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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Silver before sterling
 Can I drink from a cup with solder in it?
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| Author | Topic: Can I drink from a cup with solder in it? |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 10-02-2010 01:11 PM
  
Maybe I should be posting this in the General Silver forum, but the cup in question is American coin silver. I just bought an adorable little child's cup. It has a blob of what I take to be lead solder inside, what looks like a repair to the handle. Does that mean I should avoid drinking from the cup? Should I just avoid particular liquids, and if so, what?--acid stuff like juice and wine? I don't want to poison anyone! If it's not safe to drink from, is there anything I can do to make it safe? Can the blob be removed? Can I paint it with clear nail polish or something? Here's the solder blob: And here's the cup, the middle-size cup in this photo, with a teaspoon included for scale. It's the little sister of my strawberry cup, only it has roses instead. (I assume it's from the 1850s or so? No marks.) IP: Logged |
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argentum1 Posts: 602 |
posted 10-02-2010 02:39 PM
Generally any acidic substance be it solid or liquid should not be placed in a container having lead on it or in it. Just physical contact with lead is not recommended and is time dependant. Keep in mind that not all 'lead solder' is lead as there are lead free solders. Silver solder is used but it is a different alloy so that is why you see a color difference. If the solder is lead it can be removed but at a cost. Short of removing the lead solder their is nothing to be done that would not involve a health risk. Keep in mind that not all solder is lead solder. The solder used by silversmiths is a silver alloy and has a lower melting point. This all boils down to 'if in doubt then don't'. Now for my opinion. I do not use any of my silver as it is all early nineteenth or mid to late eighteenth century. Any use would just add to the wear on the piece and I consider having early silver as a trust. As the doctors say 'first do no harm'. I know that most people buy to use and that is their right. IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 10-02-2010 03:01 PM
It is possible to dissolve the lead solder without harming the silver. Muriatic acid will dissolve the lead and not the silver. That being said.... Caution would need to be used whenever using an acid. A conservator could do this for you and then the original hole could be repaired with a silver solder. I am a firm believer that it is important to use your silver even if it is early and historic. As custodian of the silver I see the obligation to not destroy it by abrasive use. Fred IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 10-02-2010 06:31 PM
Thank you, Argentum & Fred. In fact, I don't know it's lead--I'm assuming it is because of the color. Is there an easy way to test it? If not, I will probably just refrain from drinking out of this cup. It can hold the occasional rose and otherwise just sit there looking pretty. In general, I do use my silver. I'm gentle with it, and I have enough of it by now that no one piece gets too much wear. At least if I love it and use it, it will stay out of the melting pot for my lifetime. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 10-02-2010 09:54 PM
There are lead testing kits on the market – just do a search for “lead testing kit” and many sites selling them will come up. I brought one at a hardware store and it seemed to work. We enjoy presentation cups similar to the one that you found. We have given them to grandchildren and often use them as punch cups. As punch cups they are a good vehicle to introduce your guest to interesting silver. They have always been interested in the inscriptions on the cups and sometimes pick out a favorite one for their punch. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 10-03-2010 04:42 PM
My caterer customers used a lot of plastic film with their silver. They would take standard food grade plastic wrap and apply it to any and all surfaces. Which would work with your charming little cup. With practice, one can achieve a very tight fit. Using the hair dryer on it makes it almost impossible to remove though. IP: Logged |
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argentum1 Posts: 602 |
posted 10-03-2010 05:49 PM
Dale Saran wrap is a no no. I have a relative that used it and then could not get it off the silver she wrapped using it. After that I talked to a few others who say do not use it. Why it would do this is not known to me. Do a test piece with any plastic wrap and save yourself a lot of heartache. IP: Logged |
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Polly Posts: 1970 |
posted 10-04-2010 07:17 PM
I spent some time polishing the cup, including the solder blob, and it seems to be losing its black and looking silverier, so I think it may well not be lead after all. I will get a testing kit and test it. I would be scared to fuse plastic wrap to the cup--I think I would rather keep it for decorative use than risk not being able to get the plastic off. IP: Logged |
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