My coin cleaning..not for the purists...

Click on this link to "hopefully" see a video I made on how I clean my dug up coppers. Microwave for 10 seconds. Repeat if ness.

Here is the coin before and after the cleaning. Jim

http://img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wheatiecleanbmpnewll0.flv

 

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Whoa pretty neat but wait a second. If I am not mistaken, is the solution used hydrogen peroxide? As well as, doesn't H2O2 like blow up at 70c or less??? And don't microwaves hate anything metallic???

 

If H2o2 blew up at under 70c, then everytime you had a cut and put h202 on it you would explode!

 

Been doing it for years. Only time I have a problem is when I put more than one coin in the container. They touch and I have a little spark show. No biggy. Jim

 

Body temperature is 37 degrees C. 70 degrees C is pretty hot.

 

thanks for the tip. does this have any side effects on the coin?

 

remember to throw out the toothbrush
ewww

 

Whoa...NICE find and method !!

 

Hey, you stripped off all of the coin's history!

 

OK, I bought a 1913-S lincoln for 3 bucks that looks like that did. I'm also going to do a raggy large cent. I'll post pics.

 

I hope that is a soft bristle tooth brush.


For anyone who is queasy about putting metal in the microwave, feel free to microwave the hydrogen peroxide then put the coin in. The result will be the same.

The two dangers associated with putting metal in the microwave is that

1. You generate a current in the metal, melt it, damage it, burn yourself.
2. (this is the big one) Metal can reflect the microwaves back to the magnetron, creating spectacular results. 10 seconds with a penny isn't enough to do this, but being lax with the no metal in the microwave rule can cause some people to find out where the limit actually is.

 

Thats not true, my microwave has a metal rack in it for breads and things, but is secured by plactic hooks. the danger comes if two metal objects come into contact with each other in the microwave, where they can generate a current and possibly cause damage, the greater danger lies in having a metal object touch the sides or top of the microwave which could generate feedback into the magnetron, possibly damaging over time, but rarely and more dangerously cause it to have a catastophic short, which could lead to a fire, but this is exceedingly rare, even the mythbusters couldn't reproduce it.

 

My guess is the metal rack is painted.

put a CD in the microwave for 5 seconds for spectacular (but harmless) display of the effects you described. Metal doesn't need to touch anything else to convert the microwaves to thermal or electrical energy.

I firmly believe that the magetron issue has been mitigated over the decades with better failsafe designs. Didn't see the mythbuster episode, but I'm betting they used all newer microwaves.

I will admit, all my information is from lots of reading and personal experience, but who knows just how accurate or thorough either source was.

Back on topic, Can we all agree that the biggest risk to the coin with OP's method is exposing the pitting caused by years of corrosion. Or is there some risk of causing additional damage to the coin using the OP's method?

 

Why would ya buy a dirty lincoln cent for $3? I have a ton of em I will sell to ya for that price. Who would sell a cent covered with caked on dirt?

Just realized that that year/mint mark is a semi-key date.

 

The whole thing kinda scares but intrigues me at the same time.

My microwave cranks so I'd cut the time down in half for starters.

Just let me get this straight from the video. Cover coin with Hydrogen Peroxide, heat, let it set then scrub with my wife's toothbrush (just kidding).

May seem a silly question but does this work on nickel or even silver?

clembo

 

For $3 if I ruin it...no biggie. If I get it to look like yours? biggie. LOL

 

Here it is, I'll get at it this weekend

 

Why can't I view this clip?

http://img531.imageshack.us/my.php?i...nbmpnewll0.flv

Bruce

 

Mine cranks too. 10 seconds will work fine. Let coin set until all bubbling is done. Then scrub with your wifes soft bristle toothbrush. If you don't like the way it looks, redue process.
Do not use on silver or nickels. Don't work. Can make em look worse.

 

I don't know? sorry