Found on Treasure Coast Beach

[BeachComber7]

Hi All,

I found this on the beach two months ago. I have chipped at it and removed some of the crusting. Also put it into electrolysis but that takes way too long and I see little to no results.

Was wondering if anyone has other ideas on how to remove the crustations and yet not effect the possible metal object inside?

It seems to be a hand gun, possibly from the WWll era, since it takes over forty years to get into this condition. There was activity off shore back then, so who knows. Or, it could be the end of a cutlass sword. Until I can remove most of the encrustation, I have no ID on the item.

Any thoughts on how to clean it?

I attached two pics: one a few days after I brought it home and the other is the xray from my dog's vet I had done this morning.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

 

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[Ammonhotep]

Judging by your x-ray it looks like you got the crusty without the gun inside.

 

[hamiddetecting]

Welcome and you use electrolyse. Congratulation!!

 

[SneadsFerryMD]

Only thing I could think of is upping the amount of current and using a larger amount of water and a bigger stainless plate to speed up the process, anything else will wreck it.

 

[lookindown]

Im not sure how x rays work, but it seems like there is nothing in it.

 

[nickmarch]

Hi All,

Was wondering if anyone has other ideas on how to remove the crustations and yet not effect the possible metal object inside?

Hydrochloric acid (pool acid-muriatic) will remove it fairly fast. The acid also disolves metals but it would take a long long time and multiple changes to fresh acid to disolve the metal.

Put it in a plastic or glass container outside and stay away from the fumes!

 

[BeachComber7]

The tech said the xray could not see thru it, as if it were solid bone.

Thanks all for your ideas. I will try the larger stainless steel plate first and if that does not produce any noticable action, I will go the muriatic acid route. I have been putting off working with the acid but at this point, it may be my last hope at peeling back the crustations!

 

[VWandSTUDEBAKER]

Maybe its a plastic squirt gun.

 

[John (west central FL)]

A gentle tap with a hammer will break off the crust. It's probably not all that valuable anyway.

 

[gold-digger]

I would have just dropped it on the floor and see what breaks off....

 

[seeker41]

looks alot like a gun!! x-ray is useless, not done correctly? soak it in lime-away?

 

[mad4wrecks]

In order for the electrolytic reduction to work, your alligator clip has to be making good contact with at least some part of the metal in the artifact. From the picture, it looks like the clip is just attached mostly to the outer concretion.

Also keep in mind too that in saltwater it doesn't take many years for concretion to build up like that in a relatively short period of time, especially on iron.

 

[BeachComber7]

Thanks Mad4wrecks. There is just so much concretion i cannot seem to find a good spot. The tip seems good, at least it bubbles decent there. Its just been sitting in salt water in my for-relics-aquarium now because I am out of ideas and patience .
I found a stainless steel dish, going to try setting in that and see if it goes any faster.

 

[TORRERO]

You know.... when I find something like that I just bust it open...
Not much value in an iron object left in Sea salt water...
But a good whack will get you an idea what it is...

 

[JKPK1]

A friend that finds many spikes and other iron items from the 1715 wrecks has used various techniques. Vinegar will also work and is less nasty to be around. He has also used muriatic acid, but that stuff is hard core and must be done with good ventilation.

We have also reverse current cleaned some items. It works but take while as mentioned.

He has not yet tried lime away.

PK

 

[BeachComber7]

Vinegar? I am going to try t hat. Thanks!!

 

[search and recovery]

We used to clean civil war mortar shells and cannon balls that we found with electrolosys. The idea is the same as you are trying but being such a large metal surface (thick) we used a car battery. One contact on the item to be cleaned, the other to an iron rod. Never can remember which object gets the positive connection, but if the rod starts bubbleing then the connections are backwards. Muriatic acid works fine, just use outside as the fumes are very bad for you to breathe. The small current from your charger adapter is too weak for such a large job. Also once cleaned, the item, if considered good should be heated in a hot oven on high heat for at least 45 minutes, removed and sprayed with a clearcoat to preserve. Otherwise it will oxidise and continue to rust. Hope this helps.







Picture of cleaned mortor shell after spraying:

 

[BeachComber7]

Yes it does, thank you. Trying the vinegar, it's been 'soaking' for 3 hours and little bubbles come up. It is also leaving particles, maybe rust dust? behind. Going to see about a car battery.