Electrolysis, Before and After

Louie_Two_Bits · 05-16-2009, 06:45 PM

Ok, I finished my yard work and as my kid was swimming, I decided to make an electrolysis coin cleaning system that I saw on the Internet. So I grabbed a 6v adapter, alligator clips, a glass of cold water, a teaspoon of table salt, and a stainless steel spoon.

I know you never clean a coin, but I wanted to use this on some of the coins in my personal collection that I will never sell...just to give them better presentation in my dansco albums.

I used a random dime and here are the results after 5 minutes.

IMHO, this low-voltage coin cleaning system was a success

It cleaned up the coin to have nice eye-appeal, but did not make the coin look unnatural. But judge for yourself.

I will try this will other U.S. coins as well to see the differences (cent, nickel, quarter).

-LTB

the_man12 · 05-16-2009, 06:53 PM

I wouldn't do it, but it's up to you...

I have used electrolysis in the past on a wheat that was so corroded that I couldn't see the date. It didn't work at all (it ended up being a 1929 when I got at it with an eraser).

Pocket Change · 05-16-2009, 06:54 PM

You improved it - I'm not sure how much because I see very little difference. But I'm guessing the photos could be better (sorry - no offense intended!) Is the coin Dark Gray, or ....?

The other question is whether you can provide the link for what you're trying.

The problem with all of these treatments is what happens
1 month from now
1 year from now
50 years from now.

And of course, we can't know that.

But someone has to start the process. The Internet NEVER forgets.

I applaud efforts like this on non-rare coins. Experiment. Investigate.

Please keep us informed.

HandsomeToad · 05-16-2009, 07:19 PM

I use baking soda with a touch of salt and it seems to work really well.

Also, if you clean coppers, do NOT use a stainless steel electrode, use something copper (pocket change pennies).

Ribbit

Louie_Two_Bits · 05-16-2009, 08:00 PM

Here is the link...
http://www.mycoincollecting.com/coll...ctrolysis.html

Quote:

Also, if you clean coppers, do NOT use a stainless steel electrode

Now you tell me

I just gave a 1939 wheat the chair, and it totally altered the color. I was NOT expecting that. It gave it a deep/rich chocolate/coffee bean color. I will try a cent using another cent as the electrode

Thanks for the tip.

Here is the wheat cent after 5 min using a STEEL electrode. As you may notice, there were two verdigris spots around 1 and 2 o'clock that it seemed to effectively remove.

-LTB

Pocket Change · 05-16-2009, 08:08 PM

Wow.

I will wait for the chemistry experts to tell us why this is bad!!! (that's life)

I'm guessing an important layer is being removed/damaged/weakened by the electrolysis treatment.

Thanks for the data and keep it up!

Louie_Two_Bits · 05-16-2009, 08:23 PM

Since I have the momentum, I will do a nickel next...

here mr. 1935 buffalo nickel...here mr. 1935 buffalo nickel...where yuh hidin' boy...it's time for a bath.

-LTB

mark_h · 05-16-2009, 08:38 PM

The dime I can see possible saying it removed some dirt. The penny looked like it was made much worse - did you use copper like toad mention? Curious and thanks for posting the results.

tmoneyeagles · 05-16-2009, 08:41 PM

I was always curious about this...
Thanks for sharing... Seems to make the coin a little better, although I'd never do it myself

Louie_Two_Bits · 05-16-2009, 09:07 PM

Yeah, I used a steel electrode, so it totally changed the color of the cent. I will try using another cent as the electrode next time.

Here is a buffalo nickel. It removed most of the dirt and grime, but left a bit in some of the crevices. Maybe I should increase the time of the soak, or maybe I need to increase the voltage to 18v for the tough stuff.

I'm still not convinced, and will leave my personal set alone...at least for now

Maybe later tonight I will do a quarter and then try another cent using a copper as the electrode...but for now, I'm off to fire up my charcoal chimney for the trusty ol' weber kettle

-LTB

tmoneyeagles · 05-16-2009, 09:09 PM

I don't like what it did to the buffalo nickel... Looks very odd...

This is very interesting, I know of others who do this, and have good results with it..
I do not know if I'd ever do it for any reason, unless it was a beat up dirty coin, and I didn't really know what it was

mark_h · 05-16-2009, 10:33 PM

Too me you now see a halo effect on the buff nickel in the pictures. It seems more noticeable on the reverse than the obverse but it is still there.

Louie_Two_Bits · 05-17-2009, 12:05 AM

Hi Mark, what is a halo effect?

Ok guys, I ran the process on a 1953 wheat, but this time using another cent as the electrode.

It still changed the color, although not to chocolate like when I used the steel electrode, it went to lighter. I used a 2000 cent, do I have to use another wheat as the electrode?

alrighty, here are the results...

-LTB

HandsomeToad · 05-17-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Louie_Two_Bits

Hi Mark, what is a halo effect?

Ok guys, I ran the process on a 1953 wheat, but this time using another cent as the electrode.

It still changed the color, although not to chocolate like when I used the steel electrode, it went to lighter. I used a 2000 cent, do I have to use another wheat as the electrode?

alrighty, here are the results...

-LTB

Use a pre-1982 cent that is copper and not copper-plated zinc.

Ribbit

Ps: I have a pile of 20th century British large cents I use for electrodes.

They were dug pieces and not worth anything so they became my electrodes.