Rusty axe heads and wood splitter finds 2013

[GatorBoy]

I can't use oil the urethane won't stick

 

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[Kaleb71386]

Can I see some thing you did?

 

[GatorBoy]

I'm away from home at the moment and hardly have any photos handy.. but here's something

 

[Kaleb71386]

 

[bronco]

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Awesome Kaleb,
Thanks for the follow up and pic.
WOuld you mind recapping for me your steps?

I some very similar iron that needs preserving and I've been afraid to try.

Thanks Again
Bronco

 

[Kaleb71386]

I'm not done yet still need to seal it. But I will tell you what I did

 

[Kaleb71386]

Step one soak in apple cider vinegar don't try to clean it the first day. Take it out wipe it off with towel take a wire brush to it then I took a rotary tool with a wire brush on it I will take a pic of it so you know what I'm talking about worked good for me then I put it in the oven on low heat to dry and that's all I did so far.. I was scared to clean it too but it looks good so far

 

[GatorBoy]

Here's a tip.. If you believe it's very old and it might have some historical value do not use a wire rotary tool.
I actually only use wood if the material has not loosened to the point a wooden dowel can remove it then it needs to soak longer.
On really thick crusted items I will use metal when I know I'm no where near the actual artifact as soon as I get close the metal gets put away.. Your piece turned out good had it been an 18th century axe head or some other historical artifact that would have ruined it

 

[Kaleb71386]

 

[Kaleb71386]

Thanks for the late tip. I'm done now smoked it with a candle then sealed it looks nice to me needs a handle then I'm going to give it to a vet I hunt with

 

[GatorBoy]

That turned out real good that is a roofing tool you know. The blade for cutting shingles the hammer on the poll end for nailing and the notch for removing nails

 

[Kaleb71386]

here is what I used super soft wire brush won't even poke your finger it's so soft

 

[Kaleb71386]

That turned out real good that is a roofing tool you know. The blade for cutting shingles the hammer on the poll end for nailing and the notch for removing nails

Yes I know I just put axe heads cuz it was easy. I think smoking it made it look better what do you think? Can I see your wood tool you use might need to pick one up..oh do you know what the handle looked like was it straight or curved?

 

[GatorBoy]

I tear up the wooden tools by the time I'm done.. you can use anything a wooden spoon I use a little wooden spatula alot.. Right on down to using toothpicks sometimes.
I'm not sure what the smoking did I guess maybe it put the patina look back on it.
What I did with mine was used the light acid in apple cider vinegar to loosen the crust so I could remove it when it got down to a thin layer of material I used electrolysis that way I didn't lose the patina.. It leaves it looking dark grey to black.
I'm sure the handles could differ but you can just google roofing hatchet

 

[Kaleb71386]

Yeah it made it darker. So did I ruin it the way I cleaned it ?

 

[Kaleb71386]

Here is what I mean by smoking then I just took a tooth brush really soft over it I smoked it two times now I just need to seal it

 

[GatorBoy]

Adding the look of natural patina isn't going to ruin anything I wouldn't worry about that actually removing the patina is what would concern me had the item been historically significant.
That's actually a new method to me looks like it works very good to get the natural look of age.

 

[GatorBoy]

Mine is sealed it became too unstable to go any further.
Oops..lol

 

[Kaleb71386]

Yeah I like yours.. Much older then mine is

 

[GatorBoy]

Yours came out good though look at it this way if you find an older one it won't be nearly as frightening to start cleaning it