Leaded lights

[Sonyaclegg]

I am preparing the house ready for the big move and I'm cleaning, cleaning and cleaning in a never ending fight against dust. I've been cleaning the windows and I've noticed the lead seems to be corroded in parts but just on the surface. There is a white hue to some parts of the lead. How can I restore the lead back to how it should be?

 

[DJH]

Right up my street Sonya, this one. I'm reluctant to go through all the obscure recipe's for achieving a dark patination on the surface of lead. I'm guessing that the problem you have (lead carbonate) is on the inside of your windows and is more than likely happening because of condensation forming on the glass and running down into the came. Condensation is distilled water which we all know attacks lead which is why we top up our car batteries with it.

After wiping off and drying the affected areas you could apply some black shoe polish to the came allowing the polish to fill up any spaces between the came and the glass. If you use this method then you'll more than likely have to do the whole window so that you achieve uniformity of colour.

I've just rummaged through the workshop and found a small bottle of 'black-it' which is primarily used to darken the solder used on the joints after repairs. The choice is yours...





If you Google these people I'm sure they will let you know where it's available.

You could rub some Patination Oil ( if you happen to know a roofer who has some) which, if used should be rubbed over unaffected lead and, without turning the cloth over, keep rubbing at it until the colour dulls down.

If you can stop condensation forming ( :lol: ) the problem shouldn't reoccur...

Most of the chemicals I used to use were of doubtful provenance and used primarily to age the surface of lead statues etc to make them look older...

Doug

PS The family, our summer visitors for the school holidays have just gone out and I'm having a secret KiKat CHUNKY.

 

[Sonyaclegg]

A chunky.....are they permitted?!

Thank you for the good advice. I will give your suggestions a go and report back.

 

[DJH]

I'm not sure either but being a KitKat virgin I'm not aware of the protocols.

An old fashioned remedy for leaded lights used to replace missing 'cement' (in fact this method was used on new lights) was to cover everything with a mixture of wood ash and boot polish working it well into the edge of the came (calm) and then polishing it from the glass the next day. I've never done that myself though but I can see the advantage of having everything the same colour, lead, cement and solder and would also give it some protection from condensation as it would wipe off easily from the polished surface of the lead..

Doug

 

[LadyArowana]

I'm not sure either but being a KitKat virgin I'm not aware of the protocols.

Doug

Well you could always start with something exotic, there are limited edition Japanese ones on e.Bay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japanese-...ox-3-mini-bars-green-tea-Kitkat-/251311041003 ( Penners won't approve, he's very old school when it comes to kit kats ) :lol:

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Well, I'm off to the house for the day tomorrow. I will clean away the layers of muck and see what I'm left with and try out your suggestions. I would like uniform dark coloured lead.

Lady A, as for Green Tea Kit Kats, I'm not sure at all! But I could get six Nectar points for buying them on EBay.....