04-22-2012, 03:47 PM
From my experience with fake patina I believe onion or chives or something along those lines are used. The smell and tastes can very often be a major tell.
Every individual items needs to be approached in an individual fashion. Some things you obtain will never need anything other than correct storage, other items will need very special attention.
Problems such as oxidisation must be addressed as soon as possible. Otherwise it would be like stating "this document was on fire when I obtained it, I'll leave it like that and see what happens".
Time certainly makes fools of us all.
I also wouldn't leave any items "soaking" in anything other than water unsupervised as things can easily get out of hand. A light wash with citrus or vinegar may not seem to be doing everything you want it to but with light reapplications and patience you can hopefully get the result you need without going too far.
I always remember the first episode of "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" in which a local tries to sell the boys gold and the Sergeant dips his hand into the battery acid which is supposed to be proving the gold is non-reactive thinking it is water and he is being tricked, only to be surprised.
With the modern information superhighway hopefully folks know better than to clean silver with a wire brush.
Every individual items needs to be approached in an individual fashion. Some things you obtain will never need anything other than correct storage, other items will need very special attention.
Problems such as oxidisation must be addressed as soon as possible. Otherwise it would be like stating "this document was on fire when I obtained it, I'll leave it like that and see what happens".
Time certainly makes fools of us all.
I also wouldn't leave any items "soaking" in anything other than water unsupervised as things can easily get out of hand. A light wash with citrus or vinegar may not seem to be doing everything you want it to but with light reapplications and patience you can hopefully get the result you need without going too far.
I always remember the first episode of "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" in which a local tries to sell the boys gold and the Sergeant dips his hand into the battery acid which is supposed to be proving the gold is non-reactive thinking it is water and he is being tricked, only to be surprised.
With the modern information superhighway hopefully folks know better than to clean silver with a wire brush.
"Signed with his own rubber stamp"
