Cleaning Aluminium Coins

Guys,

I know it’s a bit of a swear word but I’ve just picked these two up. Seems the ally has reacted. Not sure if it’s possible to clean without damaging the surface or not though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

In the USA it's pronounced Aluminum
European countries say Aluminium

I just learned this recently

 

That's what I have always been told. There may be a way to slow down the reaction. @Insider will know.

 

Porosity in the aluminum is due to the hydrogen, dissolved hydrogen in the aluminum especially during the production. You know there is water (H2O) in the air also. To remove the hydrogen in the aluminium, heating it in microwave furnace a little may help? We were doing that in aluminum casting. (anyway, am not knowledgable in chemistry and metalurgy.)

 

Aluminum (like zinc) corrodes quite easily.
Look at your aluminum lawn chairs.
I believe that the white stuff on the surface is aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
Once it's there removing it will result in a pitted surface.
But oddly enough it's very effective in protecting the underlying aluminum.

 

Thanks guys. I’ll have to leave them then !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I always liked Mr. Luminium. I think his first name was Al.

 

It's risky but a fast dip (like legit 2 seconds) in HCl and pull out immediately put in a near saturated solution of baking soda in water and then dry with a small towel or paper towel. The sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda will neutralize the hydrochloric acid.

 

Actually its more than risky its extremely risky, becsuse next thing you know you may not have a coin. Ensure you check the MSDS sheet for hydrochloric acid before use.

 

ldhair, posted: "That's what I have always been told. There may be a way to slow down the reaction. @Insider will know ."

Thanks for the tag and comment . Truthfully, it has been almost eight years since I was asked to conserve an aluminum coin! I think I remember the product we used. If I do , we got it at a grocery store ! The next show I go to (October), I'll try to get a partially corroded aluminum coin in a junk box and see if I'm correct about the chemical.

 

Damn! I'm glad you're not a comedian.

Chris

 

So does that mean I shouldn't walk into Alvernia College and ask to speak with Mr. Vernia?

 

Kind of like Mr. and Mrs. Domen and little Ab Domen?

 

So...what was the product. BTW, cleaning Al and Zn coins is probably close to impossible. Replating is a possibility as referenced by the replated war cents of the USA.

 

The only "Ab Domen" I see regularly lost any resemblance to "little" some years ago.

 

I do like a light coat of machine oil to stabilize actual zinc coins. Kodak used to make something used in projectors called Kodak Light Machine Oil. Very light, and does not attract grime. I only wish I had more of it than I do. Some old wag once told me it was a whale oil, but I don't have a confirmation of that.

My new place is a loft apartment that will have, opposite a huge blank white wall, a digital projector, a Carousel slide projector, a vintage Kodak Sound 8 projector, and a 16mm film projector. Yo soy "Media Man".

 

dang

 

What’s even cooler is commercial films are showing up at local flea markets for a pittance. Like two bucks for a Sound 8 Woody Woodpecker film. 20 foot plus ceiling height in the living room too. Visitors will be served fine Kentucky bourbon.

 

I'm more of a VHS nut, seeing as how I used to make these beasties.