Trade Axe / Tomahawk Cleaning progress

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Trade Axe, or tomahawk as it is only 5.5 inches long, and about 1 pound.
I found it in Sept. has had a vinegar soak for about a month, it's now 80% or so down to clean metal. I picked off a couple of flakes, and decided I'll put it back in for a couple/few more weeks, should be able to get it 100% rust free.

This thing was VERY rusty, there was a lot of sludge in the bucket.

Before.


After about 1 month.



Another snow storm, so I'll be putting my year end post together today, tomorrow.

Good luck out there.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[Bill D. (VA)]

Rick - nice looking piece that you have there. I didn't realize a vinegar soak would clean up iron like that. Good to know, and I'll have to try it. I have a colonial hoe in the electrolysis tank now, but it has some deep corrosion in spots that's difficult to remove without eating away at the already cleaned base metal. I'll be looking for your year-end post as I know you had a great 2013. BTW - its supposed to be in the 70s here this weekend. Too warm for me for this time of year.

 

[Ahab8]

Coming along nicely Rick. I found an enormous axe head at one of the first sites I hit. It's been soaking for 3 weeks or so and I'm amazed at how much rust is coming off that thing

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

It does really work well, and it is cheap.
you don't have to worry about the solid metal, so you don't have to keep an eye on it.
If you were in a hurry, for a little more money you could use something stronger.

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Turning out nice Rick, now to find a good pice of Hickory to wittle down for a handle. That thing will be spectacular.
ZDD

 

[Ahab8]

Luckily I'm in no rush as it's been freezing cold and we've got about 2 feet of snow on the ground and more on the way. It's been unusually cold here my friend

 

[Greylock]

That's coming along great. Love it when it's a low maintenance cleaning.

Bill- I've been using cider vinegar since I starting pulling iron. Some things take a while to clean but it does wonders. Like Rick said you don't have to worry about the metal unless its really corroded. I had a few spoons that kinda fell apart but it was my own fault for not checking them and they were pretty bad to begin with but most of the time it's fine. Every now and then Just check on it and see how it's doing. I usually take a wire wheel to it when it's close just to get any remaining rust in the cracks. Some good paint and its ready to be displayed. Here's one of my buckles that had good results.

 

[diggingcrazy]

great looking trade axe rick .Love to find one of those.

 

[PeteWmass]

I still think oxalic acid would be cheaper than buying all that vinegar.....or even citric....

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I still think oxalic acid would be cheaper than buying all that vinegar.....or even citric....

3 to 4 bucks a gallon...really ?

 

[mangum]

I use the vinegar method too. I just finish it up with a brush (or soak) of Evaporust to stop any flash rusting. As you can see, the results are impressive. That axe is coming out great, what a sweet find!

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

I use the vinegar method too. I just finish it up with a brush (or soak) of Evaporust to stop any flash rusting. As you can see, the results are impressive. That axe is coming out great, what a sweet find!

Thanks Magnum, (oops just realized your name is mangum...sorry)
That is a pretty awesome old lock you got there, and BIG ! I've not got one of those yet, good find.

 

[mangum]

Thanks Magnum, (oops just realized your name is mangum...sorry) That is a pretty awesome old lock you got there, and BIG ! I've not got one of those yet, good find.

Everyone pronounces & spells it Magnum! I'm used to it lol.

 

[Beeps in my sleep]

Do you change out the vinegar after so long or leave the same vinegar in until your find is clean? I saw this thread yesterday and put a huge iron rusted ring in a bowl of apple cider vinegar. Just curious if I need to change it out so often or if I am using the wrong vinegar. I usually use electrolysis but figured I would try something new that wouldn't require me to be at the house when its cleaning. This way I can clean goodies while I am at work without worrying about burning the house down or frying my find.

 

[Rick (Nova Scotia)]

Do you change out the vinegar after so long or leave the same vinegar in until your find is clean? I saw this thread yesterday and put a huge iron rusted ring in a bowl of apple cider vinegar. Just curious if I need to change it out so often or if I am using the wrong vinegar. I usually use electrolysis but figured I would try something new that wouldn't require me to be at the house when its cleaning. This way I can clean goodies while I am at work without worrying about burning the house down or frying my find.

Not sure if you "have to" change out the vinegar, but yes I did after a few days, and wiped/scraped off the loose stuff at the time, put it back in some fresh, yes apple cider vinegar.

 

[Davers]

Looks good, ACV works well but just a little to slow for the " I want it NOW " day and age.
Just beware when soaking DON"T let any Brass/Copper touch the vinegar cause it WILL take off A lot of the PATINA .
I learned the hard way. Good Luck..
Davers

 

[poorman15]

Rick - nice looking piece that you have there. I didn't realize a vinegar soak would clean up iron like that. Good to know, and I'll have to try it. I have a colonial hoe in the electrolysis tank now, but it has some deep corrosion in spots that's difficult to remove without eating away at the already cleaned base metal. I'll be looking for your year-end post as I know you had a great 2013. BTW - its supposed to be in the 70s here this weekend. Too warm for me for this time of year.

What does this colonial hoe look like? I found one recently that has a hoe on one end and a U shape cut out for what I assumed was for digging potatoes. There was an old log cabin located there sometime in the 1800's. I think I need to make an electrolysis and see how it turns out.

 

[screwynewy]

What does this colonial hoe look like?

Here you go............Oh, sorry, wrong kind of hoe

 

[golddigger12]

Why Apple cider vinegar as opposed to regular white vinegar?

 

[zaxfire69]

Apple Cider vinegar is excellent on iron. After I get iron pieces cleaned the way I want them I put the iron in the oven and warm it up to around 225 for several minutes and dry all the moisture out of the iron . Then while hot I take it outside and brush on a coat of Briwax to seal the iron from ever corroding again. Briwax is beautiful on iron. Soaks into the iron while hot.