How can I generate silver tarnish

First of three simultaneous responses --  

Easy question. Eat one boiled egg with one silver spoon. Wash the spoon in the normal way. They will always tarnish. Problem. As I have fallen on hard times for many years and now eat my eggs with stainless steel spoons, I am afraid that I can not remember just how long it takes for them to tarnish. About the only thing I do remember is that it seemed very fast at the time. Probably a few days at the most. I am sure that many sulfur containing compounds will do the same thing. How about photographic hypo (I think that is sodium metabisulphate). Good luck

Second of three simultaneous responses --  

If you could get one of those 1000 year old eggs which are common fare for the chinese, you could tarnish silver fast. A friend of mine bought one for me to eat, as much as I tried, I could not bring the egg within 2 inches of my face, the strength of the sulfide smell was completely overpowering to me. She didn't have any trouble with eating the egg, which amazed me.

Tom Pullizzi Falls Township, Pennsylvania

Third of three simultaneous responses --  

Boil an egg, let cool, mash the egg yolk with your silver metal, fork-spoon-dish-whatever, place it in a sealed plastic baggie and put in the refrigerator overnight--both the silver and the yolk-and you will have a black silver tarnish in the AM. Two days for a heavier tarnish, or two eggs. Feed the residue to the dog or cat.

Hi, Carol.

You can also see letter 1178 for a lot more discussion. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E. RET finishing.com Brick, New Jersey