Cleaning off the Crud, how do you get to the relic without destroying them in the process??

[bdahunter]

Over the past couple of weeks I have found several heavily encrusted objects, usually at significant depth (2-3 feet). I have tried soaking them in freshwater to stabilize them but when I chip away at crud encasing the find it shatters and is ruined. The finds are all ferrous and are jet black and brittle like a metallic charcoal.
I sure would like to know how to save these pieces rather than ruin them. I've tried searching the web for preservation techniques but haven't found anything that was really useful, the archeologists are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to preservation techniques.

Thanks All,

BDA

 

[grdavis]

Go to Google and look for civilwaroutpost. He is a local shop in the Atlanta area, and has a section on electrolysis using Lye and some other common chemicals. That'll do her...

Glenn

 

[VaBill]

Elect:
http://www.civilwaroutpost.com/Cleaning%20Shells.htm

Zinc:
http://www.civilwaroutpost.com/Ironrelics.htm