Coin cleaning

[go-rebels]

... as a follow-up to my last posting, the electrolysis method is very safe and effective. The ferric chloride dip is messy.

Anyone can make a cheap electrolysis method using a discarded DC battery charger... the type you use to recharge batteries. Almost any one will work and the power output will not do further damage to a coin that is already cruddy. There are plenty of links on the web to show you how to build an electrolysis bath.

I've been doing this for years and within the last few months 'conserved' my best find to date, a crusty, corroded 1793 chain cent. And this was using a setup that cost me all of $10. If you don't have to buy the power supply, it will cost you nearly nothing.

I'll post pics of this coin in the near future.

 

[deeponedge]

hot peroxide on old indian head cents and lemon juice on the silver coins does well for many people.

 

[silverfix]

It always works well for me too

 

[Orlensin-FL]

I always use boiling peroxide on my corroded coppers but I don't find enough silver to help you there

 

[dippodigger]

interesting link. Thanks.

 

[montanagold]

cleaning nickels can be about the trickiest to clean. I have a process that I think works well, I did a post on it a couple of weeks ago just look under my posts. This nickel was real pink and I couldn't figure out how to make it look good. but as you can see after the process it looks great. as far as the rest, not all silver cleans up with a brush, Most of the silver I find comes with thick black corrosion and have to be tumbled with some fish bowl rocks for about a half of an hour after a quick run of electrolysis. Pennies are real tough, I usually only tumble them because if you put any chemicals on them they usually turn orange. I only tumble them for a short while and if the crud doesn't come off then I just stop.

 

[go-rebels]

... as a follow-up to my last posting, the electrolysis method is very safe and effective. The ferric chloride dip is messy.

Anyone can make a cheap electrolysis method using a discarded DC battery charger... the type you use to recharge batteries. Almost any one will work and the power output will not do further damage to a coin that is already cruddy. There are plenty of links on the web to show you how to build an electrolysis bath.

I've been doing this for years and within the last few months 'conserved' my best find to date, a crusty, corroded 1793 chain cent. And this was using a setup that cost me all of $10. If you don't have to buy the power supply, it will cost you nearly nothing.

I'll post pics of this coin in the near future.

Not in very good shape, and could be improved further with a little more electrolysis to rid it of the remaining red corrosion, but still decent enough. I wish I took the pics prior to the 'conservation' as it was just an unrecognizable disc of copper.

 

[sangamon]

Q: isn't there always an obvious spot where the alligator clip was attached during the process?

i'm just curious, not trying to argue. i'd like to try it on copper sometime...i get a lot of unreadable Indian Head cents with a thick crusty verdigris

 

[NiagracountyNY]

I dont clean alot of my stuff anymore besides a little water..Now and then i will depending on the date tho..For copper i have used warm peroxide..The trick is to keep it warm so that it keep bubbling..For silver you can make a tinfoil bowl..Put baking soda in the bottom,and the coin on top of it..Then add boiling water..I read this off the net somewhere..It seems to work well. There are some guys on here that Know their stuff..There will be some great suggestions.HH

 

[go-rebels]

Q: isn't there always an obvious spot where the alligator clip was attached during the process?

i'm just curious, not trying to argue. i'd like to try it on copper sometime...i get a lot of unreadable Indian Head cents with a thick crusty verdigris

I use a spring loaded metal contraption that only contacts the edge of the coin, rather than an alligator clip that may scratch the surface of the coin near the edge. It's a little cumbersome but works well enough.

 

[TURNMASTER]

Hi Guys
I am new to MDing and coin collecting and have found few worthwile coins as yet but...

Wouldn't an ultrasonic jewlery cleaner be a good or possibly the best option? Jewlers use it on fine jewlery.
I work in a very high end machine shop and that is what we use for cleaning our most delicate pieces.

Just a thought
Jeff

 

[go-rebels]

Ultrasonics work OK for dirty coins but does not do well with coins having well-adhered corrosion. You'll need a chemical or electro-chemical approach for those.