in place of using electrolysis...

[canes2016]

Having found several interesting artifacts, to include a trigger guard from an 18th century Springfield musket, are there other means to preserve these pieces aside from using electrolysis?

 

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[4x4x4]

....I think you may be confusing "cleaning"= electrolysis and "preservation" = a halt to further degradation.
I have done more plating than electrolytic cleaning ...so.... for preserving IRON, I use a flat or satin CLEAR spray from a can.
Other metals require different methods of preservation ! For CLEANING other metals , a host of methods will be offered here.
A trigger guard , depending on condition/state of decomposition may use different methods.

Please specify what KIND of metal(s) to the handy pros here for an answer .

 

[vpnavy]

Jump over and browse: Research/Techniques > Cleaning & Preservation​