TIP: Never throw away that scrap until you take a closer look!

[Neil in West Jersey]

I was was giving my Jeep a long overdue cleaning. I was throwing away old scraps of Iron I found at a 19th century tavern site.

I was about to throw away another iron scrap, and when I tool a closer look , I realized it is a trivet! It has the image of an apple on it. It is in realitively good shape.



Can someone give advice on cleaning Iron? Electolysis? Wire brush?

 

[awhitster]

I take my iron stuff to work and use a bead blaster. I knock it down just to the point where it still has that brown patina but gets rid of the loose stuff. Then spray it with clear lacquer. It preserves it and still looks old.

 

[mr miner/logger]

Wire brushing would not be very effective and not everyone has access to a sandblaster. Electrolysis is the way to go.

 

[Neil in West Jersey]

[quote mr miner/logger]Wire brushing would not be very effective and not everyone has access to a sandblaster. Electrolysis is the way to go.[/quote]

 

[John-Edmonton]

I soak mine in vinegar for 6-24 hours. Then, when it is to a stage I am satisfied, I put on a layer of clear nail polish.

 

[mr miner/logger]

It would take a very long time, I use car battery chargers that I pick up at auctions for $5-$10 and even then on larger items it may take a couple days to get completely rust free. I then spray with WD-40. When that is dry I coat with varnish.