Conserved a few iron relics this weekend...

[Bavaria Mike]

It’s pretty, but I would rather be detecting. About 6” of snow here and frozen. Decided to start conserving a few iron relic finds found around the castle area as I am going to put up a display at our museum or possibly in the display case along a walkway that goes through a tunnel in the town wall.

Dried out the relics near my wood oven then cleaned them with a wire wheel and drill. While cleaning the cannon ball I found a small hole visible in the picture, that made me a little nervous but I had already heated it to around 300F/150C. After cleaning the iron, I reheated the relics and placed them in a wax bath.

This large skeleton key turned out nice, it is 9.5”/240mm long. Not sure of the age but I would think before 1750. The American Quarter for size.

A cross bow bolt tip probably early 1600s. I didn’t clean it other than water and a soft brush. It also came out nice.

This cannon ball is from a battle fought in 1704, shot from the castle at a defensive position about 1000 meters from the castle. It is 3”/76mm and weighs 1779 grams after cleaning and conserving.

Another side of the cannon ball. It cleaned up nicely as well. HH if you can, LOL, Mike

[Hill Billy]

That's some great Iron Mike, that key looks huge.
Some great landscape photo's too.

HB

[garryson]

Nice iron relics

[steelheadwill]

Great job recovering & preserving those Finds
Beautiful Landscape! HH

[Woodland Detectors]

Man! If I could only dig old relics like that.

[boogeyman]

Excellent job!