how to clean metal that came from the ocean

[pso411]

I found a metal piece while i was metal detecting at the beach. it is in crusted and was wondering how to safely get this off of the metal without damaging it so i can see what is underneath it. New to all of this and need some help.

thanks in advance,

B.J.

[MEinWV]

Welcome! Is it a rust colored, sandy crust, or is it black or green crust?

[pso411]

it appears to be a little of all of them. it is black, with pebbles in bedded, rust, and sand. got most of the pebbles off by scraping with a knife, not even close to the metal. a little bit of metal is showing but not enough to see what it is.


thanks for responding,
B.J. pso411

[woody50]

it appears to be a little of all of them. it is black, with pebbles in bedded, rust, and sand. got most of the pebbles off by scraping with a knife, not even close to the metal. a little bit of metal is showing but not enough to see what it is.

thanks for responding,
B.J. pso411

B.J. see my comment by the cannon ball. It could work if its iron. If its an other metal then you might have to use an other method.