Electrolysis : Preserving Iron Relics

In this video, we will run an electrolysis setup on two different iron relics to preserve them. Each has unique characteristics that require different approaches to achieve relic stabilization and visual satisfaction. I will explain how to do it and give many tips to achieve success if you follow my methods.
As always, this is a how-to metal-detecting outdoor adventure vlog that is family-friendly and hopefully a fun video.
About Aquachigger:
I like to make videos that promote my lifestyle of outdoor adventure, metal detecting, yapping, searching for river treasure, SCUBA diving, exploring abandoned places, hiking, caving, caring for animals and pets, and observing the things outdoors that often go unnoticed. I keep my KZbin "Aquachigger" channel family-friendly and hope you subscribe if you like my style.
I hope to see you guys out there!
#chiggsarmy #aquachigger #garrett

[@aquachigger]

In this video, I explain and demonstrate one method of preserving iron relics. I hope you enjoy the video. Please leave a comment and any questions you may have. Thanks for watching! Follow the Chigg’s Army! My Patreon: www.patreon.com/aquachigger Instagram: instagram.com/aquachigger/ Facebook: facebook.com/chiggsarmy/

[@bearschmidt3180]

I really enjoyed this informative video. Thanks Chigg for giving us these extremely fun and informative videos. Stay safe and good finding.

[@robwilliams287]

thanks! was just thinking of looking into how this works the other day.

[@keepdigginmetaldetecting]

Thanks, Chigg LL

[@JustAnotherTP]

Thanks for continuing my education, Beau. Hope I'm never too old to learn.

[@aquachigger]

Glad to hear you enjoyed the video and thanks for your donation!

[@greghomestead8366]

I/ we would love a updated relic room tour. Thanks in advance

[@generaldisarray4146]

I love these videos where you show us stuff. Keep it up, Chigg.

[@BeachHunter2024]

Fascinating procedure, now when I see these relics in museums, I’ll have a better appreciation for what it took to make them look like that.

[@timhawkins543]

I really like your instructional videos , so much knowledge that most detectorists will not share

[@Gaming.with.Benjamin]

Would love to see your collection!!

[@jerrydwyer9057]

I enjoy sharing in many of your passions and hearing it in your voice. No need to shorten.

[@electroncraz91]

Better than a battery charger is just a simple lab power supply. Can set the voltage and the current for all kinds of various conditions.

[@MrBottlecapBill]

Yup. I bought one on amazon really cheap The best part I find is it will also self regulate the voltage as conductivity improves or falls in the tank over time. Works great.

[@aquachigger]

@electroncraz91. I'm old school...lol. I didn't know about them. I'll have one for my next video. Thanks

[@electroncraz91]

@@aquachigger They typically do 3-5 amps, some 10A, but they're pretty "dumb", not like the "smart" chargers.. yes, you can set it in constant current limit as well! Thanks for the reply! been watching since 2012!

[@DavidDavis-fishing]

Gooood evening from central Florida! Hope everyone has a great night!

[@aquachigger]

You too.

[@DirtHoleFarmer]

I used the crap out of my electrolysis tank. Great for cast iron skillets, too! Thanks, Chig!

[@coindigger5392]

Wow, so much information and a learning experience.. only the Chigg can do in plain easy understandable way.. Great full for his love of relic and history shared..

[@TomFromMN]

All your videos are educational, Professor. Thanks as always for sharing.

[@kevinwhitehead6076]

Amazing content! And your humble and straightforward presentation only makes it better!

[@JimWatsonTheframingMagician]

I've used this method to clean many antique carpenter planes. Never use a wire wheel for obvious reasons..use a grey scotchbrite pad instead. It will remove the rust and not damage the delicate Japaning AKA PAINT.

[@jaywinters2483]

One of the many things I like about Chigg is he teaches me so much. My former pastor use to say: "Every man knows something I don't. I must probe till I find it; hence, all men are my teachers". Love to learn. We can learn a lot from guys like Beau. Notice how the bayonet is 3 sided? Geneva Convention outlawed them in warfare. It's too hard for surgeons to stich up wounds from 3 sided blades. You get stabbed with that & you're done. Another great video from Chigg.

[@cdd4248]

I didn't think the video was long at all & I would love to see some more restorations!

[@squirrelorama]

I'm liking this Professor Chigg series! 👏

[@threewheeler624]

Thank you for a good video. Very interesting. Have a great week.

[@jimthompson9992]

Way, way, WAY back in the day we used Red Devil lye in water, put the iron relic in that completely covered and put an old zinc canning lid on top and walk away for a few days. As the lye dissolved the lid it popped the rust off the iron. This was back in the 60's, 70's and early 80's.

[@aquachigger]

I've done that back in the day. I still want to collect the old lids I find although I'll never do that process again.

[@heden1460]

For me, it would be interesting to see more of that. Who knows what could be discovered when something is cleaned up.

[@jabeachdates853]

I find watching your electrolysis videos very relaxing.

[@stevebroadway3713]

Thanks for the info. I liked how you showed the results of electrolysis compared to the other objects that were not done.

