Adding patina back to brass button

[can_slaw]

I am looking for hints, suggestions, etc. for tried and true methods for adding the patina back to a brass button you may have over cleaned. I know the best method, SLOW DOWN AND STOP OVERCLEANING =), but I am unfortunately past that point. The eagle "D" cuff button I found today HAD a beautiful black color to it, complete with shank. Unfortunately, during the tooth picking, the black has gave way to the brown underneath, and the details are harder now to see than they were. It's in really good shape, and the details are all still there, just hard to see. Please help!!



Here's the back. It's a 2 piece button.


Also, if anyone has an insight as to the model year, I am trying to see what the back says yet...

 

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[can_slaw]

I guess i should also ask, is it even possible to do what I am asking?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

complete with erect shank and all

Can't help you, but maybe you should change this to "full shank"! Just sounds better to me!

 

[can_slaw]

Can't help you, but maybe you should change this to "full shank"! Just sounds better to me!

Thanks for the advice, maybe that's the reason for the crickets on the question.

 

[Ammoman]

Take it outside and bury it. Come back in 100 years and it will be as good as the day you found it!

 

[Tpmetal]

look on ancient coin sites, they have stuff for repatina of coins which should work

 

[can_slaw]

look on ancient coin sites, they have stuff for repatina of coins which should work

Thank you. If chemicals are the way to go, i will have to look into it. It's a really pretty button and i hate to see it like this.

 

[Duckshot]

I got a friend, who happens to be in Wisconsin, who does copper roof. He uses a mixture of red wine vinager and table salt to match new roof to old. I don't know the ratio or how it works. It might work on brass too?

Only one way to find out. You might want to experiment on a piece of brass that is disposable.

 

[can_slaw]

I got a friend, who happens to be in Wisconsin, who does copper roof. He uses a mixture of red wine vinager and table salt to match new roof to old. I don't know the ratio or how it works. It might work on brass too?

Only one way to find out. You might want to experiment on a piece of brass that is disposable.

Thank you for a more natural remedy. I will research this method, and post the results for sure.

 

[smokeythecat]

This isn't right but all I could think of was spray paint. I have no clue how to put a patina back on something. I didn't think it was possible to get it right.

 

[can_slaw]

This isn't right but all I could think of was spray paint. I have no clue how to put a patina back on something. I didn't think it was possible to get it right.

Adding a patina definitely isn't right. Learning how to properly clean something is right. I just haven't screwed up enough beautiful artifacts yet to know how to do it right.

 

[mick56]

I read somewhere about taking the yolk from a hard boiled egg, and put it in a jar with the object. The sulphur from the yolk will put tarnish back on the item.

 

[can_slaw]

I read somewhere about taking the yolk from a hard boiled egg, and put it in a jar with the object. The sulphur from the yolk will put tarnish back on the item.

I plan to try this this weekend. I will post the results.....

 

[diggingthe1]

You might try Liver of Sulfur. It is good for putting a patina back on. You can find it at a jewelry supply store or online. If you use it water it down and try it on something else first.

 

[DCMatt]

C_S - Here's my two cents... Leave it as it is.

I'm guessing that you are the only one who knows how it looked when it came out of the ground and you will never be able to recreate that look.

If you're just going to put it in a display to show to friends and neighbors, I promise you that 99.99% of them won't know how it should look and NO ONE will ever say, "Oh, I see you over cleaned your Dragoon cuff button!"

Learn from it and go dig another one.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Brass black, made by Birchwood Casey. Amazon will have it. Liver of Sulphur works good on silver, but not sure about brass. Gary