What is the best way to keep saddle silver shiny and rust free?
photo credit: Travis Isaacs
Nothing looks so good as a well made, beautifully cared for than a western show saddle so why do so many people fail to keep the siverware clean and shiny.
Many western saddles feature silver work on the skirts and conchos and it is really quite a straightforward job to keep them clean and untarnished.
Your saddle may have real silver or a plate version and the care for each is simple if slightly different. For real silver a good clean with warm soapy water and a buffing with some silver polish will bring out the beauty in it, but use the polish sparingly as it is abrasive and each use will minutely wear down the silver and over time could obliterate some of the fine detail.
For silver or chrome plate you should not use silver polish for the reason stated above. On the way to the tack shop take a detour into the local auto parts store. They will sell a polish specially made for chrome which is a lot less abrasive. This will be ok for silver gilt too.
When you are in there pick up some auto wax too. This will give your metalwork of both types protection against the elements and drastically cut down on the polishing although general cleaning with soapy water will still need to be done. Avoid quick fixes like applying nail polish as this will chip and flake allowing moisture in which can then do it’s worst to the base metal.
So, make an effort and you will be rewarded with a saddle which is fit to show and go.
