Damaged, Repair, Clean, Preserve Soviet Awards And Documents.

[ANZAC]

Yes, I agree with Brian. Warsaws are relatively inexpensive compared to others. I'd put it aside and pick up another of the same variation.

Brendan

[ECD3]

Money is an issue...so I decided to let the guy fix it (for $10) and decided if I come across a cheap one, I'll just replace it. Thanks for the help...I know it didn't sound like much but when you can count the number of your collection on one hand, it is pretty devastating.

[jefflgarrison]

PLEASE, OH PLEASE, make sure to tell him not to clean it when he repairs it.

I had the ring fall off the BM I recently had researched. Came back for a clerk who was involved in Stalingrad. Even used that word on the award citation.

Well, when I picked it up yesterday it now has this lovely pasty while look to it instead of the shiny coat it once had. Granted years from now it will look again as it did but for now I have this ugly red-headed step-child staring me in the face.

BTW, any of the forum members have a suggestion how I can speed up the process of getting it back to it's original look? Toothpaste, iodine?

[Bogdan]

Drawing from my experience as a jeweler, the amount of cleaning up depends on which method he uses to repair it such as lead solder which can be done with a soldering iron or a low carat gold solder which requires a torch. There would be little to no clean up with lead solder but with the torch, it's going to be a lot because for gold solder to work the best, the area would have to be smooth and clean, making it necessary to use a fine abrasive wheel for the prep, using solder flux, etc., then the clean up afterwards in my opinion it is not worth it. For $10 it seems like it will be a simple lead solder job but he should use only the minimal amount of solder because everyone knows what lead solder looks like after it is exposed to air, it turns a dark gray ugly color that can't be changed by any method.

I agree with Kirchgoens, Brendan, and for me it would have been better to put the $10 towards another medal than to see the probable damage that will be done to this medal by the repair. I also agree with Jeff, repairing and/or cleaning will create the ugly stepchild that nobody really wants at least for display.

[Bogdan]

BTW, any of the forum members have a suggestion how I can speed up the process of getting it back to it's original look? Toothpaste, iodine?

Jeff, I would have to see the medal in person to advise any kind of speeding up of the natural "aging" process. Sometimes in these cases it is just best left alone. I'm assuming since it is a BM, then silver solder was used with medium heat from a small tip reaching the melting point rather quickly. In that case, there should be no pasty look to it. If the heat was too high or too low either way, and/or from a large torch tip, this pasty look can attach to silver and remain forever. I have repaired silver rings like worn on the finger and had to polish off this residue with an abrasive wheel but that is OK on an item like this but for a medal it certainly would not be appropriate. Hopefully it is just some residue that has not attached permanently and in a couple of years, it will not be noticable. I would just guess though, and say that there is a better chance for time to fix this rather than a chemical or abrasive.

[marcotk]

Super glue and a toothpick would do a very fine job.

[EricFG]

Super glue and a toothpick would do a very fine job.

I was thinking the same thing. A *very little* superglue. And first figure out a good way to clamp it very lightly in place.

[Bogdan]

Super glue and a toothpick would do a very fine job.

Considering what a jeweler's repair would look like, I concur with Marco and Eric about the small amount of superglue. :thumbsup

[ANZAC]

This is what one looks like after a ring fix with solder. Blackened and nasty looking. Saving grace is it was done by the veteran in this particular case.

Brendan

[ECD3]

Okay, well I already got the jeweler to do it...but I decided to splurge on myself and bought a brand new one, just to make myself feel better, haha.

But for future reference, just any kind of superglue and lightly putting it on works? Should I clamp it somehow or just push it together and let it dry as is? I mean, it's not like I am going to be wearing it around, it will just be sitting in a case (once I buy one) so I guess the connection doesn't need to be perfect.