Fixing Taco'd Items

[USCGD]

Hello. I recently found a Civil War soldier's ID badge (see my profile for the post). The badge is quite bent, and I would love to straighten it.
The badge is very thin silver, and I will not attempt to straighten it if there is any chance of it being damaged. Does anyone have experience in this, and could help me out? Thanks!

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I would say take it to a jeweler who has experience with silver and get his opinion on fixing it.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I would say that silver is a very forgiving material and I suspect that a silversmith artist could easily restore an item such as that without affecting the engraving.

 

[bc5391]

Nice find. If you did not want to take it to a jeweler, Wrap it in a shop towel ( blue paper towel) then put it in a flat metal surface ( bench vice) tap it very softly with a plastic tip hammer

 

[Tpmetal]

Nice find. If you did not want to take it to a jeweler, Wrap it in a shop towel ( blue paper towel) then put it in a flat metal surface ( bench vice) tap it very softly with a plastic tip hammer

You must be careful doing this especially if the silver or silver alloy is work hardened, which is often the case with finished products made from silver. The silver must first be heated and annealed.

 

[USCGD]

Thank you all for the advice! I will be taking it to a jeweler.

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

That's a very special find so I'd get a professional's opinion for sure.

But I've straightened a lot of bend Coins, Tokens and Relics.
I just put the bent item in between two pieces of wood and put in a Vice and or hit the wood with a Hammer.

 

[ArfieBoy]

It is a beauty!

 

[Jeff(or)]

Wow, what a geat find. let us know how it turns out.


Jeff