Hello, I am thinking about buying a steam cleaner for some old jewelery, medals and tokens I have. I was wondering if any one had any suggestions on which is the best one to buy. I have searched a little online but am not sure which one would do the best job. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Fastfun1111
Why a steam cleaner ? If you want to clean the stuff just get a commercial dip - dip the stuff in it & pull it out. Presto it's clean.
I have always been told the dips are not very good at getting thing from deep crevisis. Any jewlers I have asked have recommended a steam cleaner as well.
OK, fair enough. But before I would spend hundreds of dollars or more on a steam cleaner I might try the dip for $10 first.
or ask a jeweler to steam them in his. He'll likely charge you for the service, but it would likely be cheaper than getting your own.
I had never heard of steam cleaning coins. Ultrasonic cleaning, yes, but not steam cleaning, especially copper containing coins. I did check on one by Salton to see what it said and it said it cleans by steam and electro- chemical action. Both might be Ok for gold or gemstones, but not for copper which is so reactive with water. Electrochemical is another word for a process that can change metal surfaces, I guess they are saying to remove the tarnish or surface metal. Gold could take this process, but silver and copper would be reactive depending on the time. An ultrasonic cleaner seems about the same price, and you can use several different solutions that are "safe" for coins. And the microscopic bubbles cleans very effectively without damaging the surface as I under stand the process. JMO.
Between My father and myself we literally have thousands of item, most costume jewlery. I will check on the ultasonic cleaner. Thanks
