It is a very mild acid and is used primarily on cleaning the crud off of ancient coins. Take Care Ben
I'm turning into a broken record - keep the olive oil for your salad! Distilled water works just as well and smells better. Plus, it doesn't leave the coins slimy when you're done.
That's at least twice I've seen you post this but a broken record would sound more like this. Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), Hi, I"m Ardatirion (click), ...... On the other hand the advice is truly appreciated. clembo
Distilled water is good, always start with that...but olive oil is good as well, you just have to dip the coin in some grease cutting mild soap after if you use it. I have had better results with long oil soaks than water soaks but both are pretty good for a start with cruddy coins. Often times oil or water isnt enough and it comes down to picking at it though. The thing about distilled water and oil is that they work in different ways, oil because its mildly acidic...which is why I think it works a bit better than water...just an opinion from a guy who has cleaned hundred and has about 50 soaking in oil as I type this. This doesnt mean much as I still end up picking most of them in the end. Both are very mild and wont cut it for the hard and crusties.