Before and After Mortar Frag

[romeo-1]

I decided to try my hand at electrolysis on the mortar fragment I found on my last hunt with Mel and Andy. I don't think that I am getting a good enough connection on the frag because of the shape...hard to clip onto. It is 100% better than when found but needs a little more. I may drill and tap a screw in to get a better connection...any suggestions?

 

[johnreb1980]

Yeah,alot of the big frags need a tap screw,but you may try to rap some thick electrical copper wire around it and bend one end of it to hook to. Nice find.



Jonathon

 

[sparkymaster]

Looks a lot better that before you started.

To drill and tap a screw might not be a bad idea?

 

[{Sentinel}]

Nay, no need for a tap screw for that. In fact, you cleaned it up rather well as is. I would take it and maybe brush it off alittle more with a wire brush and then seal it with some clear coat to keep it from rusting anymore. I clean shells and fragments up frequently and this one is in perfect shape to go ahead and spray. The little rust left on it won't hurt it after its been sealed and will give it a very pleasing look too Nice job Romeo

 

[fortbball9]

I have never tried that but you done a great job.I just might have to give it a shot.

fortbball9

 

[diggervet]

The best way to clean up any heavy iron shell frag is a needle scaler. It's an air power tool with a set of steel pins which vibrate rapidly and Knock off all the heavy rust and scale. Check out the 12 lb. solid shot I cleaned up with it and see if you don't agree!

 

[EDDE]

soak it muriatic acid in a small tub
then when your happy with it
have a container with a HEAVY CONSIDERATION of baking soda and water to neutralize the acid
then rinse towel it off
bake in the oven to evaporate the moisture
then seal


WARNING this will eat all the rust off to the bare metal
and check it every 15 minutes or so

 

[romeo-1]

Thanks for the comments all! I wish I had a needle scaler! I think I will leave it as is and seal it for display.

 

[EDDE]

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=needle+scaler&Submit=Go

 

[johnreb1980]

I am not trying to make anyone mad here, but I have to disagree with Sentinel on this one. If there is any rust left on this it will continue to eat away slowly at the fragment. Even if you put a clear coat or protective sealer on it with the rust ,it is still going to eat away at it because it is just sitting on the surface of the rust. I have seen many of iron relics done this way and they eventually start to crumble. On small items it is hard to really do anything with them because there just so small and the amount of decay on them,but on fragments and larger stuff there should be no problem getting the rust off. I have also put a couple pics of one my recent frags before and after shots. Anyways,it is still a good find and good luck with what ever you choose to do.

Jonathon

 

[SWEATYSOCK]

would seem a shame to drill and tap a hole in it. If you're gonna try a bit more electrolysis,how about fastening the electrode on with a magnet ?
Needle scaler sounds good but you'll need a half decent compressor to run it.

 

[{Sentinel}]

I am not trying to make anyone mad here, but I have to disagree with Sentinel on this one. If there is any rust left on this it will continue to eat away slowly at the fragment. Even if you put a clear coat or protective sealer on it with the rust ,it is still going to eat away at it because it is just sitting on the surface of the rust. I have seen many of iron relics done this way and they eventually start to crumble. On small items it is hard to really do anything with them because there just so small and the amount of decay on them,but on fragments and larger stuff there should be no problem getting the rust off. I have also put a couple pics of one my recent frags before and after shots. Anyways,it is still a good find and good luck with what ever you choose to do.

Jonathon

Jonathon, no offense taken at all and usually your right on the money, but I've been preserving these for years and I have literally hundreds of them. These pieces are so heavy and dense that the little bit of rust won't hurt it. If it were something less dense and thick than I always clean completely. Once you put 2 or 3 good coats on with quality clear coat it will be fine. It also gives it a nice look. With my complete cannon balls, I clean them 100% free of rust...but these fragments make good accent pieces with the little bit of rust which the clear coat brings out with a shine. Its really up to how you want it to display/look and these pieces are only worth about $25 dollars so I would say spray it and see if you like the way it looks and if you do, than you can make your mind up on how you vary their looks.

P.S.

Romeo,

I have some VERY effective ways of cleaning shells up completely, one with electrolysis and the other with chemicals including lye. If you ever need to clean a shell or more fragments, just email me and I can send you instructions with my own personal photos of my setups