Cleaning procedures for light to medium corroded objects.

Do I Really Need to Hire a Conservator,

Or Can I Preserve This Myself ?
Home Treatment of Precious Heirlooms and Artifacts
Rodney Meziere
Before Caring For Historic Objects or Acceptable Commercial
Precious Family Heirlooms Products for Cleaning and
Techniques & Methods Polishing
1870 – 1890 Belgium made firearm
Determine whether task undertaking is within your scope of ability,
Eclipse Arms Co.
if not DO NOT perform cleaning or repairing.
Damascus Barrel / Black Powder Ammunitions
Pre-Inspection
• Conduct research from professional literature or reliable website(s)
Creole Cowboy pertaining to products, materials, and care procedures.
Metalwork by
• Inspect and examine the object’s surface carefully, looking for cracks,
Charles Roque weak areas, old repairs, and loose or missing parts.
Isle Brevelle, La. • Determine if there are original decorative or protective finishes on the
surface, if so, what are the specifics of the details. Waxes
• Observe surface coverings - original surface coverings such as on historic Johnson’s Paste Wax
firearms, on either stock or barrel should not be removed (i.e. plating, Butcher’s© wax,
Behlens® paste wax
platination, patinas, oils or waxes).
Materials To Have On Hand For Cleaning: Trewax Clear Paste Wax
• Clean cotton padding Cleaning Measures Mohawk Blue Label Paste Wax
• Heavy polyethylene sheeting to protect padded work surface • Remove loose dirt or dust by lightly brushing with a soft brush or camel Renaissance Wax Polish (Microcrystalline wax)
• Cotton swabs or pads Crystalline Clear Museum Wax (Microcrystalline wax)
•
hair paintbrush.
Gloves: latex, cotton, or polyethylene Mineral Spirits
• Mineral spirits
• Vacuum away any dirt that brushing will not remove, or use a still
V.M.&P Naphtha
• Ultra fine (4/0) steel wool paintbrush or stippling brush if needed. Stoddard solvent
• A penetrating lubricant that displaces moisture, such as WD 40®, or CRC 3- • If possible separate metal from wood, if separation of assembly is not Rem Oil®
36® feasible, mask out (tape) any non-metallic element, with a thin Soaps (shavings)/Cleaners
• Soft clean natural bristle brushes, such as a hake or paint brush polyethylene wrap (Mylar®) for protection from cleaning materials. Ivory Flakes *not dishwashing liquid or detergents
• Stiff natural bristle brushes and wooden skewers **It is important to test an small inconspicuous area to be sure the water or Orvus paste or liquid
• Apron or smock mineral spirits will not cause the surface finish to blanch or discolor Vulpex Soap
• Clear microcrystalline paste wax, ideally a clear hard paste wax • Lightly rub any waxy or oily accretions from object by lightly brushing the Lubricants
• Clean natural bristle buffing brush (shoe, stippling, or stencil brush) area with a natural bristle brush or cotton swabs dampened with mineral Mineral Oil
Tips spirits (clean brush or replace cotton swabs regularly to avoid scratching WD 40
• Avoid commercial cleaning products that contain corrosive chemicals such as the surface). CRC 3-36
ammonia, harsh abrasives, acids, or bases. • On metals remove minor rust deposits with a small wet wads of 4/0 ultra Leather Goods
• Never immerse iron in a bath of hot water, rusting will begin almost fine steel wool moistened with a penetrating lubricant – rub gently (DO Mr. Leather (all products)
immediately. NOT use bronze, tin, or nickel wool – these materials will increase the rate Polishes and Cleaners
• Most metal objects should not be handled with bare hands. Salts and oils from of corrosion through a process called galvanic interaction). Goddard’s (all products)
the skin will cause permanent damage. • Clean metal with a soft cotton rag damped with mineral spirits. Pre-Lim (surface cleaner)
• Always wear clean cotton, latex, or synthetic rubber gloves when handling • Allow the mineral spirits to evaporate completely from the metal surfaces. PlexiPlus (multi surface GEL cleaner)
metal objects. • Clean wood using cotton swabs or cotton rag, dampened with distilled
• Avoid cotton gloves with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or synthetic rubber gloves.

• Outdoor and indoor pollutants cause metal corrosion, especially when
combined with high humidity.
• Dust frequently, dust can cause damage by absorbing moisture, attracting
pests, and abrading surfaces.
• Apply only paste waxes to wooden objects, most liquid and aerosol polishes
contain silicones that are harmful to the finish of the wood.
• Cockroaches can damage existing finish by feeding on build up of body oils,
grease and dirt that can accumulate on surfaces.
• Wood does not dry out from the lack of oil, but rather from the lack of moisture.
• Always err on the side of caution when considering a course of treatment or
repairs to historic objects or heirlooms.
After
water, wiping immediately with a clean dry cotton rag to dry the surface.
**Gloves should be worn for the remainder of the process**
• Use a clear microcrystalline paste wax and apply a thin coating of wax to
the entire historic firearm (it better to apply two thin coating of wax than
one thick coating).
• Wait a minute or two and buff the wax off with a clean rag or a buffing
brush.
• Handle heirloom or historic object with gloves to prevent fingerprint oil
residue on wood or the development of or fingerprint corrosion on metal.