Buckle with iron and bronze parts

[laralucine]

I found this Rev War-era shoe buckle - the tongue and middle are all iron and the frame is brass or bronze. I brushed the iron part with a brass brush, and I did buy Naval Jelly and Extend (experimenting on junk until I get it right).



I've read the replies below, and understand the methods described, but does anyone have experience with bi-metallic items, and specifically protecting the non-ferrous parts while using the naval jelly on the iron (like coating them w/ vaseline or something)? Or do I just need to be really careful not to let them touch? Also, for those who have used Extend Rust Neutralizer, would simply using a few coats of that on the iron parts be enough to preserve the piece, or do I really need to remove more rust before sealing it?

Thanks for any and all info and help, and HH!
Lara

 

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[Ant]

I tumbled this Victorian belt buckle half. I only found half of it. It would have had a glass stone like depicted in the photo of what it would have looked like.

If you like the patina that your piece has, then don't tumble it. Tumbling bi metal is not a problem, other than brass will clean faster then iron. Tumbling rusted iron like that will flak off the loose rust and polish up the solid iron/rust that's left.

HH