1715 wreck beach find. Theres metal in there somewhere

JC Florida · Dec 3, 2013

1715 wreck beach find. There's metal in there somewhere

I found this heavily encrusted chunk at the shore line just after a storm. I know one of the 1715 Spanish fleet wrecks is about 700 yards off shore. Any suggestions on how to clean this thing?

jamey · Dec 3, 2013

maybe gatorboy can help ya

JC Florida · Dec 3, 2013

Thanks

screwynewy · Dec 3, 2013

I'm sure this won't sit well with most but if all else fails get the hammer out. I'm half kidding, but seriously you might have to tap it lightly with a hammer to break away the concretion from it. Or just leave it as it and live with the suspense of what it might be.

Helix · Dec 3, 2013

I would say electrolysis but im just guessing. See what the experts say. Post it when you find out what it is!

smokeythecat · Dec 3, 2013

Electrolysis. For sure.

goldkey · Dec 3, 2013

Sure looks like you have got something there......Will be interesting to see what it is. You may want to keep it submerged in salt water till you find out how to get it out of that clump.
I sub-contracted as a treasure hunter of those fleets with the Mel Fisher Museum years ago when I lived in Melbourne. They always put the finds in water. Might want to call them and see if they would give you some hints on extraction and preservation. The museum is in Sebastian. Congrats on whatever it may be......!

JC Florida · Dec 3, 2013

Thanks for the info.

RELICDUDE07 · Dec 3, 2013

post it in shipwrecks-it looks like it has some coins in it?

TNGUNS · Dec 3, 2013

Thought you had to get a lead on the metal object for the electrolysis to work. I know little about it as I am sure I just made obvious. ha ha :dontknow:

GaRebel1861 · Dec 3, 2013

RELICDUDE07 said:
View attachment 908654post it in shipwrecks-it looks like it has some coins in it?

Good eye RelicDude! That would keep me up at night wondering what that could be. Good Luck J.C. Florida and a very interesting find for sure.

JC Florida · Dec 3, 2013

Thanks
Strangley enough that out cropping isn't metal. I pick up metal with my pinpointer in several areas of the clump but there isn't any exposed metal surface. thanks for the suggestions. Today is my first day on this site so I appreciate the responses.

Qball · Dec 3, 2013

Find someone to Xray it for you

smokeythecat · Dec 3, 2013

My electrolysis set up is like this: Use a cheap plastic container, I use a 1 gallon fish tank. I bought a 6 volt lantern battery (cheap). Went to the shack and got premade dual end alligator clips. Put the object and water in the tank, used baking soda for the catalyst. Hooked up the one clip to the object and the other to a piece of junk aluminum, connect the battery and watch it. Don't leave it on too long, it should start to bubble and then gently whack at it with anything you want till you start seeing the object underneath. Check out the net to see which lead to attach to each 'cause I always forget and have to look it up every time I do an electrolysis bath. I believe it's positive to the sacrificial aluminum and negative to your object. The objects cannot touch or zappppp. I use a piece of duct tape to hold both the wires down so they can't move and touch each other.

A lot of people use battery chargers, but the little 6 volt lantern batteries work really well. Here's a recent find with about 4 minutes in the bath. It was in for about 2 minutes until the black started coming off. I pulled it out and used wet baking soda with just fingers and rubbed it. Lots of black came off. I did another 2 minutes and here's the result. I won't clean it anymore. I'm satisfied as it is.

snooksion · Dec 3, 2013

well piece of iron.not to take away from suspense. my guess its just a bolt or piece of steel

recondigger · Dec 3, 2013

I can't wait to see what this is

Dig until your arm falls off

NHBandit · Dec 3, 2013

How does electrolysis work if you don't have a metal object to attach one of the clips to ? I have a basic understanding of how it works and I can't see it doing much if the metal is completely encased and you're attaching the clip to a rock. Am I missing something ?

Zodiacdiverdave · Dec 4, 2013

I see what looks like a coin edge there at the top of the clump. You could carefully expose more of the item using a hammer and punch, I wouldn't use a chisel at this point as you don't want to be too aggressive. Take your time so you don't damage anything else in the clump. When you get more of it exposed you can decide if you want to display it insitu or completely remove it and treat it with electrolysis. To remove it keep using the punch and hammer, it's slow but it will work. When the coin is out of the clump the electrolysis will clean it up and remove any little pits that are stuck to it. There are lots of great threads on electrolysis treatments on the Cleaning and preservation forum, you want to look for one for coins that makes use of a small cell phone transformer rather then one with a battery charger, those are great for large items.
Here is a pic of a gold coin one of my diving buddies picked up and is displayed insitu. I think it looks dandy just the way it is but yours may need more exposure.

smokeythecat · Dec 4, 2013

For the electrolysis you have to burrow down to metal on an end. I'd start with a soak and then prying with a tack hammer, screw driver or pliers and nibble at it.. If it's large iron or brass underneath, you can attach the lead to that. Don't beat around what looks like a coin on edge. There's another suspect coin just to the left of the one circled in red, and its at a right angle to it.