***Attention Experts***

[68GTOFINDER]

How do you decide what is junk and what is not junk? I mean I find what looks like scrap iron sometimes but can't ID the piece. Don't know if its crap or not. Any ideas thanks

 

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[creskol]

Posting it here would be a good start.

 

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<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=908257"/>

 

[68GTOFINDER]

To me it's a ball of some unspecified type metal.

 

[CoilyGirl]

Electrolysis is a good way to determine if you have trash or treasure.I'm sure there are some links here about it if you do a search.

 

[68GTOFINDER]

What about dropping it into a container of rust remover?

 

[relicmeister]

Looks like A hunk of iron to me, too. I always take them home cause you never know at first look. At home, I hit off the concretion on the outside with a hammer, then
a flathead screwdriver or putty knife or even coarse file. Then I use my bench wire-wheel. If it doesn't reveal a distinct object by then I usually scrap it. If it's
an identifiable object that will look good displayed, I finish restoring and preserving it. I have quite a few iron relics found throughout the summer and fall that I would
like to post on the what is it forum for ID .

 

[68GTOFINDER]

Well cause I read on here one guy found what he called musket balls. I'm thinking it looks like this piece I posted, how do you tell

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

I saw that post with the musket balls and I am guessing they were lead and your item looks to be iron that would be a determining factor in why his were musket balls.

 

[cudamark]

How do you decide what is junk and what is not junk? I mean I find what looks like scrap iron sometimes but can't ID the piece. Don't know if its crap or not. Any ideas thanks

First, you need to take the location into consideration. Are you hunting a site that produces old relics? Iron or steel items like you posted would have to be cleaned a bit to determine what they are. I'd go with the rust remover first, rather than more drastic measures (like hitting it with a hammer or using a file). Once you know (or not) a little more about what it is, you can then decide if it's value is worth the time and expense of cleaning it further. I you post your progress here, along with a size gauge, we might be able to help in the I.D.

 

[Thommy]

Personally, I keep "junk" pieces in a box of "Whazzits"/ That way, if I come across an ID, I can go back and get the piece. Of course, after a few years I have built up a lot of boxes of whazzits.

 

[lisfisher]

Posted by CoilyGirl:

Electrolysis is a good way to determine if you have trash or treasure

That's right! If it comes out of the electric bath with the detail cooked right off and completely destroyed, it's treasure. If it comes out all clean and shiny, it's trash.

 

[68GTOFINDER]

@Lisfisher LOL

 

[koolaidsmile]

Well I believe I can see where it says miller on it do I'm gonna go with miller beer can

Kathy (koolaidsmile) :-)

 

[koolaidsmile]

Here's a trick I learned! Go on a iphone app that gives you different photo effects like cartooning,exposure black and white etc then apply it to your picture. Try different applications until you think you might see something. This works really well trying to read writing on old and/or corroded items especially jewelry etc. I think it might even say eveready like the battery?

Kathy (koolaidsmile) :-)

 

[koolaidsmile]

Kathy (koolaidsmile) :-)