Rusty relics

[Greylock]

These are some of my iron finds from the past year and a half. I don't post them because I usually put them in a cleaning bucket. Every now and then I get curious about an iron object and dig it. Most of the time it's just junk or nails ( I keep and clean up good nails for hanging pots, pans and whatever else). Not every treasure comes in brass or copper!

 

[curbdiggercarl57]

Damn nice job of preserving all that iron!
Carl

 

[shedseeker]

THATS VERY NICE !! great idea with the nails..

 

[Subterranean]

Silver and Gold may have bought it, but IRON built it! Great finds. Our ATPros let us know if it is good iron...they sing a little louder. Happy Hunting, Sub

 

[pong12211]

That's very nice work you do with the iron you find.. Thanks for sharing..

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

and I thought I was out of control with saving rusted iron , impressive preservation of relics , it shows that you have a passion for your local history

 

[Dtschuler]

Those things look great, I have some iron stuff. Is that from electrolysis and a wax coating?

 

[wheatfinder13]

Mmm...rusty spoons... You can almost taste the lockjaw!

 

[Greylock]

Those things look great, I have some iron stuff. Is that from electrolysis and a wax coating?

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=844557"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=844558"/>

I just put everything in a bucket of apple cider vinegar for a week or two. Then I use a wire brush, wire wheel, files, and cutting wheels to remove any left over crust. I re shape if needed and clean up the sharp edges. I usually let it dry out for a day or two and a light rust layer will appear and I just give if another good scrub with the wire brush. Clean it with a cloth and add a coat or two of good outdoor spray paint. It's important to remove all rust or it will just leak through in a week out two. You just need to find what works for you. Thanks for looking.

 

[Greylock]

Sometime you need to put it back in the bucket for another week or two. Whatever it takes for the cider to eat away all of the rust. The rest can be done by hand.

 

[Mekong Mike]

My first finds as a kid were iron. I still get a kick out of spikes, horseshoes, axe heads.

Great finds !

 

[Dtschuler]

Thanks for the info Greylock.

 

[BosnMate]

I love that last photo of the hand forged belt buckle. You can see the forge welds. The fellow that made that buckle was handy with forge and anvil, he had to heat that to the point the outer parts of the metal were molten white heat, then tap the molecules of metal together. When attempting to weld something that small I'm famous for burning it up, because when it reaches welding heat, I tend to leave it in the fire just a second too long. Not hot enough, it won't weld, too hot, it burns up. It looks simple, but that little buckle took skill to build.

 

[arrowhead82]

nice! I love the axeheads!
HH

 

[Citiboy289]

I have found that soaking in a Bucket of Diesel fuel and giving it a stir everyday or so really lifts the rust off and Try a rust piece It just loosens the rust and crud no need to brush keeps the pitana