|
|
Metal Detecting
Started by grandpa at 09-16-2007 8:06 PM. Topic has 8 replies.
  
|
|
Sort Posts:
|
|
|
|
 09-16-2007, 8:06 PM
|
grandpa
Joined on 02-04-2007
Posts 20
|
|
|
I finally wandered over to an old time swimming hole today and found a handfull of coins. Found 4,000 can-tabs , a dozen sinkers and a 22 casing , but tis the way it is. What is your best whiz-bang way to clean the coins up. Anybody???
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-16-2007, 11:54 PM
|
twig/al
 
Joined on 01-24-2006
Gadsden, Alabama
Posts 4,627
|
|
|
|
grandpa, I would like to know also!!! Everyone I have asked says that if you clean them, it takes away from their value!!! I have a couple of hundred "wheat pennies" myself that I have never cleaned for that reason... Maybe someone will answer that question for both of us!!!
twig/al
Alabama Prospecting Supply
www.alabamaprospectingsupply.com
Email: tom@alabamaprospectingsupply.com
Southeast Treasure Hunters Forum
www.southeasttreasurehunters.com
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-17-2007, 8:45 AM
|
cosmic
Joined on 03-30-2007
Posts 55
|
|
|
|
|
NEVER CLEAN A VALUBLE COIN!!! Others of no large value can be cleaned in many ways..
As far as pennies clean them by placing them in a potato, or when I have a few, instant mashed potatoes.. Check in 2 hours and rinse under running water.. Ones that need further cleaning back in and checked every hour to hour and a half or so.. This works great just don't leave them in to long or they get a rusty look.. There is a way to use hot hydrogen peroxide just be carefull.. Microwave the peroxide to boiling remove and carefully drop the pennies in (watch out for the reaction) check on them every 30 minutes or so... Once the solution has cooled and the reaction subsides remove the pennies and heat the peroxide again for more pennies or futher cleaning...
Silver doesn't usually need cleaning so rinsing under running water and a very soft bristle brush ( like a makeup brush) work well, or a long soaking in distilled water.. If really cruddy or black there are various silver cleaners on the market.. Try to get a dip type coin cleaner as any form of brushing or rubbing will leave minute marks..
As far as nickles I haven't found anyway to clean them that I like.. Any type of vinerger and salt method leaves the suface pitted..
Some soak in olive oil but it is a mild acid also..
If new clad seperate the pennies from the rest (cause the nickles and silver to come out brown copper color)and run in a tumbler with some fine sand and a couple drops of dish soap for 3-4 hours and check..
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-17-2007, 10:03 AM
|
Herschel
Joined on 01-30-2006
Monterey, Louisiana
Posts 3,149
|
|
|
|
|
Well, here is a site that first say's don't, don't don't, then goes on to tell you how. Hey, these guys have the best of both worlds, don't, but if you decide to, here's how. I'm sure there are more sites out there like this one.
http://www.mycoincollecting.com/collecting/cleaning-coins.html
Here's how to do it by electrolisis. I'd try this with stuff I knew wasn't valuable. There are lots of old corroded coins out there. Just need to check it out.
Here's my disclaimer. I accept no responsibility for what you might do to your coins. If in doubt, don't clean. If you know it is valuable, don't clean. If you don't know, ask a professional. I ain't one and am merely posting a link.
http://www.mycoincollecting.com/collecting/cleaning-coins-electrolysis.html
Herschel
"Chief Instigator"
Stop "Poly-Ticks" in Washington!!
(definitian)
Poly: many
Ticks: blood suckin' insects
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-17-2007, 10:37 AM
|
twig/al
Joined on 01-24-2006
Gadsden, Alabama
Posts 4,627
|
|
|
|
Herschel, cosmic, That is about what i came up with... Looks like your darned if you do and darned if you don't!!! From all the reading I have done it seems the best way is a ultrasonic bath and the electrolysis method if it is really bad corroded...
The part that gets me is if you send a coin to one of the places to be graded, the first thing they do is clean it!!!
twig/al
Alabama Prospecting Supply
www.alabamaprospectingsupply.com
Email: tom@alabamaprospectingsupply.com
Southeast Treasure Hunters Forum
www.southeasttreasurehunters.com
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-17-2007, 7:48 PM
|
Alabamasam
Joined on 02-24-2006
Hillsboro, AL
Posts 613
|
|
|
|
I use Kaboom bathroom cleaner, just spray it on and swish them around and rinse well, and dry with a SOFT cloth. Course I would also recommend sorting out any ol, possibly valuable one first. AS Twig said, the first thing coin delaers do is clean them. Another thing I have found that if you put them in a metal container - I use a small stainless steel mixing bowl - it seems to work better than useing a plastic container.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-18-2007, 2:29 PM
|
admin
Joined on 01-02-2006
Valdosta GA
Posts 923
|
|
|
|
Seperate the clad coins from the copper and soak each one in white vinegar over night. It will make the pennies look like new.
p.s. Don't mix Oxy Clean in with the vinegar unless you are standing by the sink. Makes a nice mess.
Keeper of the Gold Grubbin' Nut House
For Gold panning Concentrates go to http://www.goldgrubbin.com/wst_page5.php
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
09-18-2007, 3:43 PM
|
grandpa
Joined on 02-04-2007
Posts 20
|
|
|
|
Thanks to all. Most of what I found is current junk , but I have 2 nickels that maybe, maybe have some age on them. Darn things are so brown , I can't tell yet. I shall enter into the laboratory and post the results.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
10-24-2007, 11:24 PM
|
goldhunter_NC
Joined on 09-29-2007
Peidmont NC
Posts 4
|
![Big Smile [:D]](/forum/emoticons/emotion-2.gif)
Re: cleaning coins
|
|
|
|
|
|
now i am no coin expert but i know this for a fact,if you put some ketchup in a bowl and then put in some pennies they will look like new in a few hours.if you havent already tried this you will be amazed .but like i said i am no expert so use your own judgement.
A day outdoors in Gods creation is what its all about.Lots of yellow in your pans.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
Gold Grubbin' C... » Administrators » Metal Detecting » cleaning coins
|
|
|
|