Lot of Tsuba preservation

[cnk1]

Good morning everybody,

 

I have acquired this lot of Tsuba, maybe 5-7 years ago, and I would like to know if there is something I can do to preserve it ? I'm talking about preservation and not restoration because I don't have the knowledge to restore it and don't want to commit any stupid thing trying to overestimate my abilities. I have previously restored northern african/middle east knives and daggers but being a beginner in this field I prefer to ask before doing anything, I've read some topics where people show their works on restoration/preservation but once again I don't have their knowledge and skills.

 

What do you think about this 5 examples ? Is there anything I could do or should I leave it the way it is ?

 

#1

 

 

#2

 

#3

 

#4

 

#5

 

Thanks a lot for your help !

[Shugyosha]

Bonjour Clement,

On the tsuba where there is active red rust I would try to neutralise that to avoid it damaging the surface further. With sword blades what is usually suggested is wrapping in cloth or newspaper soaked in mineral oil WD40 will do or anything that used around the house. If you wrap them fairly tightly and leave for a few weeks, when you take it off it should take some of the rust away with it and the rest should settle down and not cause further damage. You can then decide what you want to do with them and the ones that are less damaged, but I understand that it takes some patience. If you do a search on the internet or on here for "tsuba fussing" you'll get the idea - it usually involves working on the corroded bits with something softer than the steel such as bone, horn or wooden toothpicks.

 

This will start you off and the work was commended by Ford Hallam who is the man with the deepest knowledge on this subject on here:

 

 

Bon courage!

 

[Spartancrest]

Welcome to the forum.  

Some more threads for you to look at Clement.  They all involve bone or ivory awls or scrapers. From the look of your pieces only number 1 and number 5 have active rust. The others have either lost their patina or have patchy patina possibly from previous 'over-cleaning'. Put them in your pocket [preferably cotton] and just "fuss" with them from time to time [rub them about]. There are patination formulas but I would try the cotton cloth method first. At the very least none of your pieces has inlays to worry about, which should mean easier work.

 

[cnk1]

Hello John, hello Dale,

 

many thanks for your help ! I will follow your recommendations, #1 and #5 will be wrapped in oiled clothes and I'll will try to put others in my jean's pocket. I like this method, could be long before seeing results but not too agressives.... nice things take times 

 

I'll keep you inform about the evolution !

 

Thanks again