Cleaning buttons

[RonNH]

Anyone on here ever used a coin tumbler to clean buttons? I have used wet / dry paper on some and they really bring out some cool designs but it is a lot of rubbing. I know the tumblers clean up clad enough so you can roll them and cash em in but I was wondering how it would work on old buttons. Just looking for something to do during these snowy winter days. Ron

 

[Jeff In North Georgia]

Ron,

A lot of Relic hunters use "Aluminum Jelly" to clean uniform buttons. You may want to give it a try?

Jeff

 

[TONE JUNKY]

Hey Ron, tumbling the buttons will take off the orginal petina & expose more pitting than you can see before cleaning. I cleaned some old buttons myself & they don't look natural. Some relic hunters say it ruins them.

 

[RonNH]

I wouldn't try tumbling any valuable buttons, I just want to clean up the plain, flat buttons for display. I know it would ruin them but I want to see them like they looked when they were worn on a coat or whatever. Ron

 

[brnn53]

Aluminum jelly on buttons that only show some gilt. It will darken the others.
Mike

 

[jeff & Maria]

n/t