Rusty axe heads and wood splitter finds 2013

[Kaleb71386]

Not sure how old they are I'm about to clean them but need to work up the courage think I will do them one at a time

 

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[GatorBoy]

They don't look that bad a soak in apple cider vinegar would probably do it.
Nice finds... I just found my first one the other day...ALOT more crusty.

 

[Kaleb71386]

I'm soaking them in water then brushing them off and changing the water every day for a week or so then soaking them in linseed oil for a week then I will put them in the oven to dry then smoking them with a candle got it from this book I have

 

[GatorBoy]

If you don't mind me asking why the water? are you trying to leach out saltwater? If they were found in salt water I could understand that otherwise you will just be adding to the rust.. Then removing it then adding to it again pretty redundant.

 

[GatorBoy]

I'll try to save you some time and trouble throw that book away and just put them in some apple cider vinegar... Electrolysis would work but I'm guessing you haven't done that many times

 

[GatorBoy]

You should have a much easier time than I'm going to have with my latest project.

 

[Kaleb71386]

Your right the book was talking about salt water finds duh on my part..I think I'm dealing with just surface rust so it says use commercial rust remover . Can you just use any vinegar ? I have used electrolysis on small stuff I made one out of a phone charger

 

[GatorBoy]

Just about any commercial product that's going to remove rust is an acid apple cider vinegar is an acid.. You could probably use any vinegar heck you could probably use ketchup or Italian dressing but apple cider vinegar will work the best.
You'll want to proceed with the process of drying and sealing the object just the same afterward to prevent it from rusting again.. Personally I don't use wax though it will work to block the oxygen from getting to the object

 

[Kaleb71386]

So I should soak it in linseed oil after the cleaning?

 

[GatorBoy]

It will condition the iron.
It will work well to keep it from shrinking and cracking... but if you plan to coat them with something like polyurethane you can't oil them.

 

[GatorBoy]

I hope you don't mind... here is how mine is coming along.
I'm using a combination of electrolysis and cider vinegar.

 

[Kaleb71386]

Yeah I want to see it when it's done

 

[GatorBoy]

Yours as well.

 

[Talondale]

The first one is a shingle axe/hatchet used for roofing.

 

[GatorBoy]

Well.. here is where I stop with this one.
It's starting to crack in the hip area where the face meets the poll end.
Too much saltwater over the centuries.

 

[GatorBoy]

I still need to wipe it down but you'll get the general idea.
Sometimes there's nothing left of the metal so I'm happy this piece is as preserved as it is

 

[Kaleb71386]

I still need to wipe it down but you'll get the general idea.
Sometimes there's nothing left of the metal so I'm happy this piece is as preserved as it is

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Awesome what's the next step? Mine is about done with cleaning and I want your input what to do next

 

[GatorBoy]

Low-temperature oven drying for a few hours.

 

[Kaleb71386]

No oil soak?

 

[GatorBoy]

I seal mine with a clear non-glossy polyurethane. That's just what I've been doing with shipwreck artifacts I suppose anything that will keep the oxygen away will work I just don't like wax because environmental conditions can change it.