Uncovered this while cleaning it up.....Need Help on how to fully clean...

[BENTHOR]

I recently was cleaning this stoneware jug I found in the summer...and upon cleaning it started to reveal some cobalt blue artwork...looks like a flower.......the rust and sediment is really hard to get off...I am wondering if anyone can direct me in the right direction on how to clean this without taking off the paint.

 

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[Professor of Engineering]

Great looking jug! Good luck on the restoration project.

 

[BENTHOR]

Does that mean it's not possible. I'm sure there's a way to remove most of it...

 

[gleaner1]

There is no paint, the design and "coating" is vitreous glaze, made shiny after melting during firing in a super hot kiln. As far as cleaning, its not going to be easy. I would not try to clean it unless it was free of major damage such as large open cracks or big chips. I would try to eat the crud off with a strong acid, perhaps muriatic acid, which is commercially available, masons use it. Fill the jug with sand or gravel. Put the thing in a plastic bucket a bit bigger in diameter and pour in the acid until it almost goes up to the spout of the jug, dont get acid in the jug. The gravel in the jug will keep it from floating out of the container. A few days of this should knock off all the crust and rusty coating. Now, after all this, the glaze will be free of encrusted crap, but the glaze will still be rust stained. Now do the same thing, but use strong peroxide solution. The peroxide should neutralize the rust staining, but it may take a long time (weeks). That looks like a nice jug worthy of all this effort. But if there is any physical damage to it, like cracks or chips, it might not be worth all the effort. Is the handle intact? The spout looks heavily damaged. Flower jugs like yours in mint condition sell for three or four hundred bucks plus.

 

[BENTHOR]

Thanks for the suggestion....the handle is intact, and I do not see any chips or cracks. The very top part of the spout is chipped off. It's a shame, but still a beauty, and I feel it's worth cleaning since it made it this far. I think I will have to take on this cleaning project in the next few weeks. I will post back here when I am finished.

 

[BENTHOR]

Here is another one I found busted with no handle and missing a good portion of the spout.....but much cleaner. Can these be refurbished for selling? What is something like this worth in it's condition?

 

[Bass]

You have a very nice hug under all that crud. It would definitely be worth the trouble if you could successfully remove all that stain and build-up. Keep us posted and let us know how this works out (for whatever means you decide to use to clean it)

 

[BENTHOR]

sounds good, will do!

 

[Harry Pristis]

I suggest oxalic acid ('wood bleach' at your local paint store) to remove the crud from the jug . . . it's less dangerous to work with than muriatic acid.

 

[BENTHOR]

I suggest oxalic acid ('wood bleach' at your local paint store) to remove the crud from the jug . . . it's less dangerous to work with than muriatic acid.

SOUNDS MORE UP MY ALLEY...THANK YOU!

 

[DFX DAVE in M.D.]

Go with Oxalic Acid it can be neutralized with water easy, Muriatic Acid is much harsher, never use Muriatic Acid on metals, it will keep eating away at it until it turns to dust, people tried it on old beer cans, could not be neutralized on metal.

 

[gleaner1]

Muriatic acid is the way to go if you can handle it, it aint a walk in the park no matter what. Just go whole hog and dont whimp out.

 

[bottlehunterofcoscob]

I've used muriatic acid on rust stains and it works like a charm almost right away.

 

[Pacific]

A newbie question so bear with me, will the rust etc just be on the surface then and not have eaten through the paint/glaze?

 

[sandchip]

Use good acid resistant gloves and in a well ventilated area. One whiff of that stuff will larn you a lesson!

One of those stainless steel (not copper) scouring pads should help, too.

After rinsing it with water, I'd rinse the jug good with baking soda and water, then another final water rinse just to make sure no acid is left behind to eat at any tiny breaches in the glaze.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[jolteon]

That's a good question, personally for me before learn how to Clean One I just have to find one!

 

[Decdad]

Love to hear where this ended up. Nice jug!

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Well let me through my two cents worth in. I see allot of that iron oxide on bottles and crocks we get out of the ocean. My method is a good soaking in white vinegar. I have a tub of it and when I get home from a bottle dive I just put them in the tub for about a week, wipe, rinse and most if not all that iron oxide is gone. It's cheep and not a hazard. Now for heavy rust that wont come off I use Phosphoric acid, otherwise know as rust remover, Metalprep or Naval Jelly. Some of my buddies us the muriatic acid, but this is dangerous to work with. Once the bulk of the rust is gone then just apply a coating of the acid with a brush, be sure to wear eye protection, and rinse off after about 20 min.
Good luck, that jug looks awesome.
ZDD

 

[Harry Pristis]

Well let me through my two cents worth in. I see allot of that iron oxide on bottles and crocks we get out of the ocean. My method is a good soaking in white vinegar. I have a tub of it and when I get home from a bottle dive I just put them in the tub for about a week, wipe, rinse and most if not all that iron oxide is gone. It's cheep and not a hazard. Now for heavy rust that wont come off I use Phosphoric acid, otherwise know as rust remover, Metalprep or Naval Jelly. Some of my buddies us the muriatic acid, but this is dangerous to work with. Once the bulk of the rust is gone then just apply a coating of the acid with a brush, be sure to wear eye protection, and rinse off after about 20 min.
Good luck, that jug looks awesome.
ZDD

Phosphoric acid is dangerous stuff . . . PLUS, it is the only easily-obtained acid which will etch glass! Stick with the muriatic acid, or better yet, the oxalic acid (wood bleach).

 

[Tigger]

When cleaning rocks with acid, it was suggested to first soak them in water, so that they absorbed the water rather than the acid, would this be a good idea for the pottery too? And I would first use a plastic scrubbie rather than a metal one, you can always go stronger, so start with softer tools first. Just an idea.
Give us an "after" picture when you're done, so we can see how well this works...
Tigger