First experience with cleaning

[GoldenDrachen]

Hello everyone

 

Some time ago I have bought practically trashed koshirae (

)

 

It has arrived, and I wanted to try cleaning some bits. Started with fuchi, kashira and menuki

This is what I had:

 

 

 

Very quick cleaning gave me these results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need now a microscope and  more tools.

 

Does anyone know how to fix black (well, not exactly black, more like very very deep brown, chocolate like colour) on them?

I reckon, that the whole piece was initially treated with some traditional patina solution, and "golden" details were burnished at later stage...

 

Edges and some raised pars lost it before I touched it.

Would love to hear any suggestions and comments

 

Regards

Vitaly

 

 

 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Vitaly,

I would stop where you are now. You have cleaned off dirt and grease and you should let well enough alone. Patinas on soft metal fittings often will heal themselves over time. Even if they don't, the wear on your pieces are where they would be expected with use and you may regret any fix you attempt.

Grey

[GoldenDrachen]

10 minutes ago, Grey Doffin said:

Hi Vitaly,

I would stop where you are now. You have cleaned off dirt and grease and you should let well enough alone. Patinas on soft metal fittings often will heal themselves over time. Even if they don't, the wear on your pieces are where they would be expected with use and you may regret any fix you attempt.

Grey

Hi Grey

Thank you for your comment.

I totally understand your point and actually was thinking about that myself. ( This is why I stopped at this stage and didn't go any further)

 

 

 

 

[dimitri]

Hello Vitaly,
Very nice work, the result is fantastic, so how did you proceed? toothbrush and soap or other things?

[GoldenDrachen]

47 minutes ago, dimitri said:

Hello Vitaly,
Very nice work, the result is fantastic, so how did you proceed? toothbrush and soap or other things?

Thank you!

The  Other things I have used: 

I made small  horsehair brush. Used it with a compound called "Pre Lim" by Renaissance.

Then I heat up the metal ( with hot air gun, at 300° C) and applied micro Crystalline wax by the same company .

I will experiment with other known me solutions (i.e  tannic acid etc ) along with different self made tools.

 

 

[dimitri]

Thank you very much 🙏