Told ya it was worth it!
You did a dang fine job. Over the next couple of weeks it will naturally 'soft-oxidize' and (like wine) will only get better!
For future relic preservation projects you may do, you may want to consider quenching your post-electrolysis pieces in motor oil, tannic acid, BLO, or tung oil so that you can get an idea of the full range of finish colors that still look
natural.
So many people end up with an end product that looks absolutely horrible and unrealistic.
Lastly, and most important...
Your ball had been 'prepared' before and probably needed little more than aesthetic appeal...
For your future fresh-from-the-ground digs,
leave them in the tank and slow cook them... I personally preach 48 hours as a minimum for anything with more mass than, say a 6 pound solid shot... I ran a turn-of-the-century 100# Trenton anvil thru my vat for 2 weeks.
Patience is free, and is the absolute best insurance.
I have seen the end product of relics that were improperly stabilized back in the 1960's-70's -they literally rot away from the inside and are forever destroyed...
With the proper procedure and a little bit of attention, you can ensure that these pieces of history are guaranteed for generations to come!
Again, great work!
Bringing the