Five pounds of 250 Year Old? Rusted Mystery

[zzdust]

On a Revolutionary War site my buddy left behind this beauty:



I picked it up the next day and took it home cuz I am famliar with the rust formation. It's identical to past finds I've made from the 1700's around here - old well hooks and other hand-forged pig iron.

But I wonder what this was...? If it can be traced to a piece of military equipment (so far, cannon parts don't match) that would tell us something important.

It was by a stream, close to a lead musket ball and an old ceramic whiskey jug.

You guys were amazing deciphering the old lightning rod, now you've got a real test...

Thanks in advance!

ZZ

 

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[diggummup]

Need to use electrolysis on that thing.

 

[Valley Ranger]

Yes, clean it up and it might start revealing its secret.

 

[granthansen]

If you don't have electrolysis, try soaking in apple cider vinegar for about a week. I've had great results with that method.

 

[zzdust]

If you don't have electrolysis, try soaking in apple cider vinegar for about a week. I've had great results with that method.

Hey cool, Grant!

Thanks - will give it a try - got a gallon of it in the kitchen.

ZZ

 

[Valley Ranger]

Hey cool, Grant!

Thanks - will give it a try - got a gallon of it in the kitchen.

ZZ

Yeah, I almost suggested the same method - I'm a big proponent of using vinegar, but thought these looked like the electrolysis might be faster. Whatever works! The vinegar doesn't take as much "maintenance" - you can just plop it in there and forget about it for a few days. Works great for me.

 

[MrSchulz]

The Vinegar Method works for me for most artifacts. Keep an eye on it though. You don't want to ruin a piece of history.

 

[granthansen]

Yeah, I love it. You can check on the item every day or couple of days, see if the rust starts to crumble off as you rub it.

First picture on this post shows a before/after of a rusted lynchpin I found. Looks great now!

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...our-dig-possible-rev-belt-buckle-updated.html

 

[zzdust]

Yeah, I love it. You can check on the item every day or couple of days, see if the rust starts to crumble off as you rub it.

First picture on this post shows a before/after of a rusted lynchpin I found. Looks great now!

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...our-dig-possible-rev-belt-buckle-updated.html

Jeepers, Grant - that is AWESOME...I was totally convinced this thing was pure rust (and maybe is...?) but will post the before and after when I get my results.

Thanks again

ZZ