Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Restoring old farm artifacts

How do I restore old farm artifacts, I've found many things so far on my land here in MA, I've found old pitchforks, parts to tractors, old bolts, tractor attachments, brackets from a car or tractor, piece of a old horse plow. We've also found an old well on the land, while clearing for a house. Also some of the bricks I've dug up, are bulged in the middle, I'd crack it in half and the brick is like gray-greenish-orangish color inside. Well, getting back to the metal, I'm not sure if its steel or cast-iron, but some of the metal is pitted, and rusty, how can I clean these up?

A. Moore
ths - Pittsfield, Massachusetts
2005

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Sandblast or wire brush the worst of the rust off, then paint. Alternately you can work a coating of beeswax =>
onto the surface of the metal (if you are a die hard traditionalist).
The decision to use the beeswax or to paint the object should depend on where it will be located, if it is going to be indoors you can get away with the wax finish, outside go with the paint.

Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2005

Hi - I have recently found a handy way to remove rust from various iron or steel objects. It is a electrolysis process that utilizes a regular car battery charger [on eBay or Amazon] and washing soda [on eBay or Amazon] (laundry product ) in a plastic container. Mix 1 tablespoon of soda per gallon of water required to cover rusted part. Attach positive battery clip to a piece of scrap steel or iron, attach negative battery clip to part to be cleaned. Suspend both in solution. Turn on battery charger, trickle charge setting is all you need. A stream of small bubbles from part tells you process is working. Depending on the amount of rust on the part the process can take 1-2 days, when bubbles stop remove part and clean with 3M pot scrubber and water. Dry and oil. The part won't have a bright finish, but the rust will be gone without removing any of the base metal.

Paul Urban
- Cheraw, South Carolina
2005