✅ SOLVED This old nail....

Dougie Webb · Jun 3, 2021

Found this small chunk of iron on old farmland near my house in Georgia. Land has probably been farmed since the mid 1700's. Wasn't sure what this was, other than iron, so I threw it in the tumbler and a couple of hours later, it split open, revealing what looks to be a primitive nail.

Question is - how long does something have to be underground to grow this much "rock" around it?

Anyone have a guess?

villagenut · Jun 3, 2021

Looks like a nice rose head nail....would be best to get it in electrolysis or ACV. Most better older hand forged nails I find come pretty clean. Lower carbon in the iron made for better combating the rusting process. I would say your nail fits the period of the farm. Get it cleaned up and let's see the head on it.

Dougie Webb · Jun 3, 2021

villagenut said:
Looks like a nice rose head nail....would be best to get it in electrolysis or ACV. Most better older hand forged nails I find come pretty clean. Lower carbon in the iron made for better combating the rusting process. I would say your nail fits the period of the farm. Get it cleaned up and let's see the head on it.

That's cool! Thanks so much, VN. This forum never ceases to amaze me! Just dipped it in my exceptionally hazardous homemade electrolysis machine. Will look for results in a couple hours

Dougie Webb · Jun 4, 2021

VillageNut, I'll be damned if I didn't drop it in my garage last night and can't find it! I'm still searching....

villagenut · Jun 4, 2021

Maybe that little bugger wanted to go back to the wild...... :laughing7:

invent4hir · Jun 4, 2021

Dougie, guess you better fire up that Garrett and/or your pinpointer! Maybe a magnet

Hope your tire doesn't find it for you...

Dougie Webb · Jun 5, 2021

invent4hir said:
Dougie, guess you better fire up that Garrett and/or your pinpointer! Maybe a magnet Hope your tire doesn't find it for you...

If I hadn't just torn apart two different cars in that garage, that might be a viable option, but as it is, it's all nuts and bolts on the garage floor right now...

Dougie Webb · Jun 9, 2021

I found it! Put it through electrolysis a bit longer and then a good scrub - turned out pretty good. Villagenut, what do you think? Looks old as s**t to me

I know something like this is probably trash to some, but man I think it's super cool to find something this old.

First side:

Other side:

For size comparison:

villagenut · Jun 9, 2021

Now that it is cleaned up a bit....I would say that your nail is a screw. I see threads?

invent4hir · Jun 9, 2021

villagenut, I agree. Looks like threads near the bottom of the last pic.

Dougie Webb · Jun 9, 2021

villagenut said:
Now that it is cleaned up a bit....I would say that your nail is a screw. I see threads?

Wow! I was wondering why it was so misshapen at the bottom...that never would have occurred to me. Here's a close-up - pretty obvious now that you pointed it out. Thanks!