UBB.threads Forums General Interest Restoration, Conservation, and Maintenance Forum Patina & The Egg Meathod

This technique was pointed out on another fourm. Using hardboiled eggs sulfur content can induce patinazation. I tried it with a small fitting, and it works. It actually looks quite good. But clearly is cheating.

The meathod would be valuable for individuals who cleaned a dagger and whom later regret it.

http://beading.consumerhelpweb.com/basics/reference/oxidize.htm

Your piece may smell a bit afterward, but the meathod definitley works. Just something to keep in mind.

Why would you characterize this as "cheating" unless you are doing it to deliberately to deceive someone?

It's not cheating in the malicous sense of the word. However, it is cheating in the sense that the process circumvents the natural progression. That being said, I don't consider myself a "nauralist" collector so it really doesn't havy an impact on me. I have no intention to part with this piece, and if I ever do, it will be incumbant on me to notify a prospective buyer.

I don't think it is cheating but it is restoration of a patina. Sort of the opposite of cleaning if you will. Since you are applying an age type of finish (not one from the factory) instead of removing it that is a good question.

I appreciate the information on the egg method. I often tend to clean an item and then let it tone down again over the months and years. This just speeds up the process to my mind.

Over the years I've seen collectors sniff an item to see if it has that 'old musty' odor about it.....have done it myself on cloth and leather.....now I gotta watch out for 'egg odor' on daggers & medals......
Interesting post .....I have to try it....

I've added a photo to give you guys an idea of what the results were. The dagger was sealed in the "egg bag" for between 4 and five minutes. The goal was to add just a hint of darkening and to finish taking that lustery edge off.

I had written a dissertation on WAF on the topic, and I don't want to revist that dissertation here. If anyone is interested, you'll find my opinion and posture in the thread over there. Those of you who know me, probably alread know what my fellings are on the issue of dissassembly, cleaning and preservation.

Take care friends and good collecting,
t

As I said, this one is also being discussed at WAF. Tony has brought up some good points about the possible negative effects of this meathod. The daggers exposure was very limited and I remain confident it won't sustain any longer term negative consequences, but only time will tell.

If the reaction time is faster, keep us posted. Thank you for your sacrificial dagger

Henry

I don't consider it sacrificed. Lke I said, i'm failry confident the pieve will not suffer any adverse impact. Time will tell. I intend to report the progess of the pieve every few months. This may provide a little more insight about the procedure, long term.

haha you did stirr up the the hornets over there
always a chancy place to post anything controversial like that. anyhow as a rule of thumb me thinks if it ain't broke don't mess with it. I absolutely never shine nothing it has done it's job and there it lies. The one rule breaker is green verdigris it gets wiped.
That egg thing is a chemical reaction and therefore dangerous to the arteries to

I think this is such a disgustingly deceptive technique to pass on, but it seems that deception is such a key-element in collecting nowadays, doesn't it?

I had concerns about how the technique would be used as well. Almost like letting the genie out of a bottle. I feared that someone who had questionable scruples would see the technique and think it's just the medicine he was looking for to peddle that parts dagger of his.
As such, I was reluctant to report to results..which like I said, are suprisingly convincing. Upon very close inspection, there are a few giveaways. Perhaps if a piece is treated for more than just a few minutes, the patina becomes even better. I don't know. But, seeing the results in hand, the very subtle indicators could be picked out to identify a piece possibly treated in this fashion.

Paul, it certainly was like tossing a stick into the hive. Stirring up the group sometimes is a good thing. Raise some pulses from time to time

Do you mean to say you put the dagger in the bag as you show it in your photo? Handle, sheath and all?
I find that hard to believe...Please explain..was it just the dagger or just the sheath?
What exactly did you patina and do you have befor photo's?

Thanks, Jerry Burney

quote:

The dagger was sealed in the "egg bag" for between 4 and five minutes.

very interesting article on patinazation,, Robert

I found the article interesting and I don't think that it would devalue any dagger that was subjected to this process. Many daggers are TOO cleaned, like 2nd Luft's for example.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by paulbear:
haha you did stirr up the the hornets over there
always a chancy place to post anything controversial like that. anyhow as a rule of thumb me thinks if it ain't broke don't mess with it. I absolutely never shine nothing it has done it's job and there it lies. The one rule breaker is green verdigris it gets wiped.
That egg thing is a chemical reaction and therefore dangerous to the arteries to

I agree with paulbear if it ain't broke don't fix it, i too have learned the hard way when first started out collecting i shined up everything w/semichrome bad move as it took away the natural aging when all was done i regreted doing it. yea it was shiny and all but lost it's character now i leave them alone and just put wax on the blade. I wounder how this will react over time. I'll be looking for you updates on the progress.

EW