Had to choose between preserving a rusted sword or leaving it in the ground...

I was on a dig out in New Mexico a few years ago, we found this old cavalry saber from the 1800s. Thing was pretty rusted but you could still see the shape. My supervisor said we could try to preserve it right there with some chemicals or bag it and send it to the lab. I wanted to do it on site because I thought it would be cool to see it cleaned up fast. He pushed for the lab. We ended up sending it in and it took like 6 months but they did a way better job than I could have. They used some kind of electrolysis process and the markings on the blade came out clear. I still wonder if I would have messed it up. Anyone else ever been in a spot where you had to decide between quick preservation or waiting for the pros?

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lilyo304d ago

That whole situation reminds me of how we treat so many things these days - always rushing to see the result right now instead of letting the process play out. It's like with cooking or woodworking too, people want that instant gratification of a finished product but skip the steps that make it actually good. The lab took their time and did it right, while you would have probably gotten a 60% version of what was possible. Kind of a lesson in patience across the board, even if it's hard to swallow in the moment.