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Very cool Chigg thanks for sharing,Happy Mother's day hope the kitties are doing well,Cheers!

[@rickyb2200]

Thanks Chigg,

[@kendallrush1868]

Do more !!! Very interesting just that there seems like a good hobby to get me into detecting thanks for sharing !

[@joeylandry4933]

Great video! You can’t rush quality work 🙂👍

[@liamk148]

I would pay to walk around that room all the history ❤😊

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

Chigg, always an interesting ride, watching your videos! Been a subscriber, for 8 years! Entertainment! At its best!! Thank you!! Much appreciated!!

[@BocageTiger]

Great tutorial, Chigg! Thank you for posting!

[@dougalexander7204]

I like it. Please show us how you preserve other special relics.

[@ericfairchild5431]

I've started using a steel can as my sacrifice. Easy to find, good surface area, and throw in the recycling when im done. Thanks for the video!

[@MrBobguy3]

Great video I’ve been searching garage sales and estate sales for an old charger for a couple years now. I have a couple more modern ones and I found that if you run them through a battery it’ll usually work.

[@OnCloud108]

Heck yeah, thanks for the video!

[@barbarafritchie2000]

Thank you. Your videos are just right.

[@iukaboy7790]

Turned out good. Thanks for sharing.

[@LongIslandsHardcoreDetectorist]

The video was just perfect thanks Chigg

[@bobpiffle1660]

Very interesting! Thank ye, Chiggs!

[@Digger-rn9yh]

Awesome video!!!

[@melissaslate1621]

Great video!!

[@BLURby84]

Cool.

[@jerryeasler440]

Very Educational , Thank Chigg

[@markasof]

Perfect explanation! Love all that you do!

[@WristwatchMedic1953]

Great information.. Thanks

[@standbarrett755]

Great video Sir! Really enjoy these relic room videos! Thanks for taking us with you!!!

[@targetshot2]

Good stuff as always, Chig! Keep diggin!

[@notanotherbottletop9892]

Thanks Chigg... best nugget

[@48thstateprospecting]

Not to long and not to short juuuust right another killer video from the relic room what a heck of a way to preserve history very cool what would be the value of that bayonet? I know it’s priceless to you and us since we saw you find it but just curious… I say heck yes let’s find a cannon ball I’m ready if you are😬 thanks for sharing see you on the next one👍🏼👊🏼

[@JustPlainSteve5372]

Thanks for the detailed, informative tutorial👍

[@allenscarborough3484]

Excellent video, Chigg! Setting mine up now.

[@rogermisner3368]

Nice video. The corroseal method is something new to me. I have been using the paraffin wax method that is on another video of yours. Thanks for the information.

[@router5840]

Another interesting video.

[@monicawilder9411]

Wow! Very, very interesting! Thank you for showing us this technique! ❤

[@milestoneroadsongs]

Excellent video

[@johnbrown8059]

Great video! Very informative and interesting.

[@stackstacksaveuk5350]

very cool conservation work there chig

[@JimWatsonTheframingMagician]

I haven't used this method for years, but I remember it's important to get the correct amount of baking soda (tbs. per gallon of water).

[@terrencebuller7676]

Thanks for the lesson on electrolysis. Take care 👍

[@dougsnyder8963]

I learn a lot from you Chigg. Thanks so much for the electrolysis set-up and iron relic resto help. Awesome video!!! 👍

[@RickRahrig]

Thanks for the information on cleaning up relics and preserving them. JB Weld has been my go to for many years. I have used it for many years.

[@Superstitiousace]

That cannon ball collection is quite impressive 😊

[@aliasfred]

Wait till you see his pyramid of balls out back.

[@dfdigger3820]

Have you ever used a battery carbon rod for the sacraficial metal ? I have found many in the river and thought to use them when I get a electrolosys set up.

[@aquachigger]

I have not, but have heard they work. Been meaning to try one.

[@MeezerGurlMakes]

This was so interesting! I think we did this in high school science. Thanks and I would watch more!!!

[@cynthiaswearingen1037]

Very nice instructions, Chigg!❤

[@robertlund5905]

Great video. Love the artifacts you find I lived near a Tongva village as a child. My brother and I found a matate and tons of clam shells.

[@richardklapka5147]

Great video Chig! I really like how you teach us how to preserve these most awesome artifacts! Rk.

[@Spotted_liver]

Amazing content chigg!

[@kevincarver9949]

MORE please 😁👍👍👍

[@jthreeb]

Well done man, they turned out great!

[@dirtclodmetaldetecting]

Awesome video! It looks like something I could actually do.

[@TheJoeyboots]

Chig you should really publish a book about Civil War relics. Your knowledge and collection is so comprehensive. You are really taking the history to a new level. Outstanding! 👏

[@johnboggan4390]

Good video and thank you much 😅

[@cyndybutler7330]

I’ve a world war 1 bayonet it’s been handed down with uniforms and flags got civil war papers , it is interesting now you can look up names and find out so much

[@user-tg9bi1kd1k]

YES!!!!!!......Chig could make a video about pumping sewer tanks and ide still watch.

