Ammo 12# Armstrong Spiff Up

[J.H. Moose]

After being thoroughly satisfied with the results in cleaning up my wax-covered 6.5" Harding a week ago, I decided to give another rare bird of mine covered in wax the same treatment.

I sanded off the old-yellowed wax on the Armstrong and slapped on a coat of Gempler's (inside and out) and also used a mixture of vinegar and peroxide to spiff up the copper rifle studs which were a bit oxidized in places.

Overall the shell was in pretty good condition so it didn't really need much treatment for rust but overall, I think it looks a lot better and is a little more uniform in the patina of its shelf-mates

 

[redbob]

After being thoroughly satisfied with the results in cleaning up my wax-covered 6.5" Harding a week ago, I decided to give another rare bird of mine covered in wax the same treatment.
View attachment 510460I sanded off the old-yellowed wax on the Armstrong and slapped on a coat of Gempler's (inside and out) and also used a mixture of vinegar and peroxide to spiff up the copper rifle studs which were a bit oxidized in places.
View attachment 510461
View attachment 510462
Overall the shell was in pretty good condition so it didn't really need much treatment for rust but overall, I think it looks a lot better and is a little more uniform in the patina of its shelf-mates

A very nice job and is your Armstrong one of the Farmville cache?

 

[UCVRelics]

Another GREAT Job.

 

[J.H. Moose]

A very nice job and is your Armstrong one of the Farmville cache?

Mine's supposedly Wilmington provenance

 

[J.H. Moose]

Another GREAT Job.

Thanks!

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

After being thoroughly satisfied with the results in cleaning up my wax-covered 6.5" Harding a week ago, I decided to give another rare bird of mine covered in wax the same treatment.
View attachment 510460I sanded off the old-yellowed wax on the Armstrong and slapped on a coat of Gempler's (inside and out) and also used a mixture of vinegar and peroxide to spiff up the copper rifle studs which were a bit oxidized in places.
View attachment 510461
View attachment 510462
Overall the shell was in pretty good condition so it didn't really need much treatment for rust but overall, I think it looks a lot better and is a little more uniform in the patina of its shelf-mates

Good job. Do you ever use 0000 wool to clean off rust?

 

[J.H. Moose]

Good job. Do you ever use 0000 wool to clean off rust?

Thanks! I usually use a wire brush and rough grit sandpaper for really bad rust and concretion to smooth out the finish for the Gempler's and a very fine sandpaper and vinegar-peroxide for the copper or brass

 

[FrankN]

Very nice work and display!

Frank

 

[redbob]

Thanks! I usually use a wire brush and rough grit sandpaper for really bad rust and concretion to smooth out the finish for the Gempler's and a very fine sandpaper and vinegar-peroxide for the copper or brass

My biggest challenge besides removing wax from projectiles has been a 3" Camden Read Shell that had been set in concrete along with a number of others to line a man's driveway. The shell was in remarkably good shape and only took a light cleaning, but getting the concrete out of the sabot was a real b**ger. That said, you take what you are fortunate enough to get and do the best that you can to preserve it and one day pass it on.

 

[J.H. Moose]

My biggest challenge besides removing wax from projectiles has been a 3" Camden Read Shell that had been set in concrete along with a number of others to line a man's driveway. The shell was in remarkably good shape and only took a light cleaning, but getting the concrete out of the sabot was a real b**ger. That said, you take what you are fortunate enough to get and do the best that you can to preserve it and one day pass it on.

Breaks my heart to hear a Camden being mistreated like that, but it sounds like it ended up in a good home. Crappy shells are a hassle, nerve racking at times, but at least they're a lot easier on the bank account, especially if they're a rarer type.