Iron Artifacts Restoration

archaeology22 · Nov 7, 2016

Recently finished restoring some extreme rusted iron artifacts and thought I'd share some before and after photos. Here are my first two: a pulley wheel from a hay trolley found at an old abandoned farm site and a 6 lb iron found at an abandoned CCC camp. More to come.

rreahard · Nov 7, 2016

Great job!

Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct) · Nov 7, 2016

Nice work! How do you do it?

Country Dirt Kid · Nov 7, 2016

What the secret to getting them back to the original gray?

archaeology22 · Nov 7, 2016

Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct) said:
Nice work! How do you do it?

It takes patience of course. I start out with a wood chisel and scrape off the larger rust flakes, then get at it with a wire brush. After that I will sand it or use a wire wheel - depending on how badly rusted it is. Then I soak it in Evapo-rust for 24-48 hours. After the Evapo-rust bath, I wash it down with soap and water and a wire brush and let it dry. If there is still rust on it, soak it again for another 24 hrs and repeat the process. I'm currently working on a railroad spike and some horseshoes. Will post when they're done.

Wildcat1750 (nyjrbethelct) · Nov 7, 2016

archaeology22 said:
It takes patience of course. I start out with a wood chisel and scrape off the larger rust flakes, then get at it with a wire brush. After that I will sand it or use a wire wheel - depending on how badly rusted it is. Then I soak it in Evapo-rust for 24-48 hours. After the Evapo-rust bath, I wash it down with soap and water and a wire brush and let it dry. If there is still rust on it, soak it again for another 24 hrs and repeat the process. I'm currently working on a railroad spike and some horseshoes. Will post when they're done.

Thanks, archaelogy22. I've started using Evapo-rust as well with very good results. May give apple cider vinegar a try next.
Nick

Ice Scratcher · Nov 7, 2016

Bank Fisher said:
What the secret to getting them back to the original gray?

Sandblast. Done..

<°)))>{

TrpnBils · Nov 11, 2016

Any reason you don't do electrolysis? I've always done that and have been happy with the results and it seems to go quickly. The only difference I see is that electrolysis seems to take it back to a darker color.

Do you seal yours with anything? Wax? Oil?

archaeology22 · Nov 11, 2016

TrpnBils said:
Any reason you don't do electrolysis? I've always done that and have been happy with the results and it seems to go quickly. The only difference I see is that electrolysis seems to take it back to a darker color.

Do you seal yours with anything? Wax? Oil?

No particular reason. I use electrolysis for smaller items; I just don't have the space to set up a large electrolysis unit (no garage and live in the city). I have seen online how well electrolysis works for larger iron artifacts and like you said, the only difference I see is the darker color. I find the evapo-rust works well and I tend to like the gray color that they turn out to be. I am going to eventually seal them with paraffin wax, but first I will soak them in the evapo-rust once more before I do that, as I still see some rust on them.

Strider · Nov 11, 2016

archaeology22 said:
It takes patience of course. I start out with a wood chisel and scrape off the larger rust flakes, then get at it with a wire brush. After that I will sand it or use a wire wheel - depending on how badly rusted it is. Then I soak it in Evapo-rust for 24-48 hours. After the Evapo-rust bath, I wash it down with soap and water and a wire brush and let it dry. If there is still rust on it, soak it again for another 24 hrs and repeat the process. I'm currently working on a railroad spike and some horseshoes. Will post when they're done.

Evapo-Rust is great stuff!!!

dlax · Nov 12, 2016

Awesome, thanks for posting! Gives me hope for my growing pile of rust that I hope to clean this winter. That clothes iron is a great find.

Iron Artifacts Restoration

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