Bob Bailey's Metal Detecting Site

Clean Finds the Easy Way continued ***

CLEANING BRONZE, COPPER & BRASSCentenionalis of Constantine 1st cleaned & preserved with Liqid Parafin
Wash and clean in warm soapy water, use an old stiff toothbrush to get as much dirt off as possible, then put to soak in a plastic container filled with household paraffin. Remove the item from the paraffin from time to time and brush with the stiff toothbrush to get into any small crevices, or lettering in coin legends.  For the more persistent residue use a small screwdriver, filed to a point. Use one from the cheap plastic boxed sets (usually less than £2.00). This is ideal to clean out lettering - but be very careful not to scratch too hard and end up marking the metal, or any patina that is present. Then give the item a good brushing with the stiff toothbrush. When you have cleaned down to the metal, or patina (if present), dry off the paraffin, wash and clean in warm soapy water, and then give a final dry.
Cleaning Finds 2
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If bronze or brass items are pitted, and with areas that are crumbly, these areas need attention first. Stabilise them with a coating of Benzotriazole. If you cannot get any Benzotriazole, dip them in a mixture of Caustic Soda solution in a glass or polystyrene container. Use 12gms of Caustic Soda to a half litre of water - always add the Caustic Soda to the water, do not put the Caustic Soda into the container first as this will cause a volatile reaction. Leave treated items to dry and then give them a final coating of Intralac.

SEALING AND PRESERVING
 To preserve the nice patina on copper, bronze or brass, give it a good coat of Patina Cream. Use either brown or green, although brown is a little difficult to get hold of. Alternatively, you can give the item a good coating of liquid paraffin, let it dry and then give a further coating