marrauder Posted January 5, 2012 Share Posted January 5, 2012 Hello, I just purchased this EK2, marked SW or IW (first letter is not fully stamped), very good looking and interesting, because the core is not painted, but... blackened? blued? I compared it with my 1870 pieces, and it is surely not the same kind of blackening. Then I compared it with blued cores seen here on the forum, and it is not the same as well. Can you help me to identify the process, and also the best way of maintenance? (as you see, some white sh*t started to appear on the reverse). Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 reverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregM Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Looks like a good SW cross. Early cores were blakened not painted. Not sure of the process however. The best maintenece is IMO to just lightly remove any dirt or looses debri with an old tooth brush, then keep it in a clean dry enviroment. I am not fan of oiling iron cores or polishing silver frames. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Thanks for reply. Do you think this core is cast or struck? It looks quite porous... All I know about process of blackening the 1870 crosses is that it was so called natural, or false blackening, not chemical blackening as it is known today to every blacksmith around. I am not fun of polishing silver frames (or medals) too. Anyway as you see, there is nothing to polish. And if the toothbrush would work, I will obey also the second part of your advice. Btw, it is not - IMO - silver frame. It is not seen correctly on my photos taken with flashlight, but it is whiter and it lacks the deep glitter of solid silver. I would give some chance to the statement that this is alluminium frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Hmmm... aluminium sounds strange. Looks like a nice piece, from the pics I would have no problem having it in the collection. best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregM Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) More than likely, it is NueSilber. I have a couple crosses I believe to be made of NueSilber Edited January 6, 2012 by gregM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saschaw Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 And I'm pretty sure it's real silver, as I'm with any awarded WW1 era cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Thanks Chris, it is really nice piece. Greg, you mean Neusilber (nickel silver). Can´t agree or disagree, because I haven´t enough experiences. All I can say is that neusilber contains 20% zinc, so maybe this explains the appearance of white corrosion (zinc pest) near the reverse crown. Just idea... Sascha, this is not my first EK2 1914, even not the first SW cross. If it is silver, it is very strange silver with some additives. I repeat again, don´t rally on my pictures very much, because the flashlight of camera from no distance forced also this matt frame to act like glossy silver. But in reality it looks like matt-polished aluminium in Audi interior (sorry me for comparison, haven´t other). And, as I said, it is comparably whiter metal than silver... All I can do (tomorrow) is to compare the weight of two SW crosses I have. The other one is typical silver frame-painted core SW. Again, thanks for your opinions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 6, 2012 Author Share Posted January 6, 2012 Maybe this will be more helpful. These crosses were photographed under same conditions, same camera, same time. On the left is common SW cross (painted, silver frame). On the right is discussed blackened EK. The difference between these two metals is clearly visible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny70 Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 It looks to me like it has just been polished in the past. That could explain the white residue on the core also. Regards - Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 7, 2012 Author Share Posted January 7, 2012 I gave up ideas about aluminium. Discussed piece is 2 grams heavier than common (painted) SW cross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagahr Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) hy Marrauder .. I have publisched some info about silver on my site also defining the difference between casted and pressed iron cores http://ironcross.vpweb.nl/default.html http://ironcross.vpw...lver-facts.html about the collor off your ek frame I can say there are lists fore the silveralloi solder and the silveralloi used fore the products . there you wil find also a colloring note fore the different alloi's used (.also the poisones ones ) regards kay Edited January 8, 2012 by hagahr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagahr Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 (edited) by the way ,,be careful I strongly advising all collectors to be careful with these crosses the more info I gain and analyse,,,,,, about production method's jewellers seem to have . the more I get concerned about the common poison materials they seem to have used . there is no telling what was used in the frame and soldering off these crosses . and what is still in there regards kay Edited January 8, 2012 by hagahr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Thanks Kay! Great posts, thanks. I know your site. Just few days ago I read your silver tests. But I think I have no chance to find out, if it is weiss, gelblich weiss, or fast weiss. I think you mean mainly that kadmium and zinn content pieces. But anyway, what do you mean by being careful? You mean contact with skin, or is it dangerous also in the wooden box, where it is stored? What also interests me is the effect it can cause on other crosses (I have box for 12 pieces). Btw, interesting things I´ve read also about neusilber. Longer receiving of small doses causes cirrhosis. Warning for TR variant hunters :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagahr Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 being careful is meaning ,,keep in mind they used cadmium on a regular basis I cant be certain its used in the ek production but ,,,, using gloves is not a bad advice fore the future . just in case they used the wrong materials that can be harmful fore your health . and sure ,,don't used ek's as a lolly regards kay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 8, 2012 Author Share Posted January 8, 2012 Thanks kay. gregM adviced me toothbrush for cleaning the cores, so surely he didn´t mean actual one, hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregM Posted January 8, 2012 Share Posted January 8, 2012 I did say a used tooth brush. Hopefully not the one you still use on your teeth buy hay, what you put in your mouth is your business :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrauder Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 :D I would be more afraid of that crosses than of my mouth, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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