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Qwicksilver Electrolytic Silver Cleaning Plate

Are you familiar with Qwicksilver ^TM ? It is a self acting electrolytic cleaning plate -- imported from England -- that I have purchased from Antique shows? I am in need of some new ones and cannot seem to find them ! Are you familiar with either a comparable product or.......something else that cleans silver "like magic"......without rubbing and for large objects?

PLEASE HELP! Thanks!

Zoraida Fiol-Silva, M.D.
- Pomona, New Jersey

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Hi, Zoraida. You may also wish to see letter 4785, which explains the chemistry. Regards, Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

^--Browse cleaning plates on ebay

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Help,

Where can I buy Qwicksilver ^TM cleaning plate. I used a friend's and it is terrific. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Diana Henry Mann
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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Qwicksilver plates are available by writing QWICKSILVER P. O. Box 2118 Bristol, TN Ginny Mullendore - Madison, Mississippi   Does anyone know how I can purchase qwicksilver online or do I use the TN address here? Thanks! C. Sue Cooley Bed and Breakfast - Bethany Beach, Delaware

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Qwicksilver is a trademarked and internationally patented product. You can buy it for delivery worldwide.

Brian Morris
Qwicksilver Inc - Cape Town, South Africa

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I have purchased a Qwicksilver Plate and on the instruction it does not say what kind of sink or container to use when cleaning. We have a stainless sink and want to know if it would be okay to use it to clean the silver pieces we have or do we need to use a non metallic receptacle. It says not to mix other metals with the silver pieces when cleaning.

Thank You,

Sal Seidita
Hobbyist - Kingston, New York

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What type of laundry detergent do you use to activate this product (in the USA) as we don't have Persil in this country? Jean Walker-Wiley home owner - Reston, Virginia ---- Ed. note: Some say washing soda [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] works as well.

^-- Click the pic for Qwicksilver activator

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About 7 years ago I called Quicksilver to order more reaction agent, and the person on the phone told me to use Arm & Hammer Super washing soda [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]. He told me it's a lot cheaper, and it's basically the same stuff.

It's been working fine for us.

We recently installed a black enamel sink, replacing our stainless steel one. I am now using a 3 gallon stainless steel lobster pot.

William Olson
- Holland, Pennsylvania

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I purchased a Qwicksilver plate about ten years ago. Today when I used it, some silver pieces were cleaned effectively. Others were not. I tried a second time on these items with no better results. Also, the plate is now very gray/brown in color--not silver. I tried to clean it as indicated on the envelope slip that the plate is stored in with no results. What do I do now to restore it and why were some things not cleaned?

Beatrice L. Wallace
collector - Hemlock, Michigan

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From the description you give your Qwicksilver plate is almost totally corroded with the residue of old tarnish. Tarnish must be washed off the plate immediately after cleaning (as the instructions clearly state) or it will eventually become inert. It is surprising you were able to clean ANY silver. After ten years perhaps you should buy another one. Contact Qwicksilver.

Brian Morris
- Cape Town, South Africa

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I just used a "Quicksilver" electrolytic plate that I found to clean some silver and it works quite well with WASHING soda. An internet search turned up info that the "secret" is the plate is simple aluminum and one can get the same reaction using ALUMINUM FOIL, WASHING SODA, and Boiling or Hot water. Much cheaper!

Richard Heppert
- Kingsport, Tennessee

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Ed. note: For more about electrolytic cleaning of silver, please see letters: 16626, 18126, 19396, 19814, and 34314.

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This old wives' tale again. Clean with aluminium foil and you'll strip your silver plating. Sure it produces electrolytic action, so does salt and a tin can. Electrolytic action needs to be controlled, which is why the Qwicksilver plate has an international patent.

Brian Morris
Qwicksilver International Inc - Cape Town, South Africa

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Ed. note: Hi, Brian. Although we made the mistake of letting this particular thread get a little commercial, which we try hard to avoid, this forum is for technical discussions related to metal finishing -- so please give us the patent number. Our regular readers are much more interested in the science of these things than where they can buy a particular brand. Thanks!

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I came to this site to find out where I could obtain another one of these plates; I have one and it is fine. For an activator I have always used Calgon water softener, but Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is also fine. I have made a note of the supplier in Tennessee and will follow it up. Jewell Margaret Clark Retired - Surrey, B. C., Canada ++++++ One of course CAN use a commercial cleaning plate IF one can find one without spending a arm or a leg. In simple terms here is what is going on. Sulfur likes to bond to Silver (oxidize/tarnish) and will do so naturally over a period of time. You CAN polish it away, but you WILL remove some of the silver in doing so. Sulfur also likes to bond with Aluminum MORE than it does silver, and given the chance, will move. So . . . getting a "tarnished" piece of silver in direct contact with ANY piece of aluminum (plate, pot, foil) with the catalyst of HOT water and WASHING soda (look for Arm&Hammer) sets up the proper environment for this transfer. Once the item looks clean, remove and completely rinse and wipe down or residue will result. As the water cools, the reaction will slow and stop, so start with the hottest. Washing and Baking soda are NOT the same chemically. Baking will work, but Washing Soda will work Better. Richard Heppert - Kingsport, Tennessee

^-- Click the pic for Museum Silver Cleaning Plate at Hammacher Schlemmer ^-- Click the pic for Qwicksilver activator

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I too love this product. I was able to locate it on-line at www.iKitchen.com for around $15.00. Type in Jewelry cleaner in the search field.

Autumn Broadway
- Valley Center, California

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Ed. note: We don't see it there anymore, using that search term or any other :-(

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September 5, 2008 I have had my plate for 20 years or more. I love it! I collect sterling miniatures, and I would never be able to enjoy them without Qwicksilver! Regular old baking soda works for me. Find it, buy it, LOVE IT! Barbie Barbie Rench - Racine, Wisconsin September 14, 2008 after a bit of googling, the activation chemical for the qwicksilver plate is actually "soda ash" available at your local pool supply store. Common name is "pH UP" => David Bird - Adelaide, S Aust, Australia

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December 17, 2008

Hello, where in South Africa can I buy the plate as well as the powder. Thanks

Shalandra Sitharam
HOBBYIST - South Africa

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July 15, 2009

I cannot get my qwicksilver plate to work properly. It is not taking off the tarnish.
Should I order a new one?
Thanks, Linda

Linda Long
mom cleaning silver - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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January 6, 2010 Hi, A Company called Natural Life Company sells the electrolytic plate worldwide under the name of Sparkle Cleaning Plate => The activator for the plate is Sodium Carbonate (Washing or Lectric Soda) and any company selling it as their own Brand Activator is just trying to make an EXTRA buck! Actually for transparency sake, I run the Natural Life Company and am happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Adam Chapman - Sydney, NSW, Australia

^--Browse cleaning plates on ebay

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May 11, 2010

Adam, where can I purchase the product locally?

Neil Lendrum
- Wollongong, NSW, Australia

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June 20, 2011

Just purchased the Quicksilver Plate and noted that you shouldn't mix metals. Is it o.k. to clean jewelry that has some gold parts with the silver such as clasps? Thanks in Tampa Fl, Trinre

Rita Tringler
buyer - Tampa Florida