Uncovering Treasures: Tips for Cleaning and Preserving Metal Detecting Finds
Metal detecting is a fun and exciting hobby that can lead to some incredible discoveries. Whether you’re searching for buried treasure, lost artifacts or just trying to uncover the history of your local area, finding something with your metal detector is always a thrill. However, once you’ve made the discovery, it’s important to take care of it properly. With a little bit of effort and some basic knowledge about how to clean and preserve your finds, you can ensure that they remain in good condition for years to come.
Here are some tips on how to clean and preserve your metal detecting finds:
1. Handle with care
The first rule when handling any archaeological artefact is “Handle with Care”. Metal components found by metal detectors are often fragile or corroded which could cause them to break or disintegrate if handled improperly. So, be gentle when picking up anything you find.
2. Wear gloves
Wearing gloves is an essential step before cleaning any object found by metal detectors as fingers have natural oils that could damage metals further especially silver coins as they may turn black from contact with skin oils/acidic substances on hands.
3. Identify what type of object you have found
Before deciding on the best way to clean it, identify what type of object has been discovered because different objects require different methods of conserving them.
4. Do not use harsh chemicals
Several harsh chemicals might cause more harm than good when attempting to clean metallic objects; these include bleach or hydrogen peroxide which will cause rust formation again after removing corrosion from iron artifacts because these chemicals also remove protective layers present on metals like carbonates formed over time due oxidisation process.
5. Use distilled water
Distilled water is pure water without any added minerals which may react adversely with metallic surfaces resulting in tarnishing effects – this makes it ideal for dealing with delicate artefacts found using metal detectors such as coins made out copper alloys like bronze since they would have been corroded by the acidic soil.
6. Use a soft brush
A soft-bristled brush like toothbrushes or paint brushes is ideal for cleaning metallic objects found by metal detectors especially those with delicate features such as inscriptions since they will not cause any scratches to the surface of these artefacts.
7. Dry thoroughly
After cleaning, it’s important to dry your finds thoroughly using a clean towel or cloth – otherwise you risk leaving behind moisture which might lead to corrosion if left unchecked over time.
8. Store in a cool and dry place
Once your object is cleaned and dried, store it in a cool and dry place to avoid further oxidation over time as humidity can be detrimental to the preservation of metals leading them towards rust formation again if exposed continuously without proper care taken into account.
9. Use protective coatings on iron artifacts
Iron Artefacts found using metal detectors are prone to rusting; therefore, it’s essential that they’re treated with protective coatings like Renaissance Wax after cleaning since this helps prevent future oxidisation effects on them while also providing an extra layer of protection against environmental factors that may lead towards corrosion again over time.
10. Do not attempt restoration by yourself unless qualified professionally
Restoration of artefacts should only be undertaken by experienced professionals who understand how different materials interact with one another – so don’t try doing it yourself unless you have qualifications in conservation or restoration work!
11. Get advice from other metal detectorists
If you’re unsure about something related to preserving your finds, ask other experienced metal detectorists! The community is always willing to help out fellow hobbyists when needed – so don’t hesitate reaching out for assistance if required.
In conclusion, taking good care of metallic objects found through metal detecting requires careful handling, identifying what type of object has been discovered, avoiding harsh chemicals during cleaning processes while ensuring adequate drying before storage takes place – all these steps contribute significantly towards successful preservation efforts ensuring that discoveries remain in excellent condition for future generations to witness the beauty of our past.