Thread: Label preservation

Okay I have found some threads dealing with methods of sealing the labels to historically valuable finishing stones.

My question is for the purposes of preserving the legacy what is the preferred method? Should the label be permanently sealed to the stone? would it be better to preserve the label separately like a document? Should it be sealed to the original box?

I would like to think years from now someone will pick up this stone and smile to see it is a piece of history and it was not ruined by my handling.


I don't want to be the one on Antiques Roadshow slapping my forehead for "cleaning and painting" the old chest of drawers.

Value of your hone is usualy increased by the sticker, label, stamp preserved where they were. They provide positiveid for the hone. Label without the hone or hone without the label loses that signifficantly.

I sealed my Escher with a number of coats of clear nail polish. It seems to work very well.

I've also sealed all my different stones, with the sticker on it, using Shellac.
I find it adds good protection, and looks great doing so.
The fact that it is a traditional sealer is another plus in my book

Originally Posted by Birnando

I've also sealed all my different stones, with the sticker on it, using Shellac.
I find it adds good protection, and looks great doing so.
The fact that it is a traditional sealer is another plus in my book

I have been thinking about the use of traditional materials too. I don't know if it will matter down the road but part of me cringes at the thought of putting modern materials on an old label or even modern glues to hold them down. Or another way of looking at it is that any repair to an antique should be reversable without a trace or value is lost.

During the period at which these stones were originally labeld a glue such as hide glue might have been used. When I did mine that is what I used and sized the label itself with dilute hide glue. Certainly not bullet proof as epoxy, but under the right conditions hide glue will last for centuries.

On labels that are really stuck to the stone I use a product called Krylon Preserve It. It is meant for documents, sprays on and seems to be working well on a few stones I've treated with it. On stones that the label can easily be soaked off I do so. In some cases there is variation between the two sides and it becomes two hones in one.

When I hone a razor I use that rubber shelving stuff shown in Lynn's video. Kind of a perforated rubber that cushions the stone and allows water to pass through under the layer of rubber. I use a folded paper towel underneath that to absorb any excess and there usually isn't much.

Where I find the label has the potential to get drenched is when I am lapping the stone. I don't do that often with naturals after the first flattening, but when I do it, I do it under running water in the kitchen sink. So the label will get wet and my hand is in contact against some of it some of the time. Other than that the stone is in a cabinet and the label is safe.

I do use nail polish, a product called "Hard As Nails" , used for reinforcing weak fingernails. I think it is a bit stronger than the plain polish but that is only a supposition. That has been working well to protect end labels so far. I would use it on the back labels but it is much more convenient for me to spray them and the stuff seems to work well.

I use Krylon: Preserve It, too. I got the idea from Jimmy. I used the blue painters tape to stop overspray around the hone... totally covered except the label. I applied several coatings using mutliple angles and once dry the painters tape removed easily with no resedue.

I've tried a few different things over the years. My main concern was Vintage Escher Labels. I like Minwax Polycrylic, Clear gloss, it dries crystal clear. Good stuff. I apply it with one of those disposable foam brushes. I've had some for years, they hold up great, and keeps the label water proof, especially if your going to lapp the stone occasionally. It does take a few coats. It also cleans up with water.

I don't usually keep the labels of my stones, I take some photos of them, and if the stone has a characteristic pattern, those photos that include the label and the patterns should worth something.