Olive oil as a conservant.

[Matchlock]

Hi Dmitry and Ibrahiim,

It is true that microcrystalline way has established in museum conservation since at least 30 years. I too used it very often when working for museums.

Regarding those pieces I treated with microcrystalline wax some 30 years ago I cannot see any negative outcome, they are still rust free today.

I for my part, as I have often stated here, keep it with Dmitry sticking to the traditional conservation method by olive oil which has proved to preserve arms in arsenals for may hundreds of years.

Best,
Michael

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Hi Dmitry and Ibrahiim,

It is true that microcrystalline way has established in museum conservation since at least 30 years. I too used it very often when working for museums.

Regarding those pieces I treated with microcrystalline wax some 30 years ago I cannot see any negative outcome, they are still rust free today.

I for my part, as I have often stated here, keep it with Dmitry sticking to the traditional conservation method by olive oil which has proved to preserve arms in arsenals for may hundreds of years.

Best,
Michael

Salaams Matchlock~I agree however (and I use olive oil here because it seems to work well enough on my 150 or so weapons and its cheap and quick) renaissance wax wasn't available decades ago...so I wonder what they used then> Goosegrease?... they certainly used that on their arrows to reduce drag and pierce armour..

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[Dmitry]

Again, our posts have crossed, Michael.
I once tried to remove the Ren.Wax from a blade. And I couldn't do it. I tried Acetone, a couple of commercial solvents, and still the white patches of wax wouldn't come off. Apparently it's possible to remove with special solvents, under lab conditions.

One might ask - why on Earth did you try to remove the wax?
Answer - I had put a very thin layer of it on a perfectly shiny nicely etched blade, and the sheen became dull, as the wax creeped into the miniscule pores in the metal, which were not evident to the naked eye.

Just my $.02..

[Matchlock]

Hi Dmitry,

This of course is the one question almost never asked: how can that wax be removed?

With the wax I used (it was mixed for me by a concervation company) I always succeeded rubbing it off with acetone. Sometimes I remember rubbing hard and trying several times, somtimes using a piece of wood soaked in acetone. To hear it does not work probably depends on the solvent originally used in your wax.

Anyway, warming the metal should get to wax our of those pittings as well.

If it does not, I suggest just ignoring it is there and applying a thick layer of olive oil above it. It should work.

Sadly I am not experienced in chemistry myself.

Best,
Michael

[cornelistromp]

Originally Posted by Dmitry

Again, our posts have crossed, Michael.
I once tried to remove the Ren.Wax from a blade. And I couldn't do it. I tried Acetone, a couple of commercial solvents, and still the white patches of wax wouldn't come off. Apparently it's possible to remove with special solvents, under lab conditions.

One might ask - why on Earth did you try to remove the wax?
Answer - I had put a very thin layer of it on a perfectly shiny nicely etched blade, and the sheen became dull, as the wax creeped into the miniscule pores in the metal, which were not evident to the naked eye.

Just my $.02..

Renaissance wax can easily be removed with white spirit.(terpetine)

best,

[Matchlock]

Originally Posted by cornelistromp

Renaissance wax can easily be removed with white spirit.(terpetine)

best,

Right, Jasper,

Provided that that was the solvent originally used I think ...

That's exactly what I was trying to refer to anyway.

Best,
Michael

[Multumesc]

It may well preserved with silicone oil for weapons.

[broadaxe]

Originally Posted by Multumesc

It may well preserved with silicone oil for weapons.

Indeed. What was done in the past is not necessarily good. Olive oil is NOT a good preservative, as it contains acids and water, and it hardens to a thick film that would jamm any fine mechanism.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by broadaxe

... and it hardens to a thick film that would jamm any fine mechanism.