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LEAD & PEWTER Lead and pewter
items should be soaked in household paraffin and lightly brushed from time to time. After drying, coat with liquid paraffin, let it dry and then give a second coat.
CANDLE WAX
Another good method of preserving bronze, copper, brass, lead, and pewter items that have cleaned up nicely, with a good body of metal
but not much patina, is to use a large white candle. Cut the candle up into small pieces and place them in a small aluminium saucepan - use an old one! Place the items on top of the candle bits and heat gently.
Do not leave the kitchen while the pan is still on the stove! If you have to leave the kitchen for any reason, to go
to the door or to answer the telephone, remove the pan and turn the stove off! When the wax has melted, leave it on the heat for a further minute - no longer! Take the pan from the heat and carefully remove the items -
use large tweezers, or an old fork. Place the items on a piece of wood to drain-off excess wax. When cool, pick up the items and rub them gently with your fingers to polish them. Remove any excess wax by
scraping with a blunt plastic knife, or use your fingernail. For items with a nice patina, remove them from the wax as soon as the wax is melted. Experiment with a few bits first. |