"...and it would be well worth spending a few dollars to have a qualified person look at it and give you a repair proceedure. If you had a problem with your heart, ... I believe it would be sound advice to suggest that you see a doctor and not rely on the well meaning but erronious opinions of folk music fans..."

Jeeneia,

Peter's advice is sound enough. Consult a professional.
As you are in the USA, I'm not sure which body you should consult. You could try to see if either ASTM (American Society for the Treatment of Metals), or NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers) could point you in the right direction.
Don't be put off if you cannot find metallurgists listed anywhere as it now seems to be taught as a sub unit of 'materials science' (pure metallurgists are a dying breed).


Peter,

"...well meaning but erronious opinions of folk music fans..."

Has it occurred to you that although we meet on a folk music board, many of us have interests/qualifications/jobs far from the music scene?

Walrus (former metallurgist)

I'll not offer advice here (other than that already given) as I haven't seen the work piece and it has been far too long since I dealt with such materials