Aluminum foil and Washing soda

ponzi187

What is the deal with this process...Someone recommended it to me for getting tape off of barber quarters...Will this ruin the coins? Is there a better way to get the ugly yellow tape of?

nwcs

Yes, we discussed this a few days ago. It is a harsh dipping. Tape residue can be removed using acetone (100% pure only) and do no damage to a coin's surface or coloration.

Neil

MtMan

I was under the impression that this was a safe dipping method compared with commercially available dips which actually remove some of the coins metal. It is supposed to reduce the silversulfide i.e. break the chemical bond and leave the silver on the surface. The sulfur then combines with the aluminum. I'm not sure how well it works however. I tried this experiment on a worn JFK and walker and did not notice any real results. I may try again for the fun of it.

nwcs

Here is a link to the recent thread. Link

ScarsdaleCoin

you really want to use a halogenated solvent such as 1,1,1, trichloroethane TCA or trichloroethylene TCE which is basically Perk used by dry cleaners

supercoin

The aluminum process would do little for your tape. Try soaking in acetone instead, it shouldn't harm the coin. Don't smoke while you're doing it.

Russ

This process is, indeed, safe, but essentially useless unless you're removing crud from ancients. I've tried it numerous times for various surface contaminants on 1964 Proof Kennedys and it does little. Here is the method, in case anybody is interested:

You’ll need:

1) A shallow glass dish, like a casserole dish, or glass jar. For a few coins or small objects, I use a small Ball, Mason or mayonnaise jar.

2) A piece of aluminum foil large enough to fit in the bottom of the glass container.

3) One box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. Not baking soda, but washing soda. It’s found in the detergent section of most large grocery stores. Nothing else will work except A&H washing soda.

Fill the glass container with HOT water. I find the best results always happen when I put the container in the microwave and get the water boiling. If you just run real hot water out of the faucet, the cleaning method doesn’t work as well.

Take the piece of aluminum and use your finger to smooth flat any raised wrinkles. If a coin sits on a raised wrinkle during the cleaning process, it will create a dark spot on the coin. (If this does happen, the spot can be removed with another cleaning.)

Put the aluminum in the bottom of the container. (Use something like a pencil to push the foil down if the water’s been microwaved to boiling.)

Drop in the coin to be cleaned. If you’re cleaning more than one coin, don’t let them touch each other. For best results, don’t mix metals. Clean silver with silver, copper with copper and brass with brass.

Dump in two or three heaping tablespoons (depending on how much gunk is on the object) of the washing soda into the water and stir. The washing soda doesn’t need to be completely dissolved.

The whole works will start foaming and fizzing like grandma’s dentures in a glass on the nightstand. In a short time you will see the encrustation start to fall away and the water take on a funky gray-brown color. Let the whole project sit until the water has cooled to room temperature.

Then pour out the water and retrieve the cleaned coin. In most cases, one time through this cleaning process will do it, but if the coin is still crusty, repeat the process as many times as necessary. You won’t hurt the coin by cleaning it repeatedly this way. Another thing: If you have to clean the coin more than once, put in a new sheet of tin foil. The process, you’ll find when you’re finished, causes