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Polish silver wire

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Posted on April 1, 2015 at 03:35:25
paper006
Audiophile

Posts: 14
Joined: September 9, 2014
 Good day

I am busy building my own silver interconnects. I have two questions regarding to the cables (I am following the attached guide):
1. Is it good to polish the thin wire with 0000 steel wool? For me it feels like it does more harm than good. Is silver polish (like Silvo) a better idea?
2. Should I put heatshrink or teflon tape at the end of the cable or leave it open?

 

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RE: Polish silver wire, posted on April 1, 2015 at 12:28:57
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4385
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 it really depends upon the silver - or more precisely what alloy you have of silver:
Sterling silver is only 92.5 % silver, the balance being Copper - which as an alloy corrodes quite quickly in atmospheres containing water vapors and sulphur-
Pure silver can develop a light film; however it, like gold is considered Highly resistant to corrosion
Given it's softness, Steel wool seems harsh...
Happy polishing
Happy Listening

 

Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, German it's all good....., posted on April 1, 2015 at 14:35:45
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 I'm an April fool


E
T

ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Polish silver wire, posted on April 3, 2015 at 16:54:01
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 I would say simply try a jewelers polishing cloth. Improving skin effect will/should always be beneficial and plumbers teflon tape :)

 

RE: Polish silver wire, posted on April 4, 2015 at 07:42:47
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9623
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 I've always been a fan of copper so I don't have much experience with silver, but I always thought silver oxides and sulphides were just as conductive as the silver and figured the tarnish was no big deal. Your post got me curious and I did a little googling and turned up the link below. Turns out that the tarnish is conductive, but less so than pure silver. I guess when used for an interconnect it may have more significance than I thought. Live and learn I guess.

 

RE: Polish silver wire, posted on April 5, 2015 at 23:32:08
paper006
Audiophile

Posts: 14
Joined: September 9, 2014
 If you google about this topic, they mostly argument about the RCA pins. I think the connection has a greater impact than the wire itself.

 

RE: Polish silver wire, posted on April 6, 2015 at 02:38:33
PingPing
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Joined: May 22, 2014
 Why do you think that is the case and what are suggested reasons and results?

 

RE: Polish silver wire, posted on April 6, 2015 at 13:20:40
paper006
Audiophile

Posts: 14
Joined: September 9, 2014
 I'm still a young student. Personaly I think polishing the wire itself will not make a huge difference. The signal has a, in comparison, thick (diameter) medium to travel through, the tarnish is just a thin layer compared to the wire. If the plugs begin to oxidise the contectivity will suffer. Won't a cable that is soldered directly to the amp (or other device) have the best quality? It will be a little bit impratical, but still.

 

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