Felt. Is it Safe?

[Dram]

Hello All,

New here. Hope I am posting this in the correct forum.

I have two wooden boxes that are both storing some items mounted with antique sterling silver. Each box has some parts of it lined with the peel back type of adhesive "felt". I use quotations to describe this as felt, because I am not sure what it really is.

I can pick this stuff up at a local craft store for about 2 dollars a sheet. Anyway, I read on-line that felt could emit sulfur and this could cause pitting to my silver? I really don't want my antique silver items to be ruined by two dollar felt sheets.

Can someone please advise me on what I should do with this. To be honest these cheap pieces of felt seem awfully harmless.

Thanks for any advice. BTW, the boxes don't seem to have caused any hyper-tarnishing since they were stored in them. One item about 4 months ago, and the other a few weeks ago.

[Dram]

Also, must add that the reason I don't simply remove them is that they are now glued into the boxes, and one box was an expensive custom box made for this particular item.

[MCB]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Having without any problems relined old boxes myself using modern materials the chances are that the materials used in your boxes are safe but not knowing the type of adhesive used in the peel back or the make up of the felt should lead to erring on the side of caution and regularly checking for any discolouration of the silver. At the first signs of any problem the items should be taken out of the boxes and the discolouration dealt with. On the grounds that prevention is better than cure this would then involve relining the boxes with materials which are known to be safe for silver storage.

Best wishes for a troube free outcome.

Mike

[JLDoggett]

I read on-line that felt could emit sulfur and this could cause pitting to my silver? I really don't want my antique silver items to be ruined by two dollar felt sheets.

Can someone please advise me on what I should do with this. To be honest these cheap pieces of felt seem awfully harmless.

I have yet to find a sulfurless adhesive backed felt product, the potential harm to your pieces is not worth the risk. I would suggest peeling the felt out of the box, carefully, use acetone to remove any remaining glue and seal the area with a thin coat of lacquer. Replace it with cotton flannel stuck down with plain white glue.