Way too expensive. Refineries won't take silver plated scrap because the process of reclaiming the silver is cost-prohibitive.
I assume you are thinking of taking a bunch of old silver plated items, removing the silver and selling it as sterling. However, it's not feasible to do that. There are acids that will dissolve the silver, but all of them will also dissolve the copper or brass underneath the silver plate, so you will still have to send it to a refiner before you can sell it. The cost of the acid plus the cost of the refiner is approximately 42 times the value of the silver you would obtain, making it economically unfeasible to make a profit from removing the silver from silver plated items.
Not all Sheridan silver is silver-plated; it is a brand known for both silver-plated and sterling silver items. Sheridan silver-plated pieces are typically made of a base metal coated with a thin layer of silver, while sterling silver items contain 92.5% pure silver. To determine if a specific piece is silver-plated or sterling, check for markings or stamps that indicate its composition.
Silver-plated zinc is a method of coating zinc metal with a thin layer of silver. This process helps improve the appearance of the zinc surface while also providing some of the desirable properties of silver, such as corrosion resistance and conductivity. Silver-plated zinc items are often used in various industries, including jewelry making and electrical applications.
Towle is a brand that produces both silver-plated and sterling silver items. Their sterling silver products are made from 92.5% pure silver, while their silver-plated items have a thin layer of silver over a base metal. When purchasing Towle products, it's important to check the specific item description to determine whether it is sterling silver or silver-plated.
I was not able to find any references to any sterling (pure) silver items made by the Poole Silver Company. It appears that they only made silver-plated flatware (forks, knives, spoons, etc.) and holloware (bowls, goblets, teapots, etc.)
To clean silver plated items, gently wipe them with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and mild dish soap. Avoid abrasive cleaners or polishing compounds, as they can damage the silver plating. For tougher stains, you can use a silver polishing cloth specifically designed for silver-plated items.
no Silverware is a "catchall" phrase to describe items made of silver including cutlery, decanters, bon-bon dishes etc, so, yes, silverware IS silver. Some items of tableware are, however, made from plated silver and are normally stamped "EPNS" or plate. These items are NOT silver - only silver plated
Cheap silver typically refers to silver-plated items, which are made by coating base metals like copper or nickel with a thin layer of silver. This allows for a more affordable alternative to solid silver products. Silver-plated items are not as valuable or durable as solid silver.
EPNSA stands for Electroplated Nickel Silver Alloys, which refers to a type of silver-plated alloy typically composed of nickel, silver, and other metals. This alloy is commonly used in the electroplating process to give items a silver-like appearance and preserve them from tarnishing.
Silver plated nickel is a metal object that has a thin layer of silver electroplated onto a nickel substrate. This plating enhances the appearance of the nickel object by giving it a shiny silver finish. Silver plated nickel is commonly used in decorative items, tableware, and jewelry.
Cuevee items are silver plated items (flatware, etc...) that were made by the Quaker Valley Manufacturing Company. They made items in Chicago Illinois around 1900.
EP on metal items usually refers to electro plated ie silver plated.