Getting the OIL off

[Steve Valentine]

If it's from an old collection it could very well be varnish or a clear laquer. I know a lot of the old time collectors did this to make their artifacts shiny. A buddy of mine got some pieces from his grandfather and every one of them had a black residue on them and it was from them being covered with laquer and then being handled for years. He used fingernail polish remover and let them soak overnight and it all came right off and exposed some beautiful pieces of flint underneath.

[oklasodak]

I agree with MO816. If you are going ahead with the clean-up, try apple vinegar first. I've cleaned a point with it and it works. However, in hindsight I should have left it alone as I've always felt like it was altered by me in an irreversible way.

[MO816]

Okla- I understand what u mean, some points I've left too long it seems in the vinegar and it will strip the patina I'm guessing. I've had points turn cloudy (maybe something to.do with calcium carbonate Idk) once they dry from the vinegar. If I notice they start to do that then after a short while then i take them out.
But like a archaeologist told me, the rock looks like the day it was chipped lol but i still feel like i did take something away from it

[Mud Hawk]

Originally Posted by oklasodak

However, in hindsight I should have left it alone as I've always felt like it was altered by me in an irreversible way.

Horrible feeling isn't it. Same as coins go... especialliy silver. The patina is what adds/preserves value to the coin. Chemically clean it because it looks good all shiney and new and in retrospect you just took away from it's resale value by 50%.

I like points with old breaks. Part of the life and story of an artifact. Let the residue go .