Wreckdiver1715 question

[Bigcypresshunter]

Wreckdiver, How did you get that piece of lead sheathing, that is posted in 'finds!', so clean? I found a piece. I put in electrolysis at 12V for several days, but it does nothing to it.

 

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[wreckdiver1715]

Bigcypresshunter, that photo shows the lead sheeting pretty much the way it came up off the bottom a couple years back. It was covered by a couple of feet of overburden for the last couple of hundred years, and did not require any type of preservation. I also found a lead block at the same site. It was covered with a black substance when I recovered it. I ran it through the Electrolysis tank with limited success. That process seemed to change the piece on a molecular level, as parts of it became brittle around the edges.
Can you post a picture of the one you are trying to preserve?

Q

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I guess mine is too far gone to try to preserve.
My acid test shows it to be lead.
I found it on the beach at Rio Mar after hurricane Wilma. I have it in a bucket of water. Maybe I should throw it back in the ocean.

 

[wreckdiver1715]

I would not throw it into the ocean; it is still a part of history, even if it may not be in museum condition. It is still a part of history that you found, and I would hang onto it.

Q

 

[U.K. Brian]

To clean the white oxide off lead its best to use EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid). Best got as a disodium salt and diluted down with water to about a 5% mixture. Avoid breathing and keep off your hands. The solution can be used several times.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The first and most obvious cleaning problem I have is coral.
There is almost 1/2 inch of coral rock growing on the artifact in places, along with algae and crustaceans. How should I remove the coral? Should I break it off?

 

[Southcacalaky]

The first and most obvious cleaning problem I have is coral.
There is almost 1/2 inch of coral rock growing on the artifact in places, along with algae and crustaceans. How should I remove the coral? Should I break it off?

Back in my ealier days, I used TSP Trisodium Phosphate to clean metal from grease and light scale. We also used it to clean some coral that was from the Indian Ocean, However, our Chief put to much in the tank and disolved the coral completely. Will this work for what you want ? You can alway try a test piece. Where can you get TSP? I'm not sure, possibly a hardware store. If you try a test piece, let us know your results, HH Art...