" "A little Flakey" or "Fruity as a Froot Loop".  I don't mind.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1775 Posts |
You forgot Capt'n Crunch. Frosted flakes, "They're great".  "We are poor little lambs...who have lost our way...Baa...Baa...Baa"
In memory of those members who left us too soon...
In memory of Tootallious March 31, 1964 - April 15, 2020
In memory of crazyb0 July 27 2020. RIP.
In memory of T-BOP Oct. 12, 1949 - Jan. 19, 2024
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
And "why is_______ like a box of cereal?, got flakes nuts and fruits!" Not so sure it is sulfur in the water. My wife is like you, has two silver spoons, dark as can be, goes in dishwasher all the time. We don't have a high concentration of sulfur, more calcium and "contaminants" from the city. We have some fancy filter that removes most, but the elements stay.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
We drink fresh spring water, no filter needed.
Our dog turns his nose up for any water that's not from home.
Toning depends on exposure type, strength, and length of time. Sunlight will tone coins.
Not listing Captain Crunch as one of your cereals was a faux pa I'm sure.
Have to hide my cereal when the grandkids stay over.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I eat Cap't Crunch. A few years back I even got a special edition box of Quisp!  Sadly, I notice I am wearing the same shirt tonight. I guess there's only one way to tell. I'll put a generic silver round or something in the dish water and see what it does and place it on the windowsil between washings. It might be awhile til I update with the results. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5663 Posts |
Sounds like a great experiment. Make sure you get before and after pictures!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
There are different water softeners and treatment systems. To remove sulfur and iron, you usually have an acidic component followed by salt or limestone. RO is also a possibility. What type do you have?
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3479 Posts |
I'm a honey bunches of oats dude, but why not try this? Take a common date morgan, clean it, and give the water treatment.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I have a Whirlpool water softener that I put 40 lb bags of iron fighter ( green bag ) salt tablets in and it runs every night around 3 AM for almost 45 minutes. Inside there are little spheres that collect and hold the bad stuff as water goes through and at night those little spheres get cleaned out. Best I can describe that.
Now, to find a candidate.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
So you are getting rid of the iron but most if not all the sulfur remains. Probably a small amount in your water. Sulfur is usually in the form of hydrogen sulfide in water. It will react with any ferrous material (such as piping or any iron remnant) to form ferric sulfide and that is what is turning your silver black.
You can add a second treatment process upstream of the salt tank to remove the sulfur if you want.
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I am going to use this 1964 dime. If I clean it with soap and water, just like I do the forks and spoons everytime I do the dishes and let it sit at the bottom for last, we'll see how it looks. It will sit on the windowsill between washings. I suspect a month or so will pass before I follow up.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10284 Posts |
I have the filter in the fridge for drinking out of the door for water and ice. I change it every 6 months or sooner.
Yes, somedays there are miniscule bubbles rising in my clear orange juice jugs I fill to humidify the house. I fill a pot on my woodstove. Somedays are smellier than others. Without the system it would be much much worse. Black water and it stinks. That was how the water was when I moved here.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
Quote:
up here in PA we have a lot of sulphur and iron in our water. You have to have a good water conditioning system and in a pinch, it is very drinkable after treatment. I remember those days well. My basement had the salt can, another one for a chlorine solution, 3 tall blue tanks of some sort of filtration system as well as 2 holding tanks. Water still wasn't pleasant to drink & stained everything orange.  Quote:
I eat Cap't Crunch. A few years back I even got a special edition box of Quisp! I'm still waiting for the special edition of "Quake". |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Interesting topic. It's above my pay grade, but Bump's explanation seems likely in your case. My favorite cereal was Honey Nut Clusters, but just like my favorite anything, they stopped making it.  In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1963 Posts |
Hmm. The bottom of my dad's metal coffee maker pot also turns colors. I joke that if that toning was on a Morgan, it would be worth a lot.
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Replies: 37 / Views: 3,767 |
Posted 02/19/2018 8:50 pm
