In Reply to: Cleaning Iron Relics ????????????????
posted by Larry Helton on May 09, 1998 at 17:34:45

I have another nominee for you which I've used for years. It's similar to electrolysis, but is much easier than messing with a battery. It's an "electro-chemical" process which avoids using particularly dangerous chemicals. Lastly, the finish one ends up with is a dark iron color, not black, which essentially appears like the item has been painted. All you need are 4 to 6 zinc (pure zinc) ingots or blocks (can be bought at a boat supply store) and a can of household lye from a hardware store or supermarket. Put about 2 or 3 quarts of water into a plastic dish pan, place the zinc in the bottom of the pan, and add the entire can of lye mixing it well to partially dissolve the lye (it won't dissolve entirely) with a WOODEN or PLASTIC spoon. Lye is unquestionably caustic, so you need be careful, but not manically scared of it. Try not to get the lye solution on your hands (and certainly don't splash it in your eyes), but if it gets on your hands, simply immerse them under running tap water for a minute or