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Message:: [QUOTE="Marc Aceton, post: 2005219, member: 72101"]In the catalog descriptions, the term "smoothing" is frequently abused in order to avoid the terms "tooling" or "re-cutting". In Germany, restorers are equating "smoothing" with cleaning since smoothing is the best way of describing the procedure of exposing an object because it is performed by ablating oxides or sinter residues layer after layer. Virtually every object from ancient times are subjected to this "smoothing" (or cleaning) process. If the former epidermis of the object, which is for bronzes equivalent to the cuprite layer, is not penetrated, this kind of "smoothing" (or cleaning) is absolutely legitimate. Despite to "tooling" or "detail re-cutting", during "smoothing", the cleaner guides his tool in parallel to the coin's surface instead of cutting perpendicularly to the surface into the metal. "Smoothing" is exposing an object whereas "tooling" or "detail re-cutting" are forging it. Of course "smoothing" (or cleaning) should not only focus on exposingthe object. It should also consider the aesthetic appeal. A professional, skillful cleaner knows when to stop ablating oxides and sinter residues even before the former epidermis is reached in order to avoid a spotty appearance or surfaces becoming rough.[/QUOTE]