Ultrasonic cleaner for Bronze Disease?

Hello everyone!

I have a coin coming in the mail which I'm pretty sure has some active BD going on. I'm thinking about what would be the best way to go about trying to combat it.

Soaking in distilled water is a recommended (albeit slow) method. I'm wondering if running the coin through an ultrasonic cleaner would help? Those types of cleaners are designed to get into cracks and loosen gunk. Or would it risk damaging the coin somehow?

Thanks!

 

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Sounds like a solid attempt. I use water and picks which takes forever. I usually get frustrated and use NaOH which sort of defeats the purpose but I ain’t that patient

 

@The Meat man Give us some before and after pictures if you don't mind. I am very interested in the end result.

 

I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner myself but I think I can access one.

@hotwheelsearl that was my thought: I can try to go at it with a pick but that sounds like a pretty tedious job. My hope is that a cleaner would be able to do it better, since it can access all those tiny spots which I might miss. Ultrasonic cleaners are often used for cleaning delicate jewelry, I believe, so a coin would probably be safe.

 

As long as it doesn’t use chemicals then I can’t imagine the patina being damaged sonically. I’m very curious now

 

There are ultrasonic cleaners and ultrasonic cleaners...the stronger ones might damage the surface of the coin. Bronze disease is odd, I would recommend 1) brush the coin with a toothbrush to remove as much powdery green material as possible 2) soak the coin a couple of days, brushing the coin and changing the water 2-3 times 3) let the coin dry thoroughly in an oven set to low for a few hours 4) put the coin in a flip or capsule. The only other thing that occurs to me is to treat it with @BadThad 's VerdiCare

 

One concern of mine would be damage to the structural integrity of the coin. If the structure is weak the ultrasound may pull it apart. Just a thought.

 

It would have to be basically holding on by a thread for that to happen, I feel. I've seen BD eat all the way through, but never seen one so weak that it crumbles apart.

 

Just a thought.

 

I think that soaking it in a solution of 5% by weight sodium sesquicarbonate works... it's a weak base that neutralizes the bronze disease, I think. Not sure how an ultrasonic cleaner would work, as it won't neutralize the chlorides.

 

My thought was that it might work to dislodge and remove the chlorides, rather than having to remove them manually or chemically.

 

Having used an ultrasonic cleaner for hundreds of coins, I can tell you with complete confidence it will not work for bronze disease.

 

Not even to loosen or remove the chlorides?

 

It will clean up the surfaces, but will do nothing about the real problem below the surface.

 

Thanks!

 

Hallo romismatist,

What do you mean with 5% by weight ? 5 % of the coin weight, or 5% sodium sesquicarbonate in 1 liter water?

Thanks,

sky92880

 

According to this excellent instructional post, it's 5 g of sodium sesquicarbonate in 95g of water. Or 50g in 950g, or whatever.

 

-jeffB,

Thanks, that is clear.
I am going to try this.

sky92880

 

Don't forget to take before-and-after photos!

 

Ok!