Samovars: restoration and care methods

One of the symbols of Russia is the samovar. He is the embodiment of home comfort, strong family ties and family well-being. We will not talk about modern, electrical, representatives of the tribe - they can be called the profanation of the idea itself and its simplification. We are interested in real, wood (coal) samovars, their restoration and care for them. Ancient "puzany" on a pocket a little, because they already belong to antiques. However, in the attic or in the pantry, the grandmother may have an old copy, which is worthy to occupy an honorable place on the table during the evening tea drinking and is able to even more rally your already friendly family. However, years spent without attention and in improper conditions, probably affected his "health". And the restoration of this - very expensive business. For example, the simplest restoration of a samovar in Moscow at a price starts from 8,000 rubles, and not the fact that your case will fit into the allotted amount. But many works can be done independently.

Clean the insides

The first thing that should begin the restoration of the samovar with your own hands is to clean up the layers that have appeared as a result of its use. On the internal surfaces, due to repeated boiling of raw water, scale forms, slowing down the rate of boiling of the next portion, and contributing to the burn-out of the walls of the working pitcher of the unit. For someone who knows how quickly samovars break down due to scale, the restoration of the condition of the inner side to the original species is the first thing. You can do this in several ways.

1. Modern chemistry: means for removing scale like "Antinakipin" or carburetor fluid. The samovar is poured with 2/3 of warm water, the drug is diluted according to the instructions and left for the night.
2. Traditional vinegar, which is often used for cleaning kettles: a glass of essence is diluted with 6 glasses of water, the solution heats up to 70 degrees, and after 2 hours the scaling layer is removed with a wooden spatula.
3. Boiling with soda and vinegar: water is boiled in the samovar, baking soda (2 tablespoons per liter) is poured into it, after a third of the hour the mixture is drained and replaced with water with acetic essence (four liters - half a glass). After a similar time, the drainage and cleansing with a wooden implement goes again.

After using any of the methods, the first water boiled in the samovar necessarily ruthlessly merges.

Bring back the shine

And when stored, and with regular use, darkened, samovars become dull. Restoration of their presentability is a simple matter, albeit painstaking.

1. Polish Metal Polish polish from the German company AUTOSOL is suitable for samovars made of aluminum, brass, copper and stainless steel. In addition to cleansing from all extraneous forms a film that protects against the appearance of new traces of time. True, it is quite expensive.
2. For the samovars from the nickel silver, Israeli Metal Cliner is more suitable. However, this polish is suitable for any non-ferrous metals. In addition, it is much cheaper than the German proposal. The only drawback - leaves it will be necessary to refine the GOI paste, which is worth a penny.

With too thick layers, no pasta can save. In this case, it will be necessary to resort to polishing, which is not very encouraging: the strength of the metal from it is somewhat reduced, and excessive diligence will lead to the appearance of holes in the side.

Samovars: Restoration by folk methods

A number of owners of old "puzans" are afraid that modern chemicals can damage their family property. They can offer a number of ancient methods that are clearly not capable of inflicting damage on the samovar.

1. Baking soda is slightly wetted with water and acts as an abrasive compound. We warn: you will have to rub for a long time, but you can not press it hard - scratches will appear.
2. Patina is well removed with crushed chalk. It is better than soda because it can not scratch the tank, but worse because it takes even more time.
3. The following folk way: wash the jug of the samovar with warm soapy water, dry and gently rub it with sifted clean fine river sand.

Our advice: if there is only a thin coating on the samovar, it does not look like having been in a fire, do not aspire to completely remove the patina. An ancient object and must bear the traces of time.

We return the working capacity to the crane

The pricked nose does not allow to use the samovar for its intended purpose, but the spoiled spoils the whole impression of tea drinking. Solve the problems like this:

1. Do not turn the tap, lubricate the WD-40, wait for a while and tapping it through the wooden bar brings the key to the normal state.
2. The leakage of the key from below is eliminated by the "Valve" paste: it is removed, etched and returned to the place. The samovar is filled with boiling water, and the crane turns in a circle before landing into place. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the key does not fail inside.
3. Leakage from above indicates that the key is worn and does not occupy all the hole for it. In addition to changing the design, nothing will help here.

After any used chemistry through the samovar several times hot water is passed with citric acid - so as not to poison it.

Restoring the case

The most difficult, than can puzzle repair and restoration of samovars - necessity of tinning. Covered with an oxide film wall can not only spoil the taste of tea, but also harm the drinker. Therefore, the samovar should be covered with a film of tin, which is much more oxidized. Find tinsmiths in the modern world is almost impossible (except for special restoration workshops, where expensive), so you have to cope on their own.

1. The samovar is processed from the inside with a fine sandpaper, washed and rubbed with ammonia or soldering acid.
2. The dish is heated on the stove, a small piece of tin is put on the bottom and melts.
3. The melt is carefully rubbed over the surface of the stick.
4. The samovar is heated again, and the tin layer is brought to the same thickness and density.

Manipulation is repeated until the half-way layer becomes the same and solid across all the viscera.

How to prolong the life of a samovar

To minimize your concern about the restoration of samovars, the price of which is very high, and you can not conduct all the operations on your own, follow the simple rules:

1. Do not leave the samovar in hot condition without water.
2. Before the cold, leaving the dacha, drain the "puzana" water.
3. Handle the samovar with your hands in gloves - you will rarely have to clean it.
4. Crane key before shipping for storage and pull out grease with food fats.