The Dremel & Crisco Method

[JakePhelps]

This is my method and it works for me

[mattjd]

Nice Jake! If you get the soft brush attachment for the dremel, it will get in the cremises better than the stiff ones..

HH MattJD

[JakePhelps]

I have just about every attachment there is! I tried using that one, but it was too soft and didnt take off all the rust and stuff but i do use it for shining up things.

[mattjd]

Here's what I do for your kind of relic. First I just use the Dremel to get it the best I can. Anything I miss I use 110 sand paper that I fold into a point to get in the tight spots. Then put a THIN layer of oil on the relic periodically to keep it from rusting.

HH Matt

[JakePhelps]

yea, as you can see i didnt get around to those tight spaces with the sandpaper yet :P another thing to do today after school if i go. What kind of oil do you use? car oil?

[mattjd]

Any kind of oil will work. I use 3-in-1 oil. WD-40 will be fine to use too.

Matt

[JakePhelps]

any before and after pics of the oil? im thinking it might be better than crisco crisco works great to bring out details but the artifacts need a new coat every year

[AzSports]

Careful with the sandpaper and other tough stuff, guys!

Clean and shiny isn't alway best

That WD-40 will hit those crevasses nicely without doing damage too.

[JakePhelps]

Very right jonstar!! i have seen stuff at flea markets that people have shined the crap out of and its so ugly looking As you can see in my second pic, i dont make any part of it shiney, just get the surface rust off and apply crisco, which i dont think is considered applying a chemical because its like a food right? The first pic by the way is a partial cleaning and second one is almost final, just gotta get the nooks and crannies yea i use WD-40 inside the lock to make sure it doesnt rust on the inside. I used to cringe when people said things like wire wheels and sandpaper and steel wool But then i found out they are not as harsh as you think I mean wouldnt you rather have the second one than the first? the trick is to just go over it real quik so you dont make an uneven finish. O yea, i just rigged up a central vacume system to my vise so that way when i have something in the vise and im dremeling it all the rust just gets sucked up the vac, works pretty well and now im not afraid to clean even the rustiest stuff in basement Another crucail thing is to wrap the artifact with paper towels or rags before putting it in the vise so you ont leave marks in it, or if its too unstable for the vise i use a glove or pliers to hold it.

[JakePhelps]

By the Way, Wheres conservator!?!? havent seen him in a while, hopes hes doin alright

[Slug Hunter]

I too use a dremel wire wheel on my unmentionables, and of course, it is much better thanwhat most consider a "wire wheel" in their heads when you mention it. But animal fat will get rancid over time and make your finds stink forever. I use lemon oil that I use on my furniture, the only drawback might be it's possibly acidic nature. But I would still never want to use an animal based product for the rancidity reasons.

[JakePhelps]

Surprisingly it hasnt gone bad yet! I have some relics that are almost 2 years old and they still don't smell! And i just put enough on the relic to make it look darker and nicer

[Monty]

Crisco is vegetable based, you're thinking of lard. Monty