Preservation
I am a believer in vaseline and olive oil (small amount) for use on medals and badges. It stops Zn pest and makes the surface look good, but it must be a light coat as it attracts dust particles that can contain contaminates that can damage a surface, so you must keep the item inside a glass case (that breaths, but does not allow too much dust into the area).
While WD40 works, I am very afraid of this product. It tends to penetrate and, over time, seeps into the surface and will pop up chrome plating and paint and may actually cause damage to the surface. On some metals, it tends to darken over time. Not a product that I would use.
Virgin Olive Oil on solid metals, such as brass and bronze, is by far the best. Easy to control, seals the surface and gives a great look to the finish, but all this is JMO and years of storage and research.
If you store silver finish items or silver plated items, anti-tarnish silver cloth makes a great storage container. It prevents tarnish and stops darkening of silver finishes, provided the moisture level is kept low.
REMEMBER, when humidity moves above 50%, rust can form easily. Also dust particles contain contaminates that will promote rust and hold moisture to the surface. If anything is coated with an oil product when humidity is higher than 50%, it will hold the moisture in contact with the surface and any dirt left behind for darkening and a bad experience.
USE A DEHUMIDIFIER, either electric or circulatory.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria
I am a believer in vaseline and olive oil (small amount) for use on medals and badges. It stops Zn pest and makes the surface look good, but it must be a light coat as it attracts dust particles that can contain contaminates that can damage a surface, so you must keep the item inside a glass case (that breaths, but does not allow too much dust into the area).
While WD40 works, I am very afraid of this product. It tends to penetrate and, over time, seeps into the surface and will pop up chrome plating and paint and may actually cause damage to the surface. On some metals, it tends to darken over time. Not a product that I would use.
Virgin Olive Oil on solid metals, such as brass and bronze, is by far the best. Easy to control, seals the surface and gives a great look to the finish, but all this is JMO and years of storage and research.
If you store silver finish items or silver plated items, anti-tarnish silver cloth makes a great storage container. It prevents tarnish and stops darkening of silver finishes, provided the moisture level is kept low.
REMEMBER, when humidity moves above 50%, rust can form easily. Also dust particles contain contaminates that will promote rust and hold moisture to the surface. If anything is coated with an oil product when humidity is higher than 50%, it will hold the moisture in contact with the surface and any dirt left behind for darkening and a bad experience.
USE A DEHUMIDIFIER, either electric or circulatory.
Ron Weinand
Weinand Militaria
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