Is it possible to restore the patina?

[Steinar]

Hello all

I just got this very nice EK2, its clearly cleaned, the corners are almost black from the patina, and a lot of black spots on the frame...I guess they are still there because it was too hard to clean..

The beading also got a nice patina, and on the frame sides I can see a BEAUTIFUL black-ish/dark brown patina but its mainly gone on the frame, on both sides..

I have to ask, I do not expect any miracles but is it possible to restore the patina or give the shiney frame a black/brown patina again without waiting years?

I just can't believe someone can clean away a dark patina like this. I would actually payed more if it had the original patina

I can't show any pictures yet because I just moved, and the cables and crib for my camera is at my old place..

[John F.]

I know that there is a chemical soultion that is used on the solder for stained glass windows called "Black Patina" but I do not know if would work on silver. I would venture to say that there is some soultion on the market that will tarnish silver. I have also heard that you can tarnish silver by using a boiled egg but I have no idea what the process is to do it. However, before you do anything I would do some research because whatever it is you may choose to do may just ruin your medal.

Since the EK2 has already been cleaned, I would recommend that you just clean out the black spots in the corners in order to make the finish even and then let the natural silver tarnishing process take over. I would guess that within a year it will start turning the desired color you are looking to achieve. I know you don't want to wait but a year really isn't that long.

[Leroy]

Steinar,
I wouldn't touch it. Silver that has been polished in the fairly recent past tends to tarnish again pretty rapidly, unless it has been re-coated with a protective layer of some kind. If you just leave it out in an area where there is plently of air circulation, it won't take years to get back to where it was.
Leroy

[Steinar]

Thank you, both of you. I would never touched it unless it was a safe method to restore the patina. I would never harm an EK

I will just let this cross get loads of air and hope for the best, and I won't remove the rest of its old patina because I don't wanna risk destroying the shiney frame as well. The cross deserves to keep the leftovers of it's history, I.E. the small ammounts of patina left. I'll post a few pictures next week.

Poor cross atleast it found a good home

Thannks again

[Paul R.]

There are a few methods on restoring patina safely. However with an EK2. I am concerned with the iron core becoming damp/rusted because of the moisture from this method. A hard boilded egg yoke is the safest way to do it. Here is a link http://beading.consumerhelpweb.com/basics/reference/oxidize.htm It would be hard to control placeing the crumbled yoke on a small edge. Paul

[Steinar]

Thanks Paul R.

I can't risk messing up a fritz zimmermann ek2. The core is 100% perfect, no damage at all. I'll leave it alone this poor thing. Just a bloody shame someone cleaned it

I can understand cleaning off dirt but not a thick layer of dark brown/black patina

[John F.]

There are a few methods on restoring patina... A hard boilded egg yoke is the safest way to do it. Here is a link http://beading.consumerhelpweb.com/basics/reference/oxidize.htm It would be hard to control placeing the crumbled yoke on a small edge. Paul

Paul,

I've heard about the hard boilded egg technique but didn't know how it was done but I do now, thanks for the link.

Best,
John

[Steinar]

Yeah thers no limit to the knowledge the members here got

[Paul R.]

Thanks Steinar, In my line of work I usually never promote this type of alteration on a artifact. However some times for display re-creation pieces have to look old to fit in to a display. Paul

[Ammersee]

The correct material for patinating silver is called "liver sulphur". You can google that name and find numerous places to buy it and recipes for using it.
Sulphur is the ingredient in your eggs that causes the patination, by the way.
Ammersee

[Steinar]

thanks Ammersee, lots of good information on how to get some patina back
Are these the products fakers use to make patina as well?

some fake EK's got an ok-ish patina....

[Ammersee]

Liver sulphur is a very old compound and has been commonly used by jewelers forever. I'm not sure about the fakers. I'm just starting to experiment with it so can't tell you much more than I have. Ammersee

[wh014d4394]

Liver sulphur is a very old compound and has been commonly used by jewelers forever. I'm not sure about the fakers. I'm just starting to experiment with it so can't tell you much more than I have. Ammersee

you got it in one my son. that stuff is A1. will put the crap back on badges ect. in a flash

[Paul R.]

Just an FYI try it on an old piece of silverware or coin first . Paul

[paddywhack]

oh do another ebay faker trick! get a candal and hold it over the flame!! and bingo should sort you out!! to be honest id leave it! i have a GREAT earlyish soviet red star that was scrubbed to an inch of its life and all the patina gone!its coming back now though!!