Napoleonic war Infantry button 1813
- Thread starter ACANTHUS
- Start date
What a find! Congratulations ACANTHUS.
ACANTHUS
Full Member
How can I get rid of the green crust on this button?? any advice much appreciated or should I leave it??
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2006
- Messages
- 3,708
Leave it. If you try to remove it, you'll damage the button. The "green stuff" is a type of corrosion. If you remove it, you'll expose "pits" in the metal. If you want to change the color of the corrosion, you can heat up some H2O2 and put the button in it. It will turn it to more of a brown color. I believe this also keeps it from continuing to corrode, though you might want a second opinion on that.
ACANTHUS
Full Member
ok thanks please can I have a second opinion just to confirm the first cheers people
I would pick it off with the point of a pin as it will continue to spread and could effect other items stored near it.
Once you have got it off the remaining chlorides that you can't see must be nuetralised.
First degrease in alcohol or acetone. Next soak for a week in sodium sesquicarbonate then allow to dry. Finally leave in a 5% solution of BTA (dissolved in alcohol) for seven or eight days.
Allow to dry.
The BTA solution can be used again and again.
Once you have got it off the remaining chlorides that you can't see must be nuetralised.
First degrease in alcohol or acetone. Next soak for a week in sodium sesquicarbonate then allow to dry. Finally leave in a 5% solution of BTA (dissolved in alcohol) for seven or eight days.
Allow to dry.
The BTA solution can be used again and again.
Jeff R
Elite Member
I have to agree with Okie!
It looks great as is. Do not clean it. On a couple occasions I have cleaned up some finds and DEEPLY regret it.
These finds get spoiled the more you clean them.
My 2 cents
Jeff
Now a days I will lightly rub it with olive oil (between my fingers) and wipe it dry.
It looks great as is. Do not clean it. On a couple occasions I have cleaned up some finds and DEEPLY regret it.
These finds get spoiled the more you clean them.
My 2 cents
Jeff
Now a days I will lightly rub it with olive oil (between my fingers) and wipe it dry.
