Picked up a rusted metal lunchbox for a buck, the inside was a total mess

Got this old tin lunchbox at a swap meet in Bakersfield for a dollar, it was covered in rust and the inside was caked with what looked like forty years of dirt and old paint drips. I spent about three hours over a weekend cleaning it with vinegar and a soft brush, then hit the outside with a light coat of clear sealant to stop the rust. The change was crazy... it went from a piece of junk to a cool display piece with all its original space race graphics showing. But here's the debate: my buddy says I ruined it by sealing it, that the rust was part of its 'story' and I should have just cleaned the inside and left the outside alone. I think preserving it so it doesn't fall apart is the whole point. Where do you all stand on cleaning something up versus leaving it totally as-found?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliots491mo ago

What's the point of saving it if you just let it rot away? I'm all for keeping some character, but a solid sealant job means your grandkids might actually get to see the thing. My own attempts at "preserving history" usually end with me accidentally breaking the history, so maybe I'm biased toward the safe move. Your buddy can enjoy the deep story of a pile of rust flakes in a ziploc bag. You did good saving it.

wyattbennett1mo ago

I read about a 19th century farm tool they found in Pennsylvania. The museum folks said a clear coat isn't really a sealant against moisture, it just slows things down. The metal keeps corroding under the layer. Their point was that stopping the rot for good takes a full climate controlled case, which nobody has at home. So a sealant job is a decent middle step, but it's not a time capsule. Your buddy's rust bag is just the fast version of the same end result.