Tarnish: What is it, and how can we prevent it?
Flutes are made from a variety of metals, not just from instrument to instrument but in a single instrument; for example, a sterling silver flute is 92.5% silver and alloyed with other materials like copper for the remaining 7.5%. When exposed to air, moisture, and chemicals, these materials undergo a chemical reaction that results in dark discolouration. This discolouration is called silver sulphide, or more commonly, tarnish. Metals such as gold and platinum do not tarnish. However, if alloyed with other materials as previously mentioned, they are susceptible to a small degree.
Tarnish on a flute footjoint (Flutes & Flutists 2024)
Tarnishing on your flute can be caused by many factors. Firstly, tarnish can occur due to environmental factors such as humidity, air (including fossil fuels released into the atmosphere), and exposure to latex or rubber. To mitigate these factors, it is important to always return your instrument to its case after playing, ensuring not to leave it out for extended periods.
Secondly, tarnish is caused by exposure to large amounts of sulphur. Sulphur exists in the air in small amounts but can also be found in the flutist's breath. Many commonly consumed foods contain high amounts of sulphur, such as cruciferous vegetables, eggs, legumes, and beef. Sulphur is an essential element in the human body, involved in building and repairing DNA and cells and metabolising food. Though consuming these foods can increase the sulphur in your breath and accelerate the tarnishing of your instrument, this is not an excuse to skip your veggies!
Lastly, the chemical composition of sweat and natural body oils varies from person to person. Some people have body fluids high in sulphur and other agents that accelerate tarnishing. This natural reaction is, unfortunately, unavoidable for some people and may require your instrument to be serviced more regularly, depending on the severity.
There are a few simple tips you can follow to avoid tarnishing your metal flute:
Wipe down the inside and outside of your instrument after playing and store it safely in its case, not on a flute stand or table.
Wash your hands before playing to remove excess body oils, sweat, and dirt.
Ensure your instrument is regularly serviced so that your technician may inspect and address any tarnishing.
Tarnish on the body of a flute undergoing an overhaul (Flutes & Flutists 2024)
When getting your instrument serviced at Flutes & Flutists, your technician may recommend an optional polish to remove light to heavy tarnish. Tarnish is predominately removed by hand ragging with a tarnish polishing cloth, a mildly charged cloth manually used to polish/buff the surface of the flute. Our technicians may use this ragging with a special silver shine polish for particularly stubborn tarnishing. Silver polishes should never be used at home or in inexperienced hands; if you are concerned about tarnishing on your instrument, contact your technician for advice.