Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Antique Metal Restoration

2003

I am a collector of antiques, and have many pieces made of copper, brass, aluminum, steel, iron alloys, chrome plated, etc.

21409-1
Brass decay

21409-2
Chrome decay

Is there is a good book or reference source on how to deal with these issues. My major problems presently deal with decay of chrome plating and brass degradation.

Thanks,

Harold Boxenbaum
- North Potomac, Maryland, USA

There should be such a book, and I'm sure museum curators must deal with problems like this, but I'm not aware of it.

I am not a collector, but I would not find the 'brass decay' a problem at all; it only adds a classic look.

The 'chrome decay' is a problem because the substrate is apparently a zinc diecasting and the pits and blooms of zinc corrosion products only get worse. I, too, am curious about what can be done, and wonder if a clear chromate conversion coating would help.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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