Is it possible to restore the patina?

[Richard]

There are some coin envelopes made out of a high sulphur content paper that have been used by coin dealers for years to "color" a coin. They can cause rainbow hues on silver if left in the right amount of time (desireable for a coin but perhaps not so for an EK) but will turn darker and darker approaching black if left in longer. The process is still pretty slow and can take a year or so. The good thing about the length of time it takes is that you can continue to monitor it and stop when you think it has patinated enough. Anything that is rapid, you may not be able to control as easily.
Richard V

[Steinar]

wow a nice bunch of tips here, you guys are the greatest

I'm not sure if i have the guts to mess with an EK2 but it's nice to know that there are options
I will wait and see, I might end up causing damage to this Zimmermann, and that would REALLY ruin a good day/week

[Tiger 1]

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here for a moment.

We now seem to have the solution to a problem. BUT!!!!!

What wasn't mentioned (or I missed it) is what vintage the EK was in need of being worked on.

Why you may ask?

Because if the EK is of TR vintage there is NO silver in the frame. It's neusilber or more commonly known as nicklesilver or German silver. Yes the egg trick may color this non silver bearing metal but in a way that may not be consistant with natural patina. Silver and nicklesilver patina in different hues and shades.

Something to carefully think about before messing with it some more and possibly having to further clean off a bad result.

Knowing all the facts before starting any effort to 'restore' is a must.

Leave it be and let time return it to where it should be naturally.

All the best,

Tony

[Ammersee]

Tiger, it's funny how your post contradicts your signature.
Ammersee

[Tiger 1]

Tiger, it's funny how your post contradicts your signature.
Ammersee

Which signature? There are two.

Tony

[Stahlhelm]

As Paul R. mentioned earlier, I would also advise first applying any of these re-patinating substances to some unimportant object with the same metal content and, better yet, in the same condition. That way, if you choose to do this, you can at least first test the results, in order to hopefully avoid being surprised and regretful.

Chris

[Steinar]

If anyone wants to see the cross, heres the link:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...03#post2706403

[adlerfan53]

Leave it be and time will do the rest. The liver sulpher is very tricky and can do more than you expected. It is a must that you do experiment first. In the other post I stated I had cleaned a '65 just to see what it would look like. That was over a year ago and the patina is already returning. A little longer and it will be back to the way it was. Oh yea, I got all the patina out of the corners so it didn't look too bad. The new patina is even and looks really natural like it should.

[wh014d4394]

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!!

then the cross would open pat. with the heat trust me

[Steinar]

I'll leave this poor baby alone poor thing

[Steinar]

Let's pray for a quick returning patina

[Stahlhelm]

I'll leave this poor baby alone poor thing

I think that's the best decision, Steinar. At least that way, there'll be no surprises.

Chris

[RMR]

coin dealers in england i have known use Domestos which is household bleach the beauty of which is you can apply to very small areas with a fine paint brush thus not touching the core. It is allmost instant and when the dark shade required is reached can be stopped instantly with water,try a corner and see.regards RMR

[Steinar]

great tip... thanks

[Tiger 1]

coin dealers in england i have known use Domestos which is household bleach the beauty of which is you can apply to very small areas with a fine paint brush thus not touching the core. It is allmost instant and when the dark shade required is reached can be stopped instantly with water,try a corner and see.regards RMR

Bleach is very reactive to many metals. If you are not 100% sure of the metal composition you may be in for a very, very nasty surprise. Bleach will corrode and pit some metals really fast.

Let it be. The more something is f*cked with it doesn't get any better.

Tony