How do you "unfuse" the chrome top from an antique salt shaker?
I tried to find an "antiques & collectibles" part of Y!A, but couldn't, so I thought this was the closest place where someone might have an answer.
I inherited some antique crystal from my husband's family (or rather my stepdaughter did, and I am keeping for her until she has a "proper" dining room).
Part of the set is a Fostoria etched crystal salt & pepper set with a chrome top. My mother in law stored them with the salt still in the shaker, and if you know anything about how corosive salt is, that's pretty much a death sentance to metal. The top of the salt shaker it "fused" to the crystal. I had this happen to my Princess House crystal salt shaker, & ended up breaking the crystal trying to get the top off.
Even if I ended up breaking the chrome top, I think I could have it restored or get a reproduction of it, whereas I would have to replace the entire set if I break the crystal. Does anyone know if there is anything I can use to remove the top without damaging the glass.
I second the hot tapwater idea. Consider drizzling a lubricant in there that's not water-soluble, too, like mineral oil, and letting it stand and (hopefully) loosen some of the corroded connections before doing the hot water.
David Shrigley's rank A shakersWriting "cocaine" and "heroin" on a duo of salt and pepper shakers is just the sort of thing David Shrigley does – a expected extension of the artist's "drawings with mysterious words also on the same drawing" that have been making people snigger for more and more »
