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Restoring Copper

With bent objects, thin section copper-alloy items calm be reshaped by annealing, but care must be taken not to overheat, as extensive oxidization will occur and reduce the attractiveness of the object. More substantial copper-alloy objects are best left as found.

Some copper-alloy items may he improved by enhancing the patina. A patina might for example be powdery or rough-textured. This can often be improved by brushing with a typeface brush. If the colour of the patina is thought to be too light, or perhaps having a patina of different shades, then the addition of a colored wax can he useful. Because chemical additives in commercial products can potentially cause long-term deterioration, they should not he use on important items. Where their use is appropriate, green, brown or black boot polish sparingly applied and then brushed in will give a dark glossy tone. Plain beeswax may also ho used with less drastic coloration. Conservation lacquers can also be applied for appearance purposes.

When cleaning has left a copper-alloy object looking bright, it may be thought desirable to restore some form of patina or toning to it. It is possible to produce convincing green patinas, but this is a difficult and chemically hazardous process. Other safer methods rarely produce satisfactory results. The best option if it is felt necessary to tone down bright metal is to use Tourmaline. With copper-alloys, degreasing with acid may render objects liable to further deterioration and so conservation will have to follow.

Conserving

Many copper-alloy objects will remain stable when excavated, and will

Require no particular conservation treatment. The application of waxes or

Lacquers as mentioned previously may however aid protection as well as

Improving the appearance of an object.

One of the most destructive threats to copper-alloy objects is a condition

Known as bronze disease'. This can he recognized by small areas of powdery

Green corrosion, which erupts from below the surface of an object. This is

Caused by the presence of chlorides which were sealed within the corrosion

Products. And which can become active if the environment of an object is

Altered. This may also occur when an object has been subjected to chemical

Or electrolytic cleaning. Once it takes hold, bronze disease is a

Progressive form of corrosion, which, if left unchecked, can totally destroy

An affected object.

The only solution is the removal of the affected areas. This can he achieved

Either by totally stripping an object hack to hare metal, with all its

Attendant disadvantages. Or by picking out any small spots with a dental

Tool or adapted engraving tool. If any trace of bronze disease is left, it

Will re-occur.

To conserve an object, either following the removal of bronze disease or

After any form of cleaning and/or toning, treatment with benzotriazole (BTA

For short) is now generally recommended. Before using BTA, an object must

First be degreased by Immersion in alcohol or acetone, this should then be

Followed by a prolonged soaking in a solution of caustic soda, which will

Reduce subsurface chlorides and better prepare an item for treatment.

The next step is to remove the object and allow it to dry, after which it

Should be placed in a 5% solution of BTA, dissolved in alcohol, It should be

Left for several days. Then removed and once again allowed to dry

Thoroughly. The final stage is to brush off any loose precipitate that may

Have formed, and to then apply several coats of a protective lacquer,

Preferably Incralac or another suitable proprietary conservation lacquer.

Domestic varnishes have additives, which may be harmful in the long term. The

BTA solution can be used repeatedly, and only needs disposing of once it

Becomes discolored.

THIS ADVICE WAS KINDLY GIVEN TO US AS GUIDE NOT A GOSPEL METHOD OF CLEANING, YOU DO SO AT YOU'RE OWN RISK!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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TIPS & TRICKS

16 things

AirTests

Beach Hunting

 Coin Cleaning

Cleaning bronze and Romana

Cleaning Copper

Conserving

GPS

Going Slow

Good Beginner?

Nothing To Hunt

Restoring Coins

Quick Tips

Water Hunting with the Explorer

Why don't I find Hammered?

 

 

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