![]() The trick with the jelly is to let the product do the work, do not scrub the button. Practice on a less desirable button before using this method on a rare one. As such, I only use this method when dry tooth picking fails to break through heavy corrosion or if heavy intact gilt is present. While some collectors don’t mind it, I personally prefer the original green patina intact. Warning on aluminum jelly, if gilt is thin or patchy - this product will leave the button with a burnt reddish look. I prefer this natural look, but feel free to experiment on your buttons.įor buttons that possess most of the original gilt, aluminum jelly is an alternate means of exposing the underlying detail. Application of aluminum jelly will enhance the gold gilt, however at the expense of the green patina. As you can see, gilt is present, however not complete. To the right are imagines of a Navy federal eagle button, cleaned via tooth pick method and sealed with a light coat of Vaseline. Once the design and maker’s mark are visible, apply a little Vaseline to darken the contrast and protect the surface. Often times, the metal is thin and fragile so use care not to punch through the surface. Unlike flat button, use only light surface pressure. This allows the patina to remain in the grooves where the back mark is stamped, making the letters visible. Then, holding the toothpick at an angle, etch away the dirt in layers, taking care to leave the dirt in the grooves. Once the button is dry, use a soft bristle tooth brush to remove the heavy surface dirt. ![]() The dry tooth pick method is similar to the flat button tutorial illustrated on this website.
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