offhand i'd ask some restoration people down at your local museum
i would imagine you could coat it in some kind of wax (or polyethlene
glycol, if you can afford it: that way it impregnates any pores in the metal
& reinforces it as well, same as with any restoration work), then coat that
with something stronger: an epoxy or fibreglass or something strong
just as long as the wax keeps it sealed & the epoxy or whatever doesn't
cling to the metal
afterwards remove the wax with a hot alcohol solution -
but the restorers should be able to tell you the best way to do it

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marcy Rockman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 19:12
Subject: movement of large fragile mining equipment


> Writing to ask the collective wisdom for advice in moving a large, fragile
> piece of mining equipment.