Canonball préservation question

[Christien]

Hi !! I found a 4lb solid shot ball last spring and I didn’t treat it right away ,,, it seems to have rusted some more since then ,, when I started tapping it with a hammer to get some of the crust off it started to flake pretty deep in a spot (1/4 to 1/2 inch deep ). Should I still put through electrolysis or just coat with rust converter to keep its shape for as long as possible ? Thank you

 

[Christien]

Hi !! I found a 4lb solid shot ball last spring and I didn’t treat it right away ,,, it seems to have rusted some more since then ,, when I started tapping it with a hammer to get some of the crust off it started to flake pretty deep in a spot (1/4 to 1/2 inch deep ). Should I still put through electrolysis or just coat with rust converter to keep its shape for as long as possible ? Thank you

 

[EmuDetector]

It's never going to "rust through" in your lifetime. So the question is which way do you like it to look? If it were mine, I'd drop it in my electrolysis tank and give it a go.

 

[Cherry Picker]

If you can make an electrolysis tank it can go a long way toward preserving and making it look better. It seems to rebond the metal. This 4lb'er was rusting before electrolysis.

 

[hoser]

Nice!

 

[too_pointer]

That sure looks better, good job !
too_

 

[Christien]

It's never going to "rust through" in your lifetime. So the question is which way do you like it to look? If it were mine, I'd drop it in my electrolysis tank and give it a go.

When I tapped it with the hammer it really took a chunk out of the cast iron ,, pretty sure I could break it in pieces if I wanted ,, im going to try electrolysis and hope it doesn’t crumble ,, thanks

 

[scoundrel]

If you find them in saltwater, you’re supposed to soak them in fresh water for two years. I found this grape shot a year ago. Still waiting. And then I will put a few coats of black enamel on it.

 

[Christien]

If you find them in saltwater, you’re supposed to soak them in fresh water for two years. I found this grape shot a year ago. Still waiting. And then I will put a few coats of black enamel on it.

Thanks

 

[GeoAngelo]

Mine was found in a fresh water spring and looked similar to yours before preservation. I simply boiled all the moisture out of it. 3 hours in 250 degree paraffin wax left me with a stable relic and a natural looking finish that can easily be removed in the future. See below for before during and after pics. You can see the moisture boiling out of it in the middle pic. When the bubbles stop you're done but you have to watch it the entire time because paraffin can flash over and cause a fire if it gets to 390 degrees.

I agree that electrolysis is the best first step but for me to go and set something like that up was a bit much for a single relic. All my other less important iron gets a week of white vinegar bath, a good wire brushing and then a few coats of Loctite Extend.

Don't hit old iron with a hammer. You need to get all the moisture out to preserve it.