Ave!
There have been many ways to clean/restore rusty iron artifacts here on this discussion board. Here is the one that works best for us here at NRC -
Purchase a tumbler at the appropriate size for your artifact. Then tumble for 24 hours with small steel shot and small ceramicballs. Remove and rinse. Dip in JAX Iron Blackener. Dip them in JAX liquid and remove immediately and rinse. Sometimes dip twice if not dark enough. It darkens the shinier metal on them from the tumbling and makes them aconsistent color. It darkens shiny metalon iron from electrolysis too, btw.
Now, put them in a pan and heat in the oven to dry themcompletely. 350 for 15 minutes works best. Run the exhaust fan! Take them out. They are hot. Let them cool until you can hold them with plastic gloves on. Coat with Renwax while warm. Return to oven for 5 minutes to melt the waxinto the crooks and crannies and let cool. And done.
I hope that this helps.
Best to all,
Kevin
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