How to scrap weighted sterling silver candlesticks. Ways to make money selling online

How to scrap weighted sterling silver candlesticks.

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First of all, lets go over what exactly weighted silver is. In my own words weighted silver is basically a thin "silver foil" over some sort of "filler" with a solid rod through the middle. Without the filler the silver would not be able to stand on its own. From my experience the filler has been in two different forms. One form is a white Plaster of Paris style which is very hard but looks like drywall filler. This filler is hard to break with pliers. The second form appears to be some sort of resin (shown in the picture below). The resin type filler (that shown in my pictures) is quite brittle and easy to break. I was actually purposely trying to keep its form as I took the silver off, which was not an easy task.

Weighted sterling silver removal method #1.

Weighted sterling silver removal method #2.

Weighted silver comes in many types of sterling silver items, especially knives. Candlesticks are also a common item that is weighted. I am going to describe how to remove the sterling silver from a silver candlestick. Here is what you will need:

1. A weighted silver object (in this case, I'm using a candle stick).
2. A box cutter. (Use one that you don't mind possibly dulling the blade.)
3. A pair of dikes.
4. A pair of gloves. (The silver is fairly sharp when you handle it, and could easily cut you.)
5. Eye protection. (This is more for the white, Plaster of Paris style filler which can become fairly energetic when using dikes to break it apart.)
6. A box to keep all the weighted material from making a mess. Believe me it can easily become a messy job.

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For my example I am using a small candlestick with 3 crimps.

As you can see from the picture there is a crimp

on the head of the candlestick, a main crimp (which is the hardest to remove) in the middle, and a crimp at the base of the candlestick.

We can remove all of the sterling silver with a few easy steps.

Step #1

Use your box cutter on crimp #1.

Slide the box cutter under the crimp, and begin

lifting up on the silver. Do this all the way around until it looks like this.

Depending on the type of filler you should be able to easily remove the top of the candlestick.

If you can't remove it easily you should be able to hit the top to break it free.

Remove the top of the candlestick. This is the first piece that you want to hold on to.

Step #2

Use your box cutter and make a cut all the way to the base then use your dikes to cut the crimp on the main base of the candlestick.

Start at the top of the silver and cut all the way down to crimp #3. Once you have made your cut take your dikes and cut around the main crimp.

You will not be able to cut all the way through the middle due to the metal bar running through the core of the candlestick. Just make a 360 degree cut in the middle crimp.

Step #3

Remove the base

Just like Step #1 you are going to take your box

cutter and slide it under crimp #3. Do this all the way around the base of the candlestick.

Once this is done you should be able to easily remove the bottom and add it to your keeper pile.

Step #4

Removing the body

This is the moment of truth. If you have cut through the main crimp properly you should be able to remove the entire shell in 1-2 pieces.

Add the rest of the sterling silver to your pile, throw it on a scale, and that's it!

Thanks for checking out my how-to guide on removing silver from weighted silver items! Keep checking back for other how-to guides and more.

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