How do I clean

[gaetanomancini]

Found this today.
Seems to be an old lock of a chest or something.
How should I clean this.
I have heard so many ways.
Soap & Water?
Olive oil?
Baking soda?
Peroxide?
Coca Cola?
Electrolysis?
What has worked for you?
Thanks

 

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[cudamark]

With that degree of corrosion, it might fall to bits, but, I like Evaporust for iron items. This assumes there is some solid metal under there somewhere.

 

[gaetanomancini]

Thanks I will try that

 

[Tencents]

Vinegar and patience

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Flake off extra scales of rust, and with not-too-aggressive brushing with wire brush - then, soak in vinegar bath for a month, bring it out, rinse, dry well with heat,
then if you're happy, then seal the metal with oil or metal paint or wax - all basically to stop the rust progressing any further, and to make it ready for display...!
Welcome to Treasure Net...!

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[RichsEquinox]

Congrats!

 

[Worm-Slicer]

Electrolysis is almost always the best way to go. For fragile iron that may be mostly held together by rust, I use evaporust as you do it a little at a time and check progress.