I feel that it's time I put my 2 groats worth in on this matter and squashed
some misconceptions.

Firstly, waxes have been used by metals conservators for over a hundred years
as a consolidant for corroded iron (Salzer 1887; Plenderleith, 1956; Organ and
Shorer, 1962; Western Australian Museum 1981).

Secondly, wax is not the most efficient material as a water vapour barrier for
corrosion protection (Stevens and Johnson, 1952; Keene, 1984; Kemister, 1996),
but it does provide considerable protection from liquid water and general grease
and moisture from handling.

Thirdly, Renaissance wax  is a mixture of microcrystalline and parrafin waxes,
both of which are petroleum derivatives (Plenderleith and Werner, 1971).
Foundries use many materials that any self-respecting metals conservator would
be loathe to use.

Fourthly, iron corrosion is not necessarily a thing to be dreaded. Iron
corrosion products such as magnetite (typically formed during electrolyitc
reduction of rusty iron) and iron tannates (formed by the application of tannic
acid to rusty iron) are quite stable, and the application of a wax would not be
to the detriment of the object. Haematite (a part of "red rust") and many of the
iron chloride corrosion products, on the other hand, are quite unstable, and the
application of wax to objects with these corrosion products would more than
likely cause problems in the future.

My advice to Stacey Maung is to get a metals conservator to look at the objects
first. If you still believe that wax is the answer, than I'd recommend soaking
the objects in hot wax for a couple of hours.

George Bailey
Objects Conservator
Australian War Memorial



I agree with the person who wonders why you would consider wiping wax on
corrision, thus creating an atmosphere that would actually encourage the
deterioration of your objects.
In addition, foundries are loathe to use microcrystalline wax, as it is
petroleum based and instead use a product called Renaissance Wax.  IT is
available from foundry suppliers.


New York State Museum
Conservator/Preparator
518-283-9005
[log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 07/24/01 04:45PM >>>
I am researching microcrystalline waxes to help preserve metal artifacts and
have several questions.

First, what is the most economical type of application, wax, etc.  I would
like to avoid using spirits to apply the wax if at all possible.  Second, I
have a large amount of seriously corroded artifacts that will not stand up
to "wiping" the wax as a method of application.  What is the most prefered
method of heating the wax-is the "hair dryer" approach acceptable or is it
better to dip the artifacts into a heated vat of wax?

Any help would be much appreciated, as well as anything else I may have not
have thought of.

Thanks.

Stacey Maung

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