It sounds a bit like something from a Sherlock Holmes story – the skill to identify a fake antique couch by noticing the brand-new nails securing one of the sofa’s arms. In reality, such a discrepancy in a piece of furniture would still be noticeable. However, it’s more probable that the piece was repaired with a new shiny nail, making it seem like a knock-off instead of a genuine antique collectible. This scenario is one of the key reasons to keep old nails rather than discarding them. Those oldies possess the old-nail patina absent in new nails, which would be apparent on an antique furniture piece.
When metal develops a patina, it’s showing the aging process. With copper, the change is obvious as it shifts from a brassy, brown-orange hue to green. These transformations occur over time as the metal is exposed to elements like oxygen, pollutants, and other environmental factors.
Most nails today are crafted from steel. As such, there’s a visual progression you’ll observe as nails develop a patina layer. First, they’ll adopt an orange-ish hue, eventually transitioning to a dark brown color. (It’s the patina that imparts a tarnished appearance to steel.) So, if you wish to update your furniture, save new nails for modern pieces and utilize old ones to maintain the vintage charm of your antique furniture.
What’s the difference between rust and patina?
Considering that the initial hues of a patina’d nail fall in the orange spectrum, it’s easy to understand why patina and rust (also called iron oxide) are sometimes confused. Both exhibit a distinctly orange hue. Distinguishing between patina and rust often involves spotting the orange powder or flakes on the old nails. If you do, you’re facing the effects of rust. The acidic electrolytes in water are responsible for steel rusting.
To be fair, many antique collectors appreciate the appearance of rust under the right circumstances because it makes a piece look authentically aged. However, regarding preserving your vintage and antique pieces, it’s important to know that over time, rust will degrade the metal and reduce its value. It’s no exaggeration to say that rust, a form of corrosion, is consuming the steel.
As a result, rust can lead to structural support issues. It’s easy to think of weak rusted steel in relation to a rusting bridge that might eventually collapse. However, the rusty nails holding your furniture together could also fail due to the damage, potentially harming the piece over time, depending on what the nail was securing. In light of this, you’ll want to ascertain whether you’re looking at rust or just patina on the old nails before refurbishing your antique furniture. It’s worth investigating, as it’s an investment in your antique furniture that only becomes more charming over time.
