Glossary of termonology relate to Silver
Annealing: Process by which silver is softened through the application of heat.
Applied Bonds: A cast or rolled wire border which is soldered to the article.
Assaying: Process of determining the constituents of a metal and the quality of it.
Belting: Process of putting a flat, horizontal edge on the bowl of a spoon by applying it to an endless belt covered with Carborundum and glue.
Blank: Piece of flat sheet silver stock used in die stamping.
Blanking: Process by which the spoon and fork blanks are cut from the sheet metal.
Bobbing: Process of removing file marks and scratches through the use of pumice and oil and a walrus hide buff.
Bright Finish: A bright polish given to silver with different grades of rouge on cotton buff.
Britannia Metal: Metal that is 90 percent tin, 2 percent copper, and 8 percent antimony.
Brushing: Process of removing file marks and scratches with pumice and oil on a hair brush.
Buff: A disc used in polishing which is made up of a number of pieces of cloth.
Burnishing: Process of polishing by rubbing a highly polished steel tool of bloodstone over the surface of the metal.
Butler Finish: A polish given to silver done with tripoli (siliceous rottenstone) polishing composition to produce a medium-bright finish.
Cast Border: An applied border made of cast silver:
Casting: Process of pouring metal into a mold to reproduce the model from which the mold was made.
Chasing:
Flat Chasing: process of decorating with a blunt tool by shaping the surface of the metal without raising it from the back.
Repoussé Chasing: process of decorating with a blunt tool by shaping the surface of the metal. The metal is raised from the back, leaving the ornament in bas-relief.
Coin Silver: Silver that is 900-1000 fine
Coloring: Process of polishing with rouge to give a bright finish.
Cross Rolling: Process by which the bowl section of the blank is widened.
Cutting Down: Process by which bobbing marks are removed with tripoli composition before polishing
Die Sinking: Process by which a design or pattern is cut out of a piece of steel to form a die.
Drafting: Process of drawing metal into a tube shape with a plunger and die.
Drawing: Process of making wire by drawing silver through a circular hole.
Dripping: Immersion of silver in a solution of sulphuric acid and water to remove the copper oxide obtained in annealing. A quick dip of nitric acid is sometimes used.
Electroplating: Process of coating a base metal with gold, silver, or nickel by means of a cyanide solution and electricity.
Embossing: Process of ornamenting by stamping the metal with a die.
Engraving: Process of decorating by cutting away the metal with cutting tools.
Etching: Process of ornamenting metal by eating it away with acid.
Facing: Process of removing the flange or burr from the edge of a piece of metal by using a belt or wheel.
Finishing: Process of polishing silver:
Fire: A scale of copper oxide which forms on the silver during the process of annealing.
Firestain: a discoloration that appears on silver objects when the copper alloy in the silver reacts with heat during the crafting process. This oxidation shows up as dark, blotchy patches, often a purplish or reddish tint, and can be especially noticeable on older silver pieces. These stains are primarily caused by the formation of cuprous oxide—a compound that forms when copper in the alloy is exposed to heat and oxygen.
French Finish: A gray polish given to silver by means of buffing with a mixture of pumice and oil.
German Silver: A composition of copper, nickel, and zinc.
Gilding: Process of depositing a coating of gold on a metal by means of a solution of gold cyanide and electricity.
Grading: Process of gauging the varying thicknesses of a metal spoon or fork to a mathematical scale.
Grease Buffing: Process of greasing with pumice and oil for French finish.
Insert: Piece of sterling silver melted to the base of the bowl of standard plated spoons where heaviest wear will occur.
Knurling: Process of making borders or moldings on an article by rolling the design on the metal piece between two circular dies.
Lacquering: Process of coating silverware with cellulose lacquer.
Litharge: A lead substance which is mixed with glycerin and used to fill the hollow handles of cutlery items.
Milling: Process of cutting away metal on a milling machine with revolving cutters.
Nickel Silver: Base metal composed of copper, nickel, and zinc, often called German silver or white metal.
Oxidizing: Process of "setting out" a design on a piece of metal by dipping it into a solution of boiling water and sodium sulphide.
Piercing: Process of cutting away the metal with cutting dies or a saw.
Pinch Rolling: Process of lengthening the bowl of a spoon while it is still in the blank form.
Planishing: Process of smoothing the surface of silver with a hammer.
Profiling: Process of removing the flange from the stamped halves of hollowware pieces.
Rolled Edge: An edge of a hollowware piece rolled back to form a hollowware border.
Rolled Wire: Wire or strip which is rolled between two circular dies and used for applied designs, borders, or moldings
Satin Finish: A matte finish obtained by picking up the surface of the metal like the nap on cloth, with a long-haired steel wire brush.
Scratch Brushing: Process of applying a finish to silverplate with a wire brush.
Sheffield Plate: Not made today. Originally it was made in Sheffield, England, by rolling sheets of silver over a copper base.
Slush Molding: Process of molding white or Britannia metal handles, spouts, and tips.
Snarling: Process of raising the metal on hollowware pieces from behind in repousse chasing
Solders
Silver solder: contains so percent or more silver. Melting point varies with quality of zinc which, with copper and silver, composes silver solder.
Hard solder: solder which has a high melting point
3) Soft solder: solder which has lead in it. This solder is used with Britannia metal because of its low melting point.
Spinning: Process of shaping metal by forcing it over a form or chuck with a blunt steel tool while the metal and form are revolving on a lathe.
Spot Welding: Process of welding the two halves of a knife handle together to ensure a close fit when soldering them.
Sterling: Silver that is 925-1000 fine, copper being the alloy.
Stoning: Process of using pumice stones to remove scratch marks and other imperfections from flat silver pieces.
Tining: Process of stamping out the tines of a fork with a cutting die.
Turning: Cutting away or cleaning up the metal with a cutting tool from a piece which is fitted over a form and revolved