Some of my electrolysis / preservation work on iron

[ColonialDude]

I thought I posted these at one time but I can not recall. I do know some folks attempted to contact me with some questions about electrolysis, but I was unable to get back to them and no longer have the messages. My apologies, and feel free to pm me if you still require some help.

[Brian in MA]

Wess,

I have been using electrolysis over the winter on some of my iron 'thingies'. But, I can assure you that my results are not even in the same neighborhood as yours. You did an amazing job !!!!!

Do you coat the items with anything when done to preserve them?

Great job and pics !!!

Brian

[ColonialDude]

Thanks Brian. It takes a heck of a lot of work. Not as simple as dropping into a bucket and letting it do it's thing. It takes some elbow grease prior to electrolysis as well as after. I use Briwax to coat my items. Works great. The important part to remember is to get every bit of rust off. If you don't, you can coat it with anything you like...and the rust WILL come back.

[lumbercamp]

Great job on the electrolysis. It's good to see other peoples iron relics.

[Montana Jim]

I've never tried that with anything I've dug... but your stuff cam out great!

Nicely done Wess...

[ColonialDude]

Thanks guys. Have a few more things to try out over the next couple of weeks. Will see how it goes. I am about 95% happy with the results...still a few things to iron out...no pun intended.

[SandFiddler]

Wess,

Your stuff looks really good. Where do you get Briwax? Is it a paste wax?

[WheatbackDigger]

I am not much of a relic hunter, but those look nice....What's the time frame for preserving these? Beginning to end.

[Narthoniel]

Those are some great looking results. I am in the process of learning this art, as I have a special relic in mind to preserve. In January i dug a Revolver that is very old, and want to restore it as well as possible. The biggest issue I have is getting a good contact, and I am a bit intriuged by one comment you made. What prep work do you do before dipping an item into the soup?
Thank you for sharing these pictures, and for any help you can provide,
Anthony

[ColonialDude]

Wess,

Your stuff looks really good. Where do you get Briwax? Is it a paste wax?

You should be able to get it at most hardware stores in the U.S. Tough to find here in Canada.

[ColonialDude]

Those are some great looking results. I am in the process of learning this art, as I have a special relic in mind to preserve. In January i dug a Revolver that is very old, and want to restore it as well as possible. The biggest issue I have is getting a good contact, and I am a bit intriuged by one comment you made. What prep work do you do before dipping an item into the soup?
Thank you for sharing these pictures, and for any help you can provide,
Anthony

Thanks very much. Prior to giving it a bath, I use various steel brushes to remove the thick scale as you will be there a month of Sundays otherwise...the same applies if you do not get good contact. The stuff will come off, but not much and it will take forever. I actually drill into the piece in order to make a proper contact. Once the process is done, it's easy to fill with wax and you won't even notice the hole.

[Narthoniel]

Using a drill seems a bit drastic to me, but I suppose my filing it down is just as bad. One you have the hole drilled, you you use solder to get full contact to a wire? As for sealing, someone else recommended using polyurethane mixed with mineral spirits. Is wax superior, or just easier to apply? The gun I am inclined to clean appears to have 2 types of metal involved. Some are the standard rust color, but other parts are more blue in color. Ill include a photo so you can see what I mean. If I get contact on one part of the gun, do you think both metals will benefit? I assume they will, but I am new and want to be sure. And can you tell what metal the blue parts are? (The gun had not fully died, so the dark red spots are due to water.) I have been experimenting with other rusty objects before tackling this one, and hope you don't mind me asking you for advice on it.
Thanks again,
Anthony

[Tnmountains]

Hi Wess
You have done a great job and I have many iron relics that would be fun to restore.I have read much on the internet about it. Do you have a pic of your set up or maybe a brief description .
Thanks for sharing I appreciate it.
TnMountains

[birdman]

Awesome job Wess!

[ColonialDude]

Some of my latest work...

[birdman]

Now that is awesome!!!

[Tnmountains]

Your stuff turned out great. You inspired me and here is my first completed items
Thanks. I never thought it would come this clean Just need sealing now.

[Rickelpickel]

My question is how do you keep it from rusting again? I've got some very large Pieces of Iron,.. I know they will rust again down here in Florida in no time!

[ColonialDude]

Your stuff turned out great. You inspired me and here is my first completed items
Thanks. I never thought it would come this clean Just need sealing now.

Good stuff! It will come across as nit picking...but I see a couple of rust colored spots. Get rid of them with a brush or something. If you don't you will regret it in about a year when you need to strip the axe and do it over again. Better to get it now...trust me.

[ColonialDude]

My question is how do you keep it from rusting again? I've got some very large Pieces of Iron,.. I know they will rust again down here in Florida in no time!

That's what the wax is for. It's a wax/stain and will prevent moisture from getting in...you just need to make sure you get it all out before sealing it.