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Jeff(WD45-SATX-TN) 
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Sewanee, TN
Points: 443
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 Topic: What should I do - Pic
Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 9:20am |
Many of you have seen the cuff links, tie clips, and other items that were my Grand Dad's. My plan is to build a display case for all of these pieces. Now, what do you think, should I clean these items up, or leave them in the state they are in?
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1954 WD45 NF "Iron Tater"
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Skyhighballoon(MO)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Pilot Grove, MO
Points: 3115
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 9:44am |
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Jeff - cleaning and shining them up with some metal polish to me is like washing and waxing an old tractor with the original paint. When you are done it's still original. If you bead-blasted and re-plated them it'd be like doing a "restoration" on them. My opinion - go head and clean & shine them up. Mike
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1981 Gleaner F2 Corn Plus w 13' flex
1968 Gleaner EIII w 10' & 330
1969 180 gas
1965 D17 S-IV gas
1963 D17 S-III gas
1956 WD45 gas NF PS
1956 All-Crop 66 Big Bin
303 wire baler, 716H, 712H mowers
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LannyMTN
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Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Location: Middle TN
Points: 120
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 10:00am |
Jeff, I'm with Mike on this. Polish, shine, preserve, display securely, and wear on special occasions.
Lanny
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Alberta Phil
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Location: Alberta, Canada
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 10:04am |
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I agree. Cleaning and polishing is preserving them. Some of that corrosion on some of those metals will eventually deteriorate them.
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FloydKS
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: S E Kansas
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 10:51am |
In the antique business they talk about "patina" ..that is the natural ageing of things... so for those pieces that look good naturally you could leave em as is....and for those things that are deteriorating (as has been mentioned) you could keep them looking good.
most important enjoy them.....
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JimD
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Location: Mounds, OK
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 11:45am |
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Having dealt in antiques, to keep the money value at a max, leave them alone. If you want to enjoy looking at the, clean an polish them. But you will remove some value when you polish. Carefull celaning is usually safe, just don't be agressive.
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Jeff(WD45-SATX-TN)
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Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: Sewanee, TN
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 12:19pm |
Thanks everyone for the input here. It is much appreciated!
These are priceless items in my book and would never be for sale. So I am just going to do as you all have suggested, and lightly clean. Most of the discoloration is due to heat and I think soot. Seems to scrape off with my fingernail. Most should clean up quite nice.
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1954 WD45 NF "Iron Tater"
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kblank05
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Joined: 27 Oct 2009
Location: arcanum ohio
Points: 45
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 4:01pm |
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go to the local harbor freight tools and buy one of those cheap little ultrasonic tanks, those things work wonders, got one for the girlfriend and she uses it to clean her jewlery i think they are around 30 bucks and once youre done take it to the shop and use it on whatevers.
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morton(pa)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Lancaster, PA
Points: 1234
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 5:42pm |
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I wouldn't put to use anything from harbor freight on something that is as priceless as these pieces, but thats just my opinion...
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Coke-in-MN
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Afton MN
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 5:49pm |
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Using a Ultra-sound cleaning device would be best , DO NOT use anything to rub or scrub the parts, "patina' from aging is natural beauty on these and not something that distracts from them . If you have several of the same pieces , you might want to clean the worst ones to see how it turns out , but most i would leave in Natural state for both use and display.
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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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GBACBFan
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Location: Green Bay WI
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Posted: 21 Oct 2010 at 7:43pm |
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Morton, you're looking at Harbor Freight all wrong. When you buy an engine pic or engine stand, it's your opportunity to get back some of the AC tractors and equipment that were sent to China.
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