Piece of iron help.

[Garabaldi]

Dug this in an old area that I have been to many times. Anyone have any idea what this is?

 

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[vayank54]

It looks like a standard issue civil war sturrip to me. I've dug quite a few different variations and sizes. they used to be a pretty common find. Also like Breezie asked what method did they say to use to clean it.

 

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[kuger]

It looks like a standard issue civil war sturrip to me. I've dug quite a few different variations and sizes. they used to be a pretty common find. Also like Breezie asked what method did they say to use to clean it.

Your right on as usual "V",I would give it a shot in the electrolosis tank,a wire brush or steel wool wont hurt it either

 

[vayank54]

It looks like a standard issue civil war sturrip to me. I've dug quite a few different variations and sizes. they used to be a pretty common find. Also like Breezie asked what method did they say to use to clean it.

Your right on as usual "V",I would give it a shot in the electrolosis tank,a wire brush or steel wool wont hurt it either

Thanks. that's what I was thinking on the cleaning. Someone told me a way to clean iron that might be better but I want to talk to him again and try it myself before I say much about it.

 

[Garabaldi]

A member of my club suggested to take a bucket with water, add lye, which you can buy at a soap making store off the internet. Also add zink, which you can buy at a boat store. Make sure you leave it outside I guess. I guess this stops the rusting process. Anyone ever hear of this? I have yet to buy and try it.

 

[vayank54]

I used to do it with lye but lye can eat up the iron and your skin. I ruined a nice colt lockplate years ago. Plus the lye is poisonous and you have to figure out how to get rid of it when you are done. A better way is with an auto battery charger. It doesn't have to be a big one. Get a container big enough to hold your relic and put enough water to completely submerge the iron. Put baking soda in the water. Probably about 1/4 cup will do for the stirrup. clean a small area on the stirrup with a wire brush to get good contact hook the positive (red) clamp to the sturrip and put it in the water. Clamp the negetive clamp to a piece of stainless steel. Old spoon and knives work great. I use ones that I dig. Put the stainless in the water and pug in the charger. The relic and stainless will start foaming. you may have to take the stirrup out and reconnect it once or twice to make sure it is getting good contact. Depending on the relic it could be clean in a few hour or it may take a day or more. Using the charger is alot better than lye though. I put extensions on my charger as the clamps will corrodes. You can buy clamps and wire at a hardware store or in the auto section of Wally world. Put the clamp on a piece of wire about a foot long and clamp the wire in the clamps to your charger and the store bought clamp to the relic. I hope this makes sense if not just let me know.

 

[kuger]

I used to do it with lye but lye can eat up the iron and your skin. I ruined a nice colt lockplate years ago. Plus the lye is poisonous and you have to figure out how to get rid of it when you are done. A better way is with an auto battery charger. It doesn't have to be a big one. Get a container big enough to hold your relic and put enough water to completely submerge the iron. Put baking soda in the water. Probably about 1/4 cup will do for the stirrup. clean a small area on the stirrup with a wire brush to get good contact hook the positive (red) clamp to the sturrip and put it in the water. Clamp the negetive clamp to a piece of stainless steel. Old spoon and knives work great. I use ones that I dig. Put the stainless in the water and pug in the charger. The relic and stainless will start foaming. you may have to take the stirrup out and reconnect it once or twice to make sure it is getting good contact. Depending on the relic it could be clean in a few hour or it may take a day or more. Using the charger is alot better than lye though. I put extensions on my charger as the clamps will corrodes. You can buy clamps and wire at a hardware store or in the auto section of Wally world. Put the clamp on a piece of wire about a foot long and clamp the wire in the clamps to your charger and the store bought clamp to the relic. I hope this makes sense if not just let me know.

I would personally not mess with the Lye,as above the electrolosis is much easier.You wont hurt anything with a wire brush or steel wool,then alight coat of gun oil will "stop",further deterioration.

 

[Breezie]

Okay, let me get this straight: VaYank & Kuger are you saying the pics I posted of the 2 stirrups are correct, and this IS a Civil War issue stirrup?

I agree 100% about people being smaller during that time. I have 2 Victorian Eastlake walnut beds, and I had to have the side rails lengthened to be able to sleep in them without my feet hitting the foot board. I'm 5'8".

Okay, Garabaldi, I take back my 'dang,' and give you again. Breezie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

electrolysis is best for iron I think. (not my pic). Its from TN somewhere.

 

[Breezie]

NICE stirrup BCH! Breezie (not in bold; lol)

 

[vayank54]

Kuger. thanks for adding about the oil or something to preserve it.
And yes Breezie you were right. don't let it go to your head. Ok?
I have to agree about people being smaller too. I was in, what the people back then called, a house it was built in 1810 was about 20x20 with a loft about half that. I'm about 5'8" and my head touched the logs that ran under the floor to the loft. The owner said that about 13 people lived in that house.

 

[Garabaldi]

Wow, looks like I woke up to some great news. Thanks again Breezie and ballbuster. I am going to change my heading on todays find again.
I am definately going to use the electrolisys method. That lye sounds nasty. I can't afford to loose any more brain cells than I allready have.
I understand your explanation vayank. Does your charger ever get to hot?

 

[vayank54]

Wow, looks like I woke up to some great news. Thanks again Breezie and ballbuster. I am going to change my heading on todays find again.
I am definately going to use the electrolisys method. That lye sounds nasty. I can't afford to loose any more brain cells than I allready have.
I understand your explanation vayank. Does your charger ever get to hot?

I was afraid of the charger overheating at first too. I've left mine on several days at a time with no problem. Just make sure you secure the wires someway so if they get bumped or something the relic and the stainless can't touch and it should be fine. I know a guy who left his on for 2 weeks cleaning an 80 pound shell.

 

[Breezie]

Is there any problem with electrocution and this process? Something about water and electricity doesn't set really well with me. I don't want us to have 'sad singing' and 'slow riding' for Garabaldi. Breezie

 

[vayank54]

I've touched the connectors and got the crud shocked out of myself but I'm still alive And NO!!!! I didn't do it on purpose.
I don't think it puts out enough current to electrocute a person.

 

[72cheyenne]

Is there any problem with electrocution and this process? Something about water and electricity doesn't set really well with me. I don't want us to have 'sad singing' and 'slow riding' for Garabaldi. Breezie

This process is using DC current, which while it can still shock you, is much less dangerous than the household 120v AC current.

 

[thrillathahunt]

Garabaldi, the width of your stirrup is exactly the same as one I found here in central Texas. 3 7/8"...I always thought it was too small for a man's shoe. But, as was stated, I quess feet were smaller then.

 

[Garabaldi]

Very nice thrilla.
As far as the shocking, I spent many weeks at the "one who flew over the cuckoos nest" type hospital.