- 1). First of all, you may have heard of a hot needle test. Don't do this! I have found many a needle hole in the back of old buttons by previous owners looking for Bakelite. This just ruins buttons.
- 2). Begin by collecting together buttons you think are old enough to be Bakelite. If you see a seam in the button, it is most likely not Bakelite because genuine Bakelite was cast, not molded. Check out pictures of real Bakelite online or in a library book to get an idea of what to look for.
- 3). One test that's quick and easy is to rub the button under hot water. Genuine Bakelite smells like formaldehyde when heated up. If you've forgotten what that smells like or your nose doesn't work so well, there's another test using a common household cleaner.
- 4). Put some Formula 409 on a Q-tip, and rub the back of the button. If the Q-tip turns yellow, the button is Bakelite. Wipe the button clean.
I can't vouch for this, because my 409 is lemon scented and is already yellow. But I do have another test that I recommend. - 5
Q-tip with Simichrome polish turns yellow
Buy some Simichrome polish. I found mine at Amazon.com but your local hardware store might have some. The polish is pink. Again, put it on a Q-tip and rub it on the button. The pink will turn yellow if the button is genuine Bakelite. It's so exciting when the pink turns yellow! Go ahead and check out Grandma's button jar ... you may just become hooked!
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