posted 03-08-2007 11:02 AM            

I also do not like mono removal mostly because it is done badly or at the long term expence of the object, too thin etc.

posted 03-08-2007 01:19 PM            

If the silver has no historic or artistic merit, and only has value for useage, the perhaps there is some excuse for removal. But how do we know what in the future will be regarded as merit !. My father spent many years making furniture out of old, worthless timber. From 18th century longcase clocks - the movements discarded - from Edwardian tables- valueless in the 1950's - etc. His father broke up unfashionable genuine Sheraton furniture. The Victorians scrapped Chippendale chairs .I have scrapped Victorian silver regarded as of very little merit forty years ago. (Much of it still junk in my rather arrogant view !)
If it's not of any merit now, or in the foreseeabe future - why even bother to spend money on the piece anyhow .

posted 03-09-2007 09:14 AM            

quote:

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Any addition of silver to the object would have to be done with a silver alloy of a lower melting point than the object.

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Not with laser-welding, as mentioned above. That in theory matches the original metal (although I don't know that they have silver of alloys other than sterling), using a laser to melt the new metal and fuse it into the old. I suspect there would still be a subtle shadow if used for monogram removal, but if that were then engraved over it might be very hard to see.

posted 03-09-2007 09:39 AM            

is a pair of sugar tongs that I had laser wielded this past year. There is a post about these someplace.

posted 03-09-2007 10:25 AM            

Your tongs were the reason I started laser welding! They were repaired by a very nice jeweler near Albany,NY (you gave me his name) who kindly gave me a demo. He also explained that the tongs were too big to only weld, so what you see in your image is solder that he finished the job with after using the welder to tack the two pieces together. The welder is great for lining up two pieces accurately because you can hold them in your hands and make the first weld, which is tiny and if it is right keep going and if wrong break it and try again.

It was then touched up with a graver (very well).

So this is not what a laser weld looks like. I will try to post some images of spoons that have been done with a laser.

There is not a color difference and if done well, i.e. no pits and polished to blend in with the surrounding area. A laser weld is hard to see because the filler metal is the same as the body. When welding a coin spoon I will cut a fine wire with snips off of an old broken coin spoon to use as the welding rod. Like wise sterling for sterling.

posted 04-22-2007 03:53 PM            

"DON'T WANT THE INSCRIPTION ?

Inscriptions can be removed if required . This is achieved by floating silver into the inscription and then polishing the whole to a very high standard. There will be no sign of the previous inscription and the silver will be as thick as when new. The trophy can then be inscribed to suit your own requirements or left blank. "