Cleaning Artifacts

[grouchyturtle]

I had someone explain to me a simple way to do it.

Soak in muriatic acid for about 24 hours.
Dump the acid and soak in fresh water for up to possibly even a few months.
Change the water every few days, when you see the little puddles of...er whatever that is that's coming off and floating to the surface.

This will work great for glass and metal items, but what about wood?
Of course assuming it's not half rotted away from all those years under water.

What do you use to clean wood?
I have a feeling the acid would just eat through it.

 

[Gilldiver]

I had someone explain to me a simple way to do it.

Soak in muriatic acid for about 24 hours.
Dump the acid and soak in fresh water for up to possibly even a few months.
Change the water every few days, when you see the little puddles of...er whatever that is that's coming off and floating to the surface.

This will work great for glass and metal items, but what about wood?
Of course assuming it's not half rotted away from all those years under water.

What do you use to clean wood?
I have a feeling the acid would just eat through it.

No, that is NOT how it is done.

Here is how it is done: Conservation Research Laboratory - Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation - Texas A&M University

I'll give you a clue, wood is real hard to do correctly.

 

[Sean222]

No, that is NOT how it is done.

Here is how it is done: Conservation Research Laboratory - Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation - Texas A&M University

I'll give you a clue, wood is real hard to do correctly.

Ditto for Iron.

To the original poster:

The only thing I use the muriatic or Citric acid for, is glass and Bronze. You will ruin anything else with acid.

Iron and steel requires the use of Electrolysis
and Wood requires Looong soaks in varying consentrations of water/PEG.
It is a long process and if you do it wrong you will be left with a pile of mush.

 

[DeepSeaExplorer]

Definitely don't use muriatic acid. I know a guy that ruined a ship's bell doing that once.

 

[grouchyturtle]

Definitely don't use muriatic acid. I know a guy that ruined a ship's bell doing that once.

Great! Now I have no reason at all to keep that nasty stuff aboard.

 

[porgyhunter]

Wood really is a problem no matter how long I slow the process of drying I get alot of cracking and expansion.

 

[Sean222]

Wood really is a problem no matter how long I slow the process of drying I get alot of cracking and expansion.

Are you using the long soak and PEG method? If not, then you will lose the item
more times than not.