Tumble some non-ferrous finds...

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I have here a thin brass sash buckle, a 'shield' horse tack buckle, what I think is a suspender buckle and two horse rosettes.
Before and after pics are shown.

These are just a few of my non-ferrous finds from this year that I was tempted to toss in the scrap bucket.
Let me know what you think about how these turned out.

Should I have left them as they came out of the ground?
Did I destroy their look by tumbling them or did I make them more interesting?
All comments are welcome, either for or against tumbling our finds.

Thanks very much for looking,
Dave

 

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[smokeythecat]

Since they are not "big ticket" items, no harm. It depends on your tastes. However, that said, never ever do that to anything of value.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Since they are not "big ticket" items, no harm. It depends on your tastes. However, that said, never ever do that to anything of value.

I completely agree with you, tumbling anything of historical importance or of any monetary value wouldn't be smart.

I learned this lesson the hard way years ago when I tumbled a WWII Canadian Tank Commanders hat badge.
I turned a $200 collectible into a $20 curiosity.

Here are the before and after pics... lesson learned!

 

[delnorter]

They look great tumbled Dave.

Mike

 

[Hawks88]

Hi Dave, I think after tumbled makes them all look better. BTW what make and model tumbler do you use?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

They look great tumbled Dave.

Mike

Thanks very much Mike!
I'm going to be in Bodega Bay near Sebastopol in August.
Dave

Hi Dave, I think after tumbled makes them all look better. BTW what make and model tumbler do you use?

I use a Lortone 3a & 45C tumblers.
I've experimented with different tumbling mediums over the years to find what works best for me.
Dave

 

[Professor of Engineering]

For low value an non historic items, no harm. I think they came out great!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

For low value an non historic items, no harm. I think they came out great!

Tumbling turns uninteresting finds of little value into candy for the eyes.

Thank you Professor,
Dave

 

[Joe-Dirt]

I cleaned up a buckle I repurposed and find of wished I hadn’t, but now you can see the different metals used to make it (brass frame, copper tongue) and it beginning to pick up some character from being used again. I would like to tumble the pounds and pounds of clad I have though. They pieces you tumbled look good!!! You can still tell they’re old because you can’t really tumble out the wear and damage.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I cleaned up a buckle I repurposed and find of wished I hadn’t, but now you can see the different metals used to make it (brass frame, copper tongue) and it beginning to pick up some character from being used again. I would like to tumble the pounds and pounds of clad I have though. They pieces you tumbled look good!!! You can still tell they’re old because you can’t really tumble out the wear and damage.

I completely agree with your statement Bob... "You can still tell they’re old because you can’t really tumble out the wear and damage."
Sorry to hear about the buckle you tumbled not turning out the way you expected. But look on the bright side, it's now useable again.

Thanks for your post,
Dave