Before & After. Why cleaning isn't always bad

[all1knew]

Hello,

Going off on a side tangent, what would rubbing alcohol do to the frame on an issued EK_2? I have used a 70% formula once or twice on some really dirty examples and the results are good, but does anyone know if prolonged use of this will cause damage?

William Kramer

[CurtD]

And how many of the "mint" crosses that are sold and everybody ohhs and ahhs about have had this done without anyone knowing about it?

To me, the cleaned cross looks a lot like a "Russian Horde" cross.

How were those crosses able to stay so shiny after all those years when silver naturally tarnishes if left uncleaned?

[Douglas 5]

Interesting thread ;
My choice , not to clean ,....have seen what it does to coins and values .
Natural tarnish is nice and represents age . Preserving the metal from actual corrosion would be coating it , that would seal it from the air , what would be a choice of the owner .
Alcohol contains water......+ steel ....= rust , even if so slowly , moisture in the air is all it takes once it starts . Acid free and a dark tight coin holder has kept mine from changing at all for the last 35 years .
Minimal wear, 2 months , ...so a true mint issued EK2 .... I would never clean .
On early pieces 'rainbow color' tarnish is natural , as seen on this piece , sun light and contact... the silver has reacted a bit with the laquer coating !
In keeping with regulation the receipient could not wear it , so he put it away !
Lucky , to say the least , surviving in this condition .
Regards, Douglas

[Hofstetter]

I'd like to say what a good job you have done on this cross,
it really does look good. However how many crosses might be ruined ( to a certain extent ) by trying to get a similar result. Most people who will, and have, tried to clean their crosses will have a negative result i think.
I wonder how many David has cleaned before he is skilled enough to be able to clean this one so well.
I had cleaned the silver edge of a cross i once had, and to me, totally destroyed the character of it , and i had to sell it as i was never happy with it.
I don't believe the biuld up of patenia will destroy the metal,any medal kept out of the eliments is going to last a thousand years ( like the reich was supposed to ) . I don't believe a mild cleaning will destroy the crosses either , but their character, definately.
As nice as this cross looks , give me a dirty, wheathered , maybe even run over by a tank type cross , as long as the abuse was done in war time ( not by cleaning ) any day.
Greg