Need some advice on cleaning this button

[M40bnk]

Need some help getting some details off this eagle I button I dug a few weeks ago. I brushed it when I dug it but I would like to get some more details out of it for display. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks.

 

[Jelly_936]

I run mine through a short household ammonia soak and then gently brush under warm water with a little soap. I then repeat as needed until it is down to the bare button and the shiny. I then soak it in lemon juice for a short while and it really brings the shine out. Ren wax and it is good to go.

 

[M40bnk]

Thank you I will have try that I just want to be able to see some more details.

 

[hoser]

Soaking in olive oil has been said to work quite well too. Would like to see a pic when you get it cleaned.

 

[Jelly_936]

I was terribly afraid of cleaning the ones that I have found and was very hesitant to put any type of potentially damaging stuff on it but what I have done to clean mine has not damaged them a bit. You will be very surprised at how much dirt will come off of the button after you soak it in the ammonia. Just gently brush it with an old toothbrush or something of the sort and do it in smaller increments, meaning don't soak it overnight and clean it the next day. Just do a little at a time until you are comfortable with it. You will like the look I suspect when it is all done. Good Luck and good find!

 

[M40bnk]

Thank you I will post a cleaned picture after I get it clean

 

[Jelly_936]

Did your button turn out good?

 

[bottlecap4u]

Careful....knowing the metal makeup and maintaining favorable patina of the button is important prior to cleaning it. Copper reacts badly to caustics and acidic compounds, steer clear of it. precious metals such as silver and do better with lemon juice, even C.L.E.A.R., lime scale remover, (picked that one up from Hoover Boys on YouTube and it does well on silver). Recently learned of a mild technique for copper and brass which I'm using, soap water a soft toothbrush, picking grit with toothpick or graphite pencil, then onto toothbrush again with vegetable oil to pull grit, grime and get definition. Here's a before and after of a brass breastplate I recently found and a copper large cent using this technique. Best advice I can give is experiment first on less valuable items but know your metals and what's recommended for cleaning each type and devices such as toothpicks, pencils and brushes. Good luck.

 

[M40bnk]

Sorry everyone I got moved to a new job for the company I work for so I’ve been real busy. So today I finally found some time to try to get some more details off this button and I think it turned out a little better. Thanks everyone for your help.