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[Boss]

I am in the middle on this. I generally agree with Dru on this subject but there are plently of fools who will get sloppy and screw up coins by not thoroughly educating themselves. I consider myself pretty studious and anal, picky and very detail oriented. I have messed up a few coins I wish I didn't- $20-30 dollar coins, but older coins nontheless. This is a tricky arguement. Someone like myself will do whatever it takes to get the most accurate knowledge. Others will read a little and do it half wrong and half right. Others will just screw it up. I think most people who are into coins are generally pretty detail oriented and if they get on these sites regularly they are pretty into the whole thing. I lean more toward providing accurate info and really emphasizing practicing on low value stuff. I learned about using a rose thorn to remove grime and I am quite good at it now. I got that off of another website. I was using a toothpick and messed up those few coins I referenced. I did it anyway but with the wrong tools. Got the right info and now know how to do it right. I know that sounds totally crazy, but I will not leave junk on my coin- it's ugly and can be damaging depending on what it is. Dru is 100% right here. BD will jack up your coppers. It's got to go. By the way this guy Bad Thad sells this stuff called VERDIGONE which I bought and used and it works well for verdigris. Doug has also recommend BIOX which I have not used can get it here, as well as concentrated hydrogen peroxide, etc.. : http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com. I do think Copper is difficult and you need a chemistry background or some basic chemsitry knowledge to be very successful at good conservation. I suppose that's why people like Doug and many others say don't do it. For me I don't listen to that, but maybe many should because perhaps you (Dru) and I are not typical in this regards. I don't really know