Cleaning mother of pearl

cmj8591 · Apr 2, 2023

I made a post in the gunsmith section but only got one response so I don't think many people are fooling with this stuff these days. Now I figured I'd ask in a place where someone actually has had to do this. I came into a 1903, Colt hammerless with a set of factory MOP grips that is 113 years old. The gun was full of shellac, inside and out which cleaned up nicely using some Kroil and elbow grease. My problem is what do I do about the grips? They seem to be in pretty good shape but they are covered with the same gunk. I'm thinking I will need to get a little aggressive with them but I don't want to use the wrong stuff and ruin them. What do you guys do with MOP?

H Richard · Apr 2, 2023

Sounds like a neat gun. I would start with a mild detergent, such as Dawn dish washing solution, and only paper towel's as harshest scrubbing media. If this doesn't gradually remove it I will let others suggest any other chemical. Good luck.

4K2022 · Apr 2, 2023

I hope you don’t mind if I tag along in your thread. I’ve had these k-frame pearls and have been afraid to do ANYTHING to them! They have a little rust on them. I’ve put a little chalk powder on them to show the markings. To me it looks like 6/44 ,, with some kind of cursive above.

mrcvs · Apr 2, 2023

Reference:

V&A . Conservation Of A Rare Mother Of Pearl Frame

“We conducted several tests: the most efficient and gentle method of removing the shellac was to apply a paper poultice (a common method of removing unwanted substances from objects) moistened with deionised water. After several minutes the varnish could be easily removed with cotton swabs.”

Targets Guy · Apr 2, 2023

These have been in our family since at least 1947. I don't use them much so they have stayed pretty clean.

cmj8591 · Apr 2, 2023

So I soaked them in Palmolive dish soap for a while and wiped them with a micro fiber cloth. The crud seemed to soften a bit. I then took a chance and put them in an ultrasonic cleaner with just warm water. I figured that if they used them to clean expensive jewelry, what could go wrong? A lot of dirt bubbled off them. It didn't get it all so I'm going to do it again. I'm thinking that once they are clean, I'll give them a healthy coat of RenWax. Once I'm done I'll try and post some photos. I know it's a Colt so I hope I don't get banned! And thanks for the replies!

Kinman · Apr 2, 2023

I dabbled in the gem cutting hobby for around a year or so. There are certain stones like Opal that require special care and while discussing this with another character who had branched out into Ivory and MOP as semi-precious natural items I learned that in order to keep Ivory and MOP from drying out and cracking one should at least once a year give it a good rubbing of Anhydrous Lanolin (Pure). According to that "expert" those natural Ivory and MOP need a feeding to prevent cracking. He recommended it for anything in that realm which would include other animal teeth, tusks, horn, etc. I started treating everything I had that applied from knife scales (handles) to carvings and not to forget Ken's wonderful stag stocks and other I have acquired along the way. I have yet to experience any cracking or serious discoloration in this endeavor and have been applying it for over thirty years. The old trick with Opal stones is to wipe them against the side of your nose to pick up the naturally occurring oils present, that same old trick I used to use before putting the male end of a metal fishing rod ferrule into the female end which was taught to me by an old timer back in the '50s.

Cleaning mother of pearl

cmj8591

Well-known member

H Richard

Well-known member

4K2022

Well-known member

Attachments

mrcvs

SWCA Member

Targets Guy

US Veteran

cmj8591

Well-known member

Kinman

Well-known member

Similar threads

Latest posts