The silvers below have just been scrubbed under a cold tap with a toothbrush so far. A few other times i've then scrubbed them for an hour with toothpaste, or some sort of bathroom creamcleaner, or soaked them in a jewellery cleaner pottle and scrubbing with a toothbrush with that. I'm interested to know how everyone cleans them up further from here?
Ash I have found white vinegar quite good on coins. Don't leave too long though and don't mix metals in the same fluid / container as you can end up with copper coated silver. I cleaned a couple of shillings quite well last weekend.
ReplyDeleteMan I wish I could find as much silver as you and Guy keep getting.
HH
Zap them from the start! A desktop power supply (or old transformer from mobile phone etc) a couple of alligator clips, an old spoon and a cup or container of water with washing soda. Negative wire to the coin and positive on the spoon. Once the coin starts to stream bubbles take it out and scrub with a toothbrush or scouring pad. If it is a difficult one then just repeat. Only takes a minute or 2 per coin. If I want it really shiny afterwards I will use Silvo or a Chux Magic Eraser pad.
ReplyDeleteDon't ignore the 50-60's with the AT. That is right in the hit zone of GOLD!!! The odd ring or 2 helps to forget the 1000 odd pull tabs dug. :)
Well done on the silver, you will soon be able to pick up the difference between a silver coin and a pull tab, the silver comes in a bit higher and dosen't bounce around like a pull tab. I tend to ignore the signals that are very shallow but dig all the deeper ones. As for cleaning the silver, I generally just use a paste of baking soda and water, works well for me. I have tried electyrolisis as Grant suggests with limited success, it can ruin a copper penny prety fast but is quite safe on silver. If you go this route make sure you do it in a well ventillated area as the fumes produced are noxious if you use a stainless spoon (annode). It is safer to use a piece of mild steel for the annode. Also dont do it in a metal container and dont let the positive and negative terminals touch or you will blow up your power supply!
ReplyDeleteKaBOOM of the power supply! Yup, that is a possibility if the terminals touch.
ReplyDeleteElectrolysis is good for silver but not copper or bronze. One of the by products is an acidic water which can cause bronze disease in copper coins. Also Washing Soda should be used instead of plain table salt as the fumes aren't as toxic with soda.
It is also possible to over cook a silver and leave it pitted, thus I check it as soon as it starts bubbling.
But for the real bad cases it does clean them much faster and with less damage then any physical scouring or acids.
Experimentation is the name of the game.