Button ID

[Newt]

Should I clean it?
It's a bit smaller than a quarter. Flat Button.
It has a wreath on the back and some writing around the shank.
Newt

Thanks for all your help guys!
Newt

 

[BioProfessor]

Try some diet coke, Q-tip, and/or toothpick to remove some of the crud. Won't hurt it. Maybe bring out some detail.

Can't tell what the Eagle is perching on but it may be an anchor.

Daryl

 

[vayank54]

Looks like an 1814 to 1820's New York button. An eagle sitting on a globe. It probably has EXCELSIOR at the bottom. A cool button.

 

[Iron Patch]

Should you clean it... probably not.

If I'm seeing the picture right the surface is right down to the copper and is why the color is orange. Cleaning won't help, and if anything remove some of the detail you have. What you have to determine is if what you see is metal that is pitted, or corrosion that can be cleaned. Some buttons can be hard to judge from pictures so it's up to you to make that call.

 

[BioProfessor]

True. If so, use some Renaissance Wax. That will be as good as it will get.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

True. If so, use some Renaissance Wax. That will be as good as it will get.

Daryl

I don't think I would because wax doesn't look good when an item is very pitted. There's a million tiny bumps that shine and it seems you can see every last one of them. I only wax brass or copper for looks, not to preserve, because I have never seen any of my "non-preserved" finds change, and I doubt they ever will. Pewter and iron, that's where you break out the sealent. But to each their own! Wax can also block some of the detail but tends to be on buttons that have fairly weak detail.

 

[BioProfessor]

Are you using Renaissance Wax or something else? This stuff does not shine. It is made for this purpose.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Are you using Renaissance Wax or something else? This stuff does not shine. It is made for this purpose.

Daryl

Yes, it's what I currently have. I'll have to test it out the same way as I used to use my old wax to see if it gives the same result and I would expect it to. I would have very little use if it does not shine, but i can't see how wax wouldn't.

Are you heating it when you apply it?

But that certainly doesn't change my opinion on sealing that button. A little color growing back would actually help... but that ain't gonna happen.

 

[BioProfessor]

No heat. It dries instantly on metal. I guess I go the other way. I don't want thing to look shiny. I like the natural look.

I'll post a pic of a button that is in about the same shape as this one.

Daryl

 

[BioProfessor]

Here's a pic of one that is close in condition and waxed.

Visible crud isn't wax. It is oxidation/crud left since I didn't want to clean it more.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

No heat. It dries instantly on metal. I guess I go the other way. I don't want thing to look shiny. I like the natural look.

I'll post a pic of a button that is in about the same shape as this one.

Daryl

Wax doesn't attach well unless heated and my little Navy button from last night proved that as it had the dried out look soon after being done because the coating was not good. (I threw on the wax just for a quick pic) I'll be disappointed if heating will give this result because my previous paste wax did not.

If you like the natural look why use anything then? You most certainly don't need to coat that button to preserve it.

Since I just did use the wax without heat I see you use it much the same way as vaseline would coat the surface. How I wax buttons is quite a but different and is very obvious when you see them in person.

 

[Iron Patch]

Here's a pic of one that is close in condition and waxed.

Visible crud isn't wax. It is oxidation/crud left since I didn't want to clean it more.

Daryl

How did you clean it?

 

[BioProfessor]

Are you sure you are using the Renaissance Wax used by the British Museum for it's metal objects? It's not regular paraffin wax. It is not meant to be heated and it does adhere to the surface of metal unlike paraffin wax. Paraffin wax dries out and separates from the metal surface leaving it looking sort of white.

The reason I use this wax is that it does not affect the surface of the metal but it does make the color of the crud darker and it blends in with the surface of the metal. It makes the surface much more uniform in color and the detail much clearer. It's made to do this and is not like petroleum jelly or other oils and grease sources.

The in really no other way to apply Renaissance Wax than to rub a little on and buff if off. That's the only way it can be done. How do you apply it?

I'll post a before and after pic to show what I'm talking about.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

Are you sure you are using the Renaissance Wax used by the British Museum for it's metal objects? It's not regular paraffin wax. It is not meant to be heated and it does adhere to the surface of metal unlike paraffin wax. Paraffin wax dries out and separates from the metal surface leaving it looking sort of white.

The reason I use this wax is that it does not affect the surface of the metal but it does make the color of the crud darker and it blends in with the surface of the metal. It makes the surface much more uniform in color and the detail much clearer. It's made to do this and is not like petroleum jelly or other oils and grease sources.

The in really no other way to apply Renaissance Wax than to rub a little on and buff if off. That's the only way it can be done. How do you apply it?

I'll post a before and after pic to show what I'm talking about.

Daryl

Well that being the case I will be going back to my old wax, or replacing it with something similar. I have no use for waxing like that with the exception of maybe using it when I clean my iron. Like I said above I only use wax for eye appeal and not preservation. (Because my brass and copper that looks good does not neat to be coated)

 

[Iron Patch]

I only use wax on items with gilt or silver remaining, or a very good patina. (not the type that will flake or wash off easy)


Here's a random picture I have of a couple of my waxed buttons. The wax enhances the gilt and makes the dark portions slick rather than dry. The R. wax method will not do this by what you describe so no good to me.

 

[BioProfessor]

It does the same thing but in a more natural way. The metal doesn't shine so it doesn't look altered. It's darker but not different that what you would expect a button surface to look like.

Daryl

 

[leddel]

yes i agree looks like a N.Y. militia button like this one , buttons of that era usually clean up pretty good unless their recovered from low laying or swampy places where they get damaged pretty bad. heres a before and after of mine. cool button

 

[BioProfessor]

That cleaned up great. I wish the soil I hunt in was that nice to coins and buttons.

A lot of of my coins and buttons look like this one.

Daryl

 

[Iron Patch]

It does the same thing but in a more natural way. The metal doesn't shine so it doesn't look altered. It's darker but not different that what you would expect a button surface to look like.

Daryl

Well we can agree to disagree because to me your button just looks dry. Here's another one for you and I know which way I prefer looking at them in my case.

 

[BioProfessor]

True. I just like the natural look and not the varnished look.

Personal preference I guess.

Daryl