Connecting to Collections Care

I work at an agriculture museum and my current project at an agriculture museum is getting the rust off a cast iron bell. And then it will be doing the same to a very large number of iron and steel farm tools. Is there anything we can do to safely seal the metal against oxidation? 

The museum itself didn't have anyone specifically over the collection for a bit over 20 years and I'm the third to hold the position since it was restarted, so there is a very large backlog of artifacts to be properly cared for. If possible, the sealant needs to be something that is easy to apply.

The bell will be displayed outside one of our buildings and the rest of the metal is displayed in a mix of buildings with and without climate control. I would like to eventually get at least humidity control in the buildings, but that will be a long time in coming, if ever. In the meantime, I'd like to protect them as best as possible and also not have to remove rust again in 5 years.

Thank you!

Sarah Pair

Director of Collections

Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum

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[Lizzie] [Meek]
[Heritage Manager]
[Antarctic Heritage Trust]
[Ōtautahi/Christchurch]
[Aotearoa/New Zealand
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Hello Sarah! 

Thank you for your question. I am the Connecting to Collections Care Monitor for this period and I'll do my best to help answer your question. Metals are outside of my specialty and we typically do not apply sealants to the metals in our collections. For the metals stored inside, it sounds as though you are aware that the best way to avoid corrosion is to control humidity. As I am also in the midwest, I know how difficult that may be in the summer. Depending on the size of the implements and your collection, you may be able to control humidity locally -- using a large container and swapping out a desiccant inside the container. If you have a good relationship with your facilities manager, you may also be able to come to a solution targeting some of the most humid areas. 

For the outside object, it may be a good idea to connect with a conservator who focuses on outdoor sculptures. They'd be able to take the conditions and the specific metal into account and come up with solutions for you. 

I'll find some resources and reach out to some experts and get back to you with other ideas. 

Best, 

Beth 

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Elizabeth Stone
Connecting to Collections Care Monitor
University of Iowa Libraries
Collections Conservator
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