help!! verdigris on medals

[sandiep]

went into loft today and whilst searching amongst debris etc  found my grandfathers medals that had vanished ages ago.
serves me right for not putting them away properlly one of them has got verdigris badly and it has started to eat into the edge.
Its the great war medal did have a gold look once I am so cross with myself.

so can anyone suggest how to clean off  and be warned look where you store such precious items

sandie

[newbie]

hello, can't help I'm afraid but can I suggest you post a new topic (or ask a nice moderator to move this one) to the Military board,  - hopefully Mack will be around to help, you may have more luck there, or try the Great War Forum, they are really helpful too.
http://www.1914-1918.org/forum/index.php
Newbie

[liverpool annie]

Hi Sandie

This is what they say on British Military Medals!

http://www.britishmilitarymedals.co.uk/cleaningmedals.htm

Annie

[deadants]

If you really want them looking like new, check this site.
http://www.honoursandawards.co.uk/home.htm

[sandiep]

thanks folk problem is I dont want to clean them to remove dirt  but one of them is being damaged by the verdigris obviously the medal  must be made of copper and its being eaten.

had a look at sites but they havent anything will move message to military board  thanks for ideas  sandie

[Hackstaple]

Buy the cheapest olive oil you can find - not vegetable oil. Remove the medal from its ribbon. Wash the medal in clean water and dry. Immerse the medal in the oil and leave for about 3 weeks. Remove and clean off with cotton wool buds. If all verdigris will not come away without trace then put back in the oil. Do not try to remove faint traces of the oil.
[Works on old bronze coins as well - I have a collection of Roman coins].

[PrueM]

Take them to a metals conservator!

Verdigris indicates active corrosion in copper alloys, and it's important to not only treat the symptoms, but to get advice about proper storage to ensure prevention of the problem in future.
You can go to http://www.conservationregister.com/ and search for an objects/metals conservator in your area.

Prue

[sandiep]

thanks think I will try Hackstables suggestion got plenty of Olive oil   thanks again

sandie

[Hackstaple]

Hi Sandie - if this is truly verdigris on the bronze it is soluble in water! Verdigris usually occurs due to acid contamination. In coins and medals that is often from old velvet material in which the dyes were fixed with an acid mordant [fixer].
When it is removed with a very soft brush or swab there will be some pitting left behind - the material which has been changed into copper salts. You can do nothing about that. The olive oil will absorb any other foreign materials. After drying the olive oil quite thoroughly it is advisable to rewrap the medals in acid-free tissue. If it is not more than 38mm across [1.5 inches] I could send you a proper coin pouch or two - safe clear plastic. You would need to PM your address - no charge.
Hack