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Buffalo Nickel Before/After Ketchup Treatment

DirtFlipper

New member
Howdy,

I found this 1916-D Buffalo nickel earlier this week, and tried out the 'soaking in ketchup' treatment on it for about 20 hours. My impression is that it is an improvement. The surfaces of the nickel have a roughness on them (like micro sand bumps), and that's still there. But the color improved and the other crud went away.

So here are the before/after pics.

HH,
DirtFlipper
 
Looks pretty good, DF. Try a brass brush with soap and water to get the rest of the pink color off the coin (tip from James N.D. :thumbup:). It works pretty well.
HH,
Jeff
 
i think it looks ok, but looks like it ate away at some of the details on the feather and facial features. i don't mind my red nickels, but i guess everyone has their own opinion on whether to clean coins or not or how to clean them. it looks good don't get me wrong. i just would of left it as is. i prolly would only do that to toasted nickels to see if maybe i could bring out a little detail or a date.

HH, Weston
 
Try another soak in the ketchup. Sometimes it takes a couple/few depending on the amount of red crud. The surface will be a little rough - remember, something was removed that had the surface corroded. Bye the way, the ketchup thing works even better on silver wartime nickels. turns them from ugly/stained to looking good.
Bruce in Ct
 
I used to do the ketchup trick, now I cut to the chase and use a solution of vinegar and salt. (which is basically what's in the ketchup) Instead if 20 hours I'm done in 1. I will heat the solution up in the microwave that seems to help. Also, I've noticed the side facing up cleans more, so flip it over after 30 minutes. If you rub it with you fingers be careful, you can actually put rub patterns in it, the dull gray is still somewhat of a surface mayerial rather than nickel. I've tried the brass brush method and did not like the results, I usually leave the dull gray finish.
 
I have used the ketchup treatment on a copper medal I found 15 years ago. It worked so well that I had to go back and highlight the lettering.
 
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