CLEANING IRON
Iron surface rust can be removed by soaking in a Caustic Soda solution in a glass or polystyrene container.
Use a solution of 15gms of Caustic Soda to a half litre of water. Always add the Caustic Soda to the water. Do not put the Caustic Soda into the container first as this will cause a volatile reaction.
If rust is scaled over the item being cleaned, start at one end and slowly chip the scale away - only do this if enough of the item will remain to be recognisable! Then soak the item in the Caustic Soda. If the item is a mass of puffed up rust, remove all of loose dirt and rust prior to soaking. When an iron item is finally cleaned, regardless of the degree of rusting, paint it with a proprietary rust cure solution, applied as uniformly as possible. DO NOT use the type that primes ready for painting. Give the item a generous coat. Any part that does not turn matt black after 15 minuets, give another coat, then leave to dry. Where there is deep pitting, work the rust cure well into the metal.

SUPPLIERS
Benzotriazole, Patina Cream and Intralac can be obtained from most Metal Detector outlets. All the rest of the cleaning products and equipment needed to clean your finds are available from chemists, motor spare shops, DIY and hardware stores.

PROTECTING FINDS IN THE FIELD
Most deterioration of bronze, copper, brass, lead and pewter takes place after it has been exposed to the oxygen in the air for a short while. The aim should be to minimise the exposure as much as possible. Carry 2 containers, a small one for coins and a larger one for artefacts, both with wide mouth screw tops. Fill each with small pieces of cloth soaked in household paraffin. Wrap your finds in the cloths as soon as possible after you find them. Keep the containers in your car, or in your detector bag, and maybe the smaller one in your finds bag.  As an alternative, you can put finds in your finds bag and cover them with a handful of moist soil. This works well, if the soil is moist