Article: If your home tests yield inconclusive results, you may need to consult a professional to determine if your item is silver, sterling silver, or silver plated. While there are a variety of professionals to choose from, some are more qualified than others. Select a professional that is certified, experienced, and highly recommended. Professional appraisers are highly trained and experienced. Many reputable appraisers are certified by the American Society of Appraisers. Their job is to assess the quality and worth of items. Graduate jewelers are trained and certified by the Gemologist Institute of America. They are skilled artists and experienced repairers of jewelry. They are also capable of evaluating an item's materials. When nitric acid comes into contact with metal, it reveals if the metal is real or imitation. The professional will nick or scratch the item in a discreet area. They will place a drop of nitric acid into the nick or scratch. If the area turns green, the item is not made out of silver; if the area turns a creamy color, the item is made out of silver. You may purchase a kit and conduct this test at home. When handling nitric acid, you need to be extremely careful. Always wear protective gloves and eyewear. If your item requires further testing, you may send it to a professional advanced jewelry or metal testing laboratory. Ask a local, trusted jeweler for lab recommendations or search for a reputable advanced metal testing lab online. At the lab, scientists will conduct a battery of tests to determine the chemical makeup of your item. These tests may include: Fire assaymelting down a sample of the metal and conducting a chemical assay The use of an XRF gun. This item send x-rays through the item to test the metal's purity. Mass spectrometrya test used to determine an item's molecular and chemical structure. Specific gravity assessmenta water displacement test.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Have your item appraised. Ask a professional to conduct a nitric acid test. Send to a lab for further testing.
Article: Making a pleated skirt requires some basic sewing tools and a lot of fabric. You need more fabric to make a pleated skirt than you would to make a non-pleated skirt because of the folds. To make your pleated skirt, you will need: Fabric in the color and type of your choice. Cotton and wool make good pleats, while lighter fabrics like silk and satin do not. Keep in mind that you will need a piece of fabric that is long enough to fit around your waist three times, so you may want to measure the fabric while you are in the store. This amount will provide plenty of room to make the pleats for your skirt. Chalk Scissors Measuring tape Sewing machine Thread A 7" (18 cm) zipper. Use the measuring tape to get your waist measurement and skirt length measurement. Measure around your natural waist or wherever you plan to wear the skirt on your waist. Then, measure from your natural waist (or where you plan to wear the skirt) down to the spot where you want the skirt to end. Make sure that you record these measurements. Next, you will need to decide how wide you want your pleats to be. You can choose any width you like, such as " (1.9 cm), 1 " (3.8 cm), or 2 " (5.7 cm). However, it is important for all of your pleats to be the same size, so decide on a width before you begin folding. Keep in mind that the wider your pleats are, the fewer pleats you will have. If you want a lot of pleats in your skirt, then opt for a smaller width.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Gather your materials. Measure your waist and skirt length. Decide on the size of your pleats.
Article: Each year, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies (CRAs)Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You don't have to order them individually. Instead, you can order all three at once: Call 1-877-322-8228. Provide your name, address, Social Security Number, and date of birth. Your report will be mailed to you. Visit annualcreditreport.com and supply the requested information. You can gain instant access to your credit report. Fill out the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Annual Credit Report Request form, available here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0093-annual-report-request-form.pdf. Mail it to the address listed on the form. Go through each item listed on your reports and highlight anything that is wrong. Some of the more common errors include the following: errors made regarding your name, address, or contact information accounts that don't belong to you accounts created by someone who stole your identity current accounts listed as late or delinquent incorrect dates accounts that appear more than once with different creditors listed old information that should have fallen off, such as a bankruptcy that occurred more than 10 years ago erroneous account balance erroneous credit limit When you contact the CRA, share any proof you have that the information is wrong. Don't worry if you don't have anything. However, go through your papers and try to find any supporting documents that you can. For example, you might have been the victim of identity theft. You should have a copy of the police report to share. If an account is improperly listed as in default, find old statements that show you have made timely payments. You should contact the CRA which has the negative information. If more than one has the same incorrect information, you only need to contact one. You can report online. Go to each CRAs website and look for a link to "Credit Report Disputes" or something similar. You should also send a letter certified mail, return receipt requested. Hold onto the receipt, as it will serve as proof that the letter was received. The FTC has a sample letter you can use to request that the information be corrected. After you contact a CRA, it will investigate by contacting the entity that submitted the incorrect information (such as a bank). The reporting entity must confirm that the information is accurate. If they can't, then it will be removed. Generally, you will hear back within 30 days. You should receive a written letter explaining the results of the investigation. You'll also receive a free credit report if a change was made. You should also receive the name, address, and phone number of the entity that provided the inaccurate information. You can request that the CRA send a free report to anyone who has received it within the past six months. If the CRA won't make the change, you should then object directly to the entity that provided the information. The FTC has a sample letter you can use for this as well. If you are still unhappy, then ask to file a statement of dispute. This is a short statement (usually 100 words) that provides context. It will be included whenever someone requests a copy of your credit report. It's best to include a statement if you were the victim of identity theft but the provider is insisting you really opened the account. You might also want to provide a statement if health issues caused financial difficulty.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Obtain a free credit report. Look for common errors on credit reports. Find supporting documentation. Ask that the errors be fixed. Wait for a response. Dispute the information with the provider.