Found first eagle button how to clean it

[Hutch911]

I found my first button but not sure how to clean it . I will post pictures tonight. will the green stuff (not sure what's it is called ) clean up and turn back to it's orignal color ?

Thanks

 

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[Colonial Zoyboy]

Iron Patch, a professional button dude on this forum, will chime in very soon.

The green stuff is called patina.

Kyle

 

[romeo-1]

We'll really need to see a pic of the button to determine if it can be cleaned (restored).

 

[tsgman]

I would brush it with a soft toothbrush, no water.

 

[creeper71]

I would think a photo would help everyone wanting to reply back to your question... Congrats on your find...

 

[Hutch911]

I will post the picture this evening I just did not have time last night.

Thanks

 

[Goes4ever]

why not use water? it has been getting wet for all these years in the ground??

 

[Iron Patch]

why not use water? it has been getting wet for all these years in the ground??

Yes but it retains the patina in the ground. Rinsing once out of the ground can be a very different story. Anytime you see a relic that has a green patina, but some brown spots often times it was from being run under the water and some of the color washing away. You can lose a lot of detail on some finds... usually the older stuff.

 

[BuckleBoy]

why not use water? it has been getting wet for all these years in the ground??

Yes but it retains the patina in the ground. Rinsing once out of the ground can be a very different story. Anytime you see a relic that has a green patina, but some brown spots often times it was from being run under the water and some of the color washing away. You can lose a lot of detail on some finds... usually the older stuff.

EXACTLY. Water is bad news in some cases--and water + toothbrushing = a find that will look worse than it did when it was freshly dug!

Only a DRY toothbrush on a DRY find with a two-piece button with raised design--unless there is gold gilding. In that case, use Aluminum Jelly.

The backmark I'd use my "toothpicking" method listed here:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,165857.0.html

It keeps patina in the grooves so that there is contrast and the backmark can be read.


BUT--before you try any method--including Water!--we need to see a photo.


Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[Iron Patch]

why not use water? it has been getting wet for all these years in the ground??

Yes but it retains the patina in the ground. Rinsing once out of the ground can be a very different story. Anytime you see a relic that has a green patina, but some brown spots often times it was from being run under the water and some of the color washing away. You can lose a lot of detail on some finds... usually the older stuff.

EXACTLY. Water is bad news in some cases--and water + toothbrushing = a find that will look worse than it did when it was freshly dug!

Only a DRY toothbrush on a DRY find with a two-piece button with raised design--unless there is gold gilding. In that case, use Aluminum Jelly.

The backmark I'd use my "toothpicking" method listed here:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,165857.0.html

It keeps patina in the grooves so that there is contrast and the backmark can be read.


BUT--before you try any method--including Water!--we need to see a photo.


Regards,


Buckleboy

Sometimes pictures are better than words. This early musket escutcheon should have never seen a drop of water. It was a mistake because it took me a while to 'acquire a taste for patina', and also took some time to learn what the heck I was doing... so i don't feel too bad about it. Any nice green old item that resembles this (or how it should have been) clean it dry!

The funny thing is most people that read this will still get home the next time and drop everything in the water.

 

[BuckleBoy]

The funny thing is most people that read this will still get home the next time and drop everything in the water. 

I'd think it's sad rather than funny.


It's taken me a decade and a half to devise cleaning methods that work best--with the relic's preservation in mind, as well as my desire to have the most attractive display items possible.


Oh well...  If I had a dollar for every unreadable backmark, field-cleaned coin, or over-cleaned valuable relic... I could quit my job and only MD. 


-Buckles

 

[Hutch911]

Re: Found first eagle button how to clean it Pictures added !!

Ok here are some picture along with what else I found this weekend

Thanks everyone

 

[baspinall]

Be careful with the artillery stuff! Bad things have happened.

B

 

[romeo-1]

Wow...You're worried about a crusty old button when you have that heavy artillary Not to mention that super cool spur rowel...

 

[Digginman]

Excellent finds. Can't wait to dig some more stuff like that.

DM

 

[RUDY2003]

Thats some pretty cool CW diggins' bud!!!
Super job on the recoveries....

Keep safe...

Keith

 

[tymcmurray]

GREAT HUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hutch911]

Thanks everyone it was a good weekend hope to hit it hard over the long weekend coming up.

 

[Marc in VA]

Holy Crap Man!!!! Do you know what you have there You dug some nice artillery shells! The large one looks like a Parrot/Reed shell. Do not I mean DO NOT let the authorities see them as the trend these days is that they are too stupid to know any better and they will have the bomb squad dispose of them. There are still a few CW relic guys who will disarm them for you. In the mean time let them be and dont throw them in a fire or take a grinder to them. That would be bad! As far as the button goes I dont think there is much you can do to help it. There is alot of corrosion and it may very well fall apart if you try cleaning it any more. You had a great dig. Congrats!!!

Marc

 

[DD-777]

Be careful with the artillery stuff! Bad things have happened.

B

Ok. So this is going to sound like a stupid question but I don't know - hence, I'll ask. How dangerous are these old shells? They loaded with powder? How would one know upon finding one if it is "armed" or "unarmed"? I came across a cannonball a few years back in Virginia that a buddy pulled up in his crab dredge (northern Chesapeake Bay). It had a hole in one side and was close to the same size as what's pictured above on the roll of tape. It now sits on a shelf in his living room. Is finding one that has been submerged any different than finding one on land? Years ago I worked on a clam dredge off the east coast and we used to pull up all sorts of crazy stuff. Used to find old grenades by the dozen. Had to call the Navy or Coast Guard to come get 'em when we came back to the docks. Apparently, they are more unstable after sitting in the Atlantic for a bunch of years.