Green tarnish removal.

[Busvette]

Just picked up a very nice NCO belt and buckle. The silver on the wreath is as nice as I have seen. There is one small spot (about 1/4inch) of green tarnish on the brass part. I know that it is a no, no to clean and restore these items, however, I am concerned that left unchecked the corrosion will spread. It is also keeping it from being a top flight piece. Any suggestions on cleaning or products to use.
Thanks.

 

[Northern Light]

Just picked up a very nice NCO belt and buckle. The silver on the wreath is as nice as I have seen. There is one small spot (about 1/4inch) of green tarnish on the brass part. I know that it is a no, no to clean and restore these items, however, I am concerned that left unchecked the corrosion will spread. It is also keeping it from being a top flight piece. Any suggestions on cleaning or products to use.
Thanks.

Try a bit of vinegar and salt. Apply carefully with a Q-tip. Rinse with water.
I would check with someone who is an antiques expert before doing anything though.

 

[UCVRelics]

It will not spread. I would just try a rag with a little water but if you decided to clean it I use 25% lemon juice 75% water and a very soft toothbrush or Q-tip. Rinse with water immediately. Keep in mind that if you remove the tarnish it will leave a spot that does not match the rest of the areas. IMHO LEAVE IT AS IS.

 

[James N.]

Just picked up a very nice NCO belt and buckle. The silver on the wreath is as nice as I have seen. There is one small spot (about 1/4inch) of green tarnish on the brass part. I know that it is a no, no to clean and restore these items, however, I am concerned that left unchecked the corrosion will spread. It is also keeping it from being a top flight piece. Any suggestions on cleaning or products to use.
Thanks.

It will not spread. I would just try a rag with a little water but if you decided to clean it I use 25% lemon juice 75% water and a very soft toothbrush or Q-tip. Rinse with water immediately. Keep in mind that if you remove the tarnish it will leave a spot that does not match the rest of the areas. IMHO LEAVE IT AS IS.

I agree with the idea of cleaning it; as noted, it won't match the rest of the finish, but the green verdigris on this one bothered me more, so I carefully removed it with a little Brasso followed by a soft toothbrush. There was very little of the original gilding remaining on this officer's buckle anyway, as can be seen. The tarnish was in the area below the eagle's right wing and the wreath; since cleaning it's returned to the finish of much of the rest of the brass.

 

[Busvette]

Thanks for the input everyone. I am new to the CW collecting game and relie a lot on your input on varied items. I will clean it as described as I believe if there ends up being a brighter spot on the buckle it will not be as objectionable as a green glob.
Thanks again

 

[JOHN42768]

Just a suggestion, try a small spot on the back or edge to see how it effects the finish

 

[Package4]

As one who purchased his first ACW piece many years ago at auction and took it home, polished it, for a couple of days and then proudly showed a collector friend, who said, "wow you took a dull sergeant's Emerson & Silver sword and made it look new; you also took a $400 sword and turned it into a $200 sword. Lucky you have years for it to regain its patina!"

 

[James N.]

As one who purchased his first ACW piece many years ago at auction and took it home, polished it, for a couple of days and then proudly showed a collector friend, who said, "wow you took a dull sergeant's Emerson & Silver sword and made it look new; you also took a $400 sword and turned it into a $200 sword. Lucky you have years for it to regain its patina!"

Baloney; as long as the metal hasn't been damaged (like from having a wire wheel used on it) I see no reason not to clean and even polish things like this. HOWEVER, I would never suggest doing so to anything Confederate or of otherwise questionable origin or pedigree - in those cases the vaunted patina can serve as valuable evidence as to originality. Ordinary Union NCO and musicians' swords, even by a less common maker like E&S have appreciated from the $50 - $100 range I remember buying them - and have also declined in value along with most other collectibles; but they are still by no means uncommon, rare, or anything like it.

 

[Package4]

Baloney; as long as the metal hasn't been damaged (like from having a wire wheel used on it) I see no reason not to clean and even polish things like this. HOWEVER, I would never suggest doing so to anything Confederate or of otherwise questionable origin or pedigree - in those cases the vaunted patina can serve as valuable evidence as to originality. Ordinary Union NCO and musicians' swords, even by a less common maker like E&S have appreciated from the $50 - $100 range I remember buying them - and have also declined in value along with most other collectibles; but they are still by no means uncommon, rare, or anything like it.

It was actually Dave Taylor who said that to me..........

 

[James N.]

It was actually Dave Taylor who said that to me..........

I understood it was a quote, and something I would often think a good idea depending on the particular artifact and exact circumstances. I just personally see no reason to preserve all the grime, dust and dirt, and possible surface rust and/or corrosion just to keep something looking "old" when it could just as easily look clean and new like it did when it was first issued. Here are a couple of examples: the first one has been cleaned and polished (and in fact I'm wearing it as I type this); the second one, absolutely NOT under any circumstances!

 

[Package4]

I understood it was a quote, and something I would often think a good idea depending on the particular artifact and exact circumstances. I just personally see no reason to preserve all the grime, dust and dirt, and possible surface rust and/or corrosion just to keep something looking "old" when it could just as easily look clean and new like it did when it was first issued. Here are a couple of examples: the first one has been cleaned and polished (and in fact I'm wearing it as I type this); the second one, absolutely NOT under any circumstances!

View attachment 173744 View attachment 173745

As a rule of thumb I leave most as is, I purchased a very nice M1860 Colt from a dealer, I'd to a Sgt McCasky 17th PA Cav, but it had been cleaned and as it turned out cleaned to match the replaced loading lever..........attic brown is gold to me! Cleaning can hide repairs....

 

[donna]

An old receipt from "Confederate Receipt Book", 1863. I don't recommend but just quote from the book. Others might have comments.

To keep Arms and Polished Metals From Rust.
"Dissolve one ounce of camphor in two pounds of hog's lard, observing to take off the scum, then mix as much black lead as will give the mixture an iron color. Fire arms, &c, rubbed over with this mixture, left twenty-four hours, and then dried with a linen cloth, will keep clean for many months."

Have no idea if works as just an old interesting mixture to keep these objects clean.

 

[Package4]

An old receipt from "Confederate Receipt Book", 1863. I don't recommend but just quote from the book. Others might have comments.

To keep Arms and Polished Metals From Rust.
"Dissolve one ounce of camphor in two pounds of hog's lard, observing to take off the scum, then mix as much black lead as will give the mixture an iron color. Fire arms, &c, rubbed over with this mixture, left twenty-four hours, and then dried with a linen cloth, will keep clean for many months."

Have no idea if works as just an old interesting mixture to keep these objects clean.

I'm going to try that recipe on my repro/re-enacting guns and let you know how it goes. Found camphor oil and graphite, now the search for lard.........

 

[donna]

I hope it works. I guess it did more then 100 years ago. Let us know.

 

[James N.]

An old receipt from "Confederate Receipt Book", 1863. I don't recommend but just quote from the book. Others might have comments.

To keep Arms and Polished Metals From Rust.
"Dissolve one ounce of camphor in two pounds of hog's lard, observing to take off the scum, then mix as much black lead as will give the mixture an iron color. Fire arms, &c, rubbed over with this mixture, left twenty-four hours, and then dried with a linen cloth, will keep clean for many months."

Have no idea if works as just an old interesting mixture to keep these objects clean.

Shucks, I seem to somehow be all out of hog's lard, camphor, and raw lead (other than in pencils)!