Here is my 'first' batch of tumbled/restored iron finds from 2017.
I tumbled these for 24hrs, changing the gravel, beach sand & soap after 12 hours. I then tumbled one last time for anther 12 hours with only the stone medium & soap. I experimented using different rock size mediums (aquarium gravel), abrasives (beach sand) and the lengths of time required to achieve the results I desired without over restoring a relic. I then tested different solutions to preserve/protect the different metals from further deterioration following the tumbling process. Here I’ve restored a horse curry comb, a 'Mickey Mouse' smokehouse padlock, a horse harness buckle and a 'Bowie' type knife. This knife will never be used to cut again, and I have no intention of ever sharpening it. But, I felt that it deserved to at least have a handle, I think it makes it that much more interesting. This is the 4th smokehouse lock that I found at the same site along with 40+ coppers dating from 1850 - 1920. It also turned out to be in the best-looking padlock 'restoration wise' after tumbling. I picked up the wooden replacement handle for the antique horse curry comb in September. I realize this handle isn't 'period appropriate', but I wasn't even sure if I would ever find a handle with age that looked right. I also put a new handle on the old knife, not my best work, I just didn't want it to look 'too new'. All of these relics were found on the site you see pictured here.I started tumbling 6 years ago with a small Loretone Model 45C tumbler, but I soon realized that I needed a larger capacity tumbler. Last year I bought a Loretone QT12, which allows me to tumbler larger items and more items at once. I quickly found that the more I detected, the more I found and want to keep! To protect/preserve your iron relic finds from literally falling to pieces as they 'dry out' requires tumbling or electrolysis. Now I've never tried electrolysis before, but the tumbling method has worked out best for me.
Loretone Model 45C - "This model is where you can put slightly larger stones in the barrel as it measures 3-1/2” by depth, with a 5-3/4” diameter. You can also process more material as the barrel is rated to hold around 4 lbs. of contents".
Loretone Model QT12 - "This is a large barrel measuring 7-1/2” depth by 6-3/4” diameter and can contain up to 12 lbs. of contents. You can tumble large items in this barrel. The heaviest items (axe heads) I've tumbled in a barrel this size weighed about 5 lbs".
Relic Tumbling Methods
•Next time you go to the beach, gather some small ¾” – 1” pebbles and some sand.
•Put your relics in the tumbler, add the pebbles, and about 2 tablespoons of the sand to make the tumbler about 3/4 full. Fill with water (to a little below the top of the pebbles) and add a touch of liquid detergent. Put the lid on and shake it to distribute the relics and pebbles evenly.
•Let it tumble for about 2 - 4 hours. Open it up and drain off the dirty water. Refill with clean water, add a touch of liquid detergent more sand if desired and tumble for another couple of hours or overnight.
•Open it up and pour into a strainer or screen that has holes large enough to let your pebbles and sand fall through, but not your coins. Rinse the relics well then spread them out on newspaper or on a towel to dry. I tumble brass and copper things that have corrosion on them too, like buckles and buttons and keys, etc. I prefer to separate the copper, brass, iron and silver items when they tumble. I have tried it both ways, and if you decide to tumble them together or let them tumble too long, your brass & copper will turn a brown colour. This is easily removed with another tumbling with more sand and gravel.
DO NOT MIX THE DIFFERENT METAL GROUPS
•In a tumbler barrel, (remember not to mix the metal groups), then add aquarium gravel to a little less than ⅔ to ¾ full. Cover the mixture with water (do NOT over fill); add 1 SMALL squirt of liquid dish soap.
•After 1 - 2 of tumbling, pour out the tumbler of relics and gravel into a strainer. Rinse it all well while 'stirring' or turning it over so that beach sand washes out leaving only the aquarium gravel. Once all the aquarium gravel has been separated from the metal, rinse the metal with hot water. This helps increase the drying time.
•Pour the rinsed relics onto a towel on a counter top and allow them to dry. Continue with the next batch of metal to be tumbled. Once all relics are completely dry, they can be stored for display.
Sorry for being so long winded!
Dave
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