UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe Forum Heer Dagger-Repatina Process

I had posted a thread similiar to this about 2 years ago.

This army was cleaned in 2003. Cleaned with Semichrome to a bright finish. In the roughly 5 year period some patina has returned to the daggers fittings. However, it seems to have reached a pinacle and there has been no further oxidation and the returning graying to her fittings have just about stopped.

Here is an image from '03 then a photo taken today. You can note the subtle difference. I don't intend to introduce any artifical oxidants to speed up the process. I'll let time take it's tole.

Moral of the story- If you clean a piece, it may take another 60 years to repatina to that nice dark gray. I'd like to hear from someone who cleaned a piece a couple decades back and now see where the patina is at.

Nearly 5 years later. The age patina is very subtle. A soft gray color. However, there is still a fair degree of reflection and shine when exposed to a flash.

This image was taken about 2 years ago.

Doesn�t the Simi chrome leave a fine coating (sealer) that would prevent the air from contacting the silver plate thus inhibiting Patina?

I would agree with WW2, I think that many polishes are designed not only to clean, but to inhibit the patina process.
Otherwise I would say that it has to do with the blend of metals in the fittings. The higher the silver content, the quicker and darker the patina.
I have an Alcoso Heer which was polished to a SHINE (by the seller) that I bought 4 years ago, today it is DARK. So it definately did not take long...

The Semichrome has a small content of silcon in the product, which theoretically should create and impermeable barrier to protect the piece from continued oxidation. I've found though that not to be the case. Other pieces that Semichrome was used to clean have repatinad at a much faster rate. I would surmise Johnny nailed it when he referred to the fittings composite metals. This piece too is an Alcoso, but for some reason she hit a plateau with reoxidation. No Renwax on this one either. I intentionally avoided the museum wax to encourage patina process to continue.

Tom,

Semichrome is basically made up of a compound called 'rare earth' suspended in an oil base. Probably oleum instead of a silicone base. "Rare earth' is a pink color, superfine mineral based abrasive used in the glass trade to polish out minute scratches. It also comes in a powder form and is used with water to make a slurry that is worked with a felt bob.

You may want to wash the parts that were semichromed to remove any residual oil that remains so the parts can re-patinate without interference.

Hope this helps.

Tony

quote:

Originally posted by Tony:

You may want to wash the parts that were semichromed to remove any residual oil that remains so the parts can re-patinate without interference.

Hope this helps.

Tony

Sunlight also speeds up the process, nice sunny window ledge for a year or two, preferably an upstairs one where it would not be seen.

Nolan