Silica gel and that stuff that stops rust.......

Stupidcoinguy · 06-15-2009, 11:46 AM

Well I use very little online service and there is a gun store that also sells safes in town, so I went there. I found the silica gel and bought that, but I also found that Remington sells an anti rust product that claims it release a gas or something or other in the air that coats everything and stops it from rusting. The product claims to leave no film what so ever on any metal it comes in contact with.......Has anyone had any experience with the stuff? Does it truly not leave any film, even long term over years of use? I would hate to buy the stuff and years later see some strange residue on my coin under the coin holder in the proof sets I have.

borgovan · 06-15-2009, 02:02 PM

To eliminate oxidation/corrosion, you have to eliminate oxygen and moisture.

If the product doesn't remove the moisture from the air (silica gel does, by the way), then it has to block it from getting to the coin. The only way to do this would be to coat the coin, even with a very thin film.

I can't believe that the product releases a gas that wouldn't settle on the surface of the coins.

I don't know the product you're talking about, but I'd stick with the silica gel for now.

BadThad · 06-15-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borgovan

To eliminate oxidation/corrosion, you have to eliminate oxygen and moisture.

If the product doesn't remove the moisture from the air (silica gel does, by the way), then it has to block it from getting to the coin. The only way to do this would be to coat the coin, even with a very thin film.

I can't believe that the product releases a gas that wouldn't settle on the surface of the coins.

I don't know the product you're talking about, but I'd stick with the silica gel for now.

Indeed. When they say it "won't leave a film" don't believe them. It might not leave a "film" you can see or feel, but it is there. There's no magic in chemistry.

Just Carl · 06-15-2009, 09:29 PM

I don't know what that product is and I go to a lot of gun stores but regardless. Think of this. I presume your coins are in your house. You buy something that releases a gas in your home. It doesn't bother your coins but what about you? Do not bring things into your home that you know nothing or little about. Remember it is better to be safe than sorry.

GoldCoinLover · 06-15-2009, 10:26 PM

Since we're on this topic,

I have a AU53 NGC/CAC 1834 gold coin, $2 1/2, which has some beautiful golden orange toning on it. Should I be careful or use silicia gell so it doesn't further oxidize and so it keeps its toning?

I live in arizona it is very dry (not humid) here but what should I do?

**GDJMSP** · 06-16-2009, 08:05 AM

What should you do ? You should use the search function and thoroughly read the multitude of threads on the subject of proper coin storage.

A few basics -

store your coins in good quality holders, there are many to choose from

store your coins in a cool, dark place where the temperature varies little

store them in an enclosed container whether that is a safe or a Tupperware box does not matter for the purpose of storage, the idea is to cut off the free circulation of air and to make volume of air surrounding the coins as small as possible so the air is more easily controlled and conditioned

use silica packs to control and maintain humidity as low as possible - remember, the humidity inside your house is entirely different than the humidity outside your house

Stupidcoinguy · 06-16-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

remember, the humidity inside your house is entirely different than the humidity outside your house

Yeah that just got me thinking of days when pasta or home made soup, stews are made with a lot of water. And I live in Nevada non the less. Plus this month we received more rain than we have in decades.

GoldCoinLover · 06-16-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDJMSP

What should you do ? You should use the search function and thoroughly read the multitude of threads on the subject of proper coin storage.

A few basics -

store your coins in good quality holders, there are many to choose from

store your coins in a cool, dark place where the temperature varies little

store them in an enclosed container whether that is a safe or a Tupperware box does not matter for the purpose of storage, the idea is to cut off the free circulation of air and to make volume of air surrounding the coins as small as possible so the air is more easily controlled and conditioned

use silica packs to control and maintain humidity as low as possible - remember, the humidity inside your house is entirely different than the humidity outside your house

Were you responding to me? This is true even to gold coinage?

justafarmer · 06-16-2009, 01:08 PM

Use a Foodsaver with the Mason Jar attachment. Put your coins inside their holder into the jar and vacume seal it.

Just Carl · 06-16-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldCoinLover

Were you responding to me? This is true even to gold coinage?

Gold, Platinum, etc are not INERT. This means an element that NORMALLY does not combine with other elements or substances. Gold DOES combine with other substances like Sulfur (Au2S), Chlorine (AuCl3), also Fluorine, Cyanide, etc. Many individuals find Gold items in and around their homes toning excessively if they have a pool in thier yard or live real close to a large pool that is Chlorinated. Individuals in areas where there are Sulfur rich coal burning plants, such as in the upper portions of Indiana, find excessive SO or SO2 in the air combining with moisture and attacking Gold, Copper, etc.
Due to living in Arizona only means the ambient outdoor air is normally dry. If you keep your coins in a basement, you may want to invest in a thing called a Hygrometer. This measure humidity. You may find that your basement is high in humidity if you cook, wash, etc.
Silica gel packs are excessively overated for such areas. If in fact you do have high humidity in a basement, you should consider a large dehumifier with hose drain into a house drain.
Meanwhile you may want to do as I've been doing for a long, long, long time and place all valuable coins in Zip Lock Plastic Bags and push out as much air as possible.

**GDJMSP** · 06-16-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldCoinLover

Were you responding to me? This is true even to gold coinage?

Yes.

GoldCoinLover · 06-16-2009, 09:42 PM

Thanks for the information, I will do a search later. I thought gold was relatively inert before this, and I didn't think it could retone and/or lose its toning in the slab. That would be a diasaster!

Conder101 · 06-16-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

I thought gold was relatively inert before this, and I didn't think it could retone and/or lose its toning in the slab.

Key word is relatively inert. Now gold is NOT very reactive in the firs place, and the slab put a good barrier between the gold and anything in the environment that it might react with so the chances of anything happening is very slight. But protection in depth say something like putting the slab in a ziplock or a tupperware with some silica gel is cheap and one more layer of protection that anything would have to get through. Suppose an unprotected gold coin had a 5% chance of reacting. Put it in a slab and it has .5% chance. Put the slab in a tupperware with silica gel and your down to .05% chance. It's like insulating your house. Every additional layer you put on reduces your utility bill.

CrustyCoins · 06-17-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldCoinLover

Thanks for the information, I will do a search later. I thought gold was relatively inert before this, and I didn't think it could retone and/or lose its toning in the slab. That would be a diasaster!

Remember that quarter eagle is only 90% gold, the other components such as copper will tone.

That said being in Arizona I think you are pretty safe from moisture and personally I like the copper toned gold coins.

BadThad · 06-17-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Carl

Gold, Platinum, etc are not INERT. This means an element that NORMALLY does not combine with other elements or substances. Gold DOES combine with other substances like Sulfur (Au2S), Chlorine (AuCl3), also Fluorine, Cyanide, etc. Many individuals find Gold items in and around their homes toning excessively if they have a pool in thier yard or live real close to a large pool that is Chlorinated. Individuals in areas where there are Sulfur rich coal burning plants, such as in the upper portions of Indiana, find excessive SO or SO2 in the air combining with moisture and attacking Gold, Copper, etc.
Due to living in Arizona only means the ambient outdoor air is normally dry. If you keep your coins in a basement, you may want to invest in a thing called a Hygrometer. This measure humidity. You may find that your basement is high in humidity if you cook, wash, etc.
Silica gel packs are excessively overated for such areas. If in fact you do have high humidity in a basement, you should consider a large dehumifier with hose drain into a house drain.
Meanwhile you may want to do as I've been doing for a long, long, long time and place all valuable coins in Zip Lock Plastic Bags and push out as much air as possible.

Carl, I hope you have that saved somewhere so you don't have to retype it everytime.

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