I'm busy abusing some Indian Cents~

WHAT?!? Has Clembo gone mad? Of course not - that happened years ago.

So what am I doing. Subjecting some extremely nasty Indian Cents to electrolysis. Experimenting basically.
We get some really rough looking coins at work. As in so much crud that they are barely identifiable. Still, we buy them and they go into a bag of "ultra culls".

So Sunday a friend drops buy with his "kit" to show me. What the heck let's make one for me.
Monday I took some VERY nasty looking Indians home and started playing. Hey, I just wanted to see what would happen.

I took an 1892 that you could hardly see the date on and removed SO much crud and verdigris. Course it's not good for the coin but it was already a lost cause. Would share pics but my computer is on the fritz till I get it fixed and that's the one hooked up to my scanner.

Now BEFORE anyone gets any ideas do some reading. I don't suggest doing this to ANY coin of real value. You'll most likely LOWER the value of said coin.

For me it's just an experiment and I have a pretty good supply. Just sharing the "mad scientist" side of myself.

clembo

 

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Sounds interesting and fun. What are you using for a power source and electrodes?

Jim

 

Funny you should ask because it died after I posted this. It was an old 7 volt "electric" screwdriver charger actually.

I cut off the charger end and hooked up alligator clips. One goes to a stainless steel spoon and the other on the coin.
Mixing solution was water, a few tablespoons of salt and some lemon juice. As I pointed out NOT good for coins.

Here's an idea as to how to do it.

http://gometaldetecting.com/electrolysis_cleaning.htm

 

I have heard those speed controlers for electric trains work well also.

 

I thought I read somewhere that table salt has to used cautiously.
Something about giving off chlorine gas during the process.

True or not?

Once I know the answer, I'm going to give it a try on some inexpensive ancients.

 

You are abusing us too by not posting pictures.:rolling:

 

Don't forget the most important step of all in upping the value of your coins by making them shiny:

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*Happy April 1.​

 

OK, I'm no expert . . . but it's hard to imagine that the amount of chlorine in the amount of table salt could possibly be harmful. I base this on the fact that I used to own a house with a backyard pool, and we'd put lots of chlorine junk into it each week to keep it clean. Granted, the pool was bigger than a glass of water <g>, but we were putting in a whole lot more than a couple of shakes of a salt shaker.

But, I'm not an expert and not a doctor! (Although I did extremely well in chemistry 35 years ago)!

 

My chemistry is a bit older (almost 50 years) so I've forgotten bunches.
That's why I asked.

I seem to vaguely remember there is a significant chemical difference between the chlorine in dissolved salt (Cl^-) and chlorine gas.
Just trying to keep from asphyxiating myself.

(Oops, looks like the superscript syntax doesn't work in here.)

 

Yes -- certainly a difference. One of my strong memories in chemistry-lab was that we had to "weigh" chlorine gas -- and we did it by having chlorine gas in baggies (!!), and weighing it. When we were done, we were to go outside and let the gas out of the baggie.

There were small amounts of chlorine gas all over the place. I remember smelling the chlorine and getting a very slight pain in my lungs -- and realizing that it was the exact same smell/pain that I got when I swam at our community pool.

So, seriously -- I'm guessing that: (a) if you don't smell chlorine, you won't have a problem; and (b) if you do smell it, open a window. But, again, I can't imagine that the amount of gas in a few shakes of table salt could do any harm.*

*Note: it might harm metals that are close-by! I remember in our chem lab we were told to remove all jewelry and put it in our pockets before the lab started!

BadThad here is a chemist if I recall -- it's time for him to chip in

 

I think I'll do all this outside.
I also want to soak a few coins in acetone, so there's another outside project.

 

I know when making your own collidal silver, you are not to use salt for that reason. Not sure about with other metals.

 

I didnt know you liked coins like that

 

There is a connection between electrolysis and some kind of harmful vapors, just don't have the time to look that up right now. But I do recall that from my more mischievous days.

 

Just as long as you don't submit to electrolysis Ben.....

 

I experimented with electrolysis to clean a nickel on which they only thing tha was visible was part of the 4 in the date. It did a good job of removing the all crap from the coin. But it seems the clip attached to the coin starts to turn a blackish color and eventually it transmits to coin. Also, don't use your everyday dinnerware, the reaction tends to discolor and even eat away the utilsel, your wife will not be happy about this

 

I'm familiar with electrolysis to clean rusty old tools. There's lots of info on the internet about that. They recommend 'washing soda' (sodium carbonate) for the electrolyte. They also note that you shouldn't use stainless steel electrodes due to the added elements, especially chromium. I use rebar, but don't know if it's suitable for coins.

I'm sure you can find a lot more about electrolysis at the forvm ancient coins site where they discuss cleaning millenia old coins.

-wheatiefan

 

"I'm busy abusing"

I saw this and thought that someone took my place while I was gone!

 

I'm not familiar with you Aiden.

I DO know an Aidan though. He's in New Zealand and NOT New York.

 

For a little extra conditioning...try easy off oven cleaner on them