[@jamiebrown2703]

Great video chig, :) learned a lot from your tutorial :)

[@harridan.]

wonderful video! i have to frequently charge the battery in the rv in which i live. (transmission died, can't drive it) i have found that a great way to create a good connection with charger cables. first, i cut the lousy clamps off and strip the insulation back a bit. then i use vice grips for an excellent connection of wire to battery. if i were going to attach a wire to an artifact, i would find a way to make a gentle connection, which is easily facilitated with the adjustable grip offered by vice grips. then wrap the jaws with foil or place a plate like a coin between jaw and artifact, etc

[@craigroberts3982]

I've used this method a few times myself and an older battery charger is the best. Arm and hammer soap works good to help the process. Evaporust is another option

[@cgtbrad]

I came here to suggest Evaporust. I've found it to be equally as effective and require MUCH less attention compared to electrolysis and acid methods. It removes ONLY the rust and leaves all the base metal.

[@fochdischitt3561]

Rust converters can be a Tannic or Phosphoric acid of 5 to 10% percent. Some will include a Vinyl something-acrylic-something-latex which leaves a coating which cuts off oxygen but also kind of prevents further conversion of under laying rust. I find it cheaper to buy 85% Phosphoric acid and use it to make 8 gallons of my own rust converter. The acid converts the iron oxide into iron phosphate which is more stable. It takes a few weeks of treatment under cars to convert the rust but it's not permanent, I follow up by applying lanolin based undercoatings every fall.

[@vicferrari9380]

I buy the cheapest old transformer battery charger i can from garage sales. 5 bucks all day long! Great video

[@allanpelton684]

Great video! Please do a cannon ball!

[@rbolo29]

I'm not an expert, but in the mid-90's I used hydrochloric acid[Muriatic] to electroplate with copper. It worked fairly quick.

[@bigbasil1908]

That battery charger looks like a relic itself. Must be from the 70's at least if not older. And all these decades later its still working good as gold

[@slimwantedman6694]

Good morning from Southeast South Dakota

[@davestelling]

I'm going to search your playlist to see if you might have some content on conserving sabres? Recently acquired a "Mansfield & Lamb" light cavalry sword & scabbard, dated 1864 from their Rhode Island munnitions factory. Just neeeds some light rust on the scabbard cleaned up, but haven't found much on what to use to preserve the leather grip, etc. Sure enjoy these episodes where your showing us your admirable collection, thanks!

[@user-ri4hu2ul2x]

Hi Chig, just a little suggestion for you, RUBBER GLOVES! You can even use the simple larex gloves used by nurses, or marigold kitchen gloves, all provide insulation from mr electric 😂😂

[@cleansweep999]

I like these videos because when your in the field it's sometimes hard to know exactly what's going on for a beginner like me. And what to do with the treasure we find

[@TheMikeTownsend]

Get some brass wire brushes. Much less aggressive on iron than steel wire. Thanks as always for your videos and CONGRATS on the sweet bayonet!

[@patrickwolf9809]

I used to use some random steel for my sacrificial anode until I learned it deposits dangerous metals, like chromium. Now I get large graphite rods and it's much less messy.

[@TeamLynchBMD]

Thanks Chigg I use my Ugly box for coins and other small items, but I still need a setup like this

[@zachschwartz391]

it is history and story told

[@greamespens1460]

Enjoy the look and learn

[@HankPanky]

I prefer the before for something like this. Electrolysis is good for tools and whatnot.

[@jeffblack2014]

I did electrolytes on an old sausage stuffer that was all rusty and crusty.. it turned out looking like new!

[@raynin]

Man, I'm losing my touch. Super excited for this video!

[@aquachigger]

You'll get your mojo back. Prolly just a little busy I suspect.

[@raynin]

@@aquachigger Snoozing...zzzzzzzzz

[@atuuschaaw]

♥

[@Majormusket]

Great video, Chigg! Have you used corroseal on an artillery shell? Would also love to see a wood preservation tutorial for gunstocks/base cups.

[@heathforgey4410]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us who enjoy relic hunting and celebrating history. I do have a question and forgive me if you said but what model of bayonet is the top one you didn't coraseal? Thank you again for all the videos and information.

[@JustPlainSteve5372]

LOVE seeing your Relic room Chigg. What's it like to have to dust all of that?

[@shawn.bourke.3]

Thanks for sharing wisdom on wood and metal preservation. Any tips and tricks with fossils? They seem pretty straightforward, but some are soft. I've visited a spot carpeted with marine fossils that turn to foot prints in the wet.

[@debrabrooks6138]

Great information! Thanks for the tips! I have asked my son to build me a electrolysis but he has yet to do so. well he works and lives a town away so I got to bug him more I guess. :) From the shots behind you, your trophy room is huge! Awesome collections! Would love to see all of them. :) I love your wood stove! I grew up with a potbelly and those huge 3 section coal/wood stoves darn sorry forgot name of them, but they sure were great to cook on and heat a place up!. Any updates on your property and bamboo growing and your caves?