Opinion on conservation methods appreciated (swords)

9

99*

Guest
I deleted the other posts, boring I guess. So If I had found several swords with various handles, does anyone have any special technique with conservation, that being they are so covered with coral and growth, would one clean the handle and leave the blade (all still in their sheaths) or treat the whole deal and what doesn't collapse under treatment display, or just keep them in their coral state? Some opinions from people who have found them would be nice, if anyone here has the time. Does the blade survive? Maybe remove the sheath? I look forward to your responses.99*
 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!
99*, you may try to contact the following gentleman for advice. He is a leading (now mostly retired) conservator of shipwreck artifacts. I know Doug personally and have seen his work in various museums. He also sells a really nice CD on conservation methods which is wonderfully educational.

Douglas R. Armstrong
1618 Emmaus Road NW
Palm Bay, FL 32907
Tel.: (407) 727-0221
Fax: (407) 984-0975
E-Mail: [email protected]

Regards, Tom
 

Tom,

Thanks for the help, I appreciate and respect your input. Maybe one day I will show up and buy you a beer. Or ask for your help to work on a site. I will get hold of this guy.99*
 

99*, your post wasnt boring. The picture was great, i would love to find somthing while diving, especialy a sword. Was the water deep or shallow where you found it? Did you find it using a md? It's great to see good pictures from pottery shards to gold & everything in between.

Good Hunting
Jeff
 

An X-Ray would be a good idea, but you have what you have and that is not going to change. The only decision is if it is worth saving, or preserve it in its encrusted form, which is still cool.

If you have determined that there is enough iron left, let electrolysis do the work for you. Use an air scribe to remove small areas of encrustation to attach probes. As the encrustation loosens, use the air scribe to remove it. The only problem is the sheath. You need to be sure you get probes on the blade.

Be sure they are soaking in Salt Away while you get this set up.
 

99,
Keep the swords in freshwater. Depending on their age and nationality swords were built differently. As technology changed construction techniques varied. Most swords in our conservation labs were separated into their component parts and each piece was conserved by a different method.
Get on goggle and look up Jim Sinclair. I think he is at searex.com. he is a professional conservator and did much of the Atocha collection as well as Titanic material.
Donovan
 

I have my own personal X-ray machine in my shop,plus a film processor.if anyone here in florida needs some coral encrusted artifact X-rayed let me know.
 

Jim Sinclair was hired by me in 1980 to be head conservator for Treasure Salvors Inc. collection of material from the wrecks of Nuestra senora de Atocha, Santa Margarita and Henrieta Marie.
Don Kincaid
 

Guys and Gals,
I have several swords I have started conservation I cut a large 80 gallon fuel tank open (Plastic) and have made up two cables with gator clips I have a started a mild treatment 2 amps with "salt away" Negative to the sword positive to the anode which I used a standard steel strapped Aluminium anode , I plan to change them to Zinc and increase to 4 amps in a week. Right now the same shape as the anode and sword have appeared in floating state of salt crystal and garbage directly above the items, pretty neat I will take a pic tonight.
Now for the record:
Thank you Don Kincaid, you are good man and I respect your views I will follow through, Conservator your input albeit appreciated should not state that unless Herb was the man no one else could have as they are fibbers, Don was there and is still a very important person playing a great role in this industry his photographs alone speak volumes, you Conservator are more than likely very well educated and know your avenue of Conservation, your points and opinions are noted and not all 20 year plus vets are dodo`s, some try their best which is more than a lot of governments or archaeologists,I am fresh and young and eager to learn in fact twenty years ago I was a snotty brat, lets put our heads together I like your views, you owe Don an apology at best a beer, I'm going to look for more swords, I will tell you if the handle has a ruby in the base it definitely appears so! Have a good weekend and keep up the info its highly sought after, 99*
 

99, once you start electrolysis, switch to soda ash. It works far better than baking soda. I have never tried RE with Salt Away, but I would be interested if it worked. I will test the PH of my Salt Away tanks...

Good luck on the ruby!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Curt Petersen was the conservator for the State of Florida on the Atocha material from 1971 till 1976. He is currently at the Mariners Museum in Va. working on the Monitor artifacts. Austin Fowles and Jaimy Leavy worked for Curt. When Curt left Herb Bump came after him. From 1976 on, no Atocha artifacts were in state hands, since they lost a court case with Mel Fisher. The state conserved about 6000 silver coins and a couple of thousand other artifacts. Jim Sinclair took care of 180,000 silver coins, a thousand silver bars and 250,000 other artifacts. There is a data base with pictures and drawings at www.historicshipwrecks.com and at melfisher.org
Enjoy,
Don Kincaid
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Cattewater Wreck Plymouth UK

⬅️ Previous Thread

imagenex digital sub-bottom profiler DF-1030

Next Thread ➡️

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Simplex Metal Detector

Latest Discussions

Back
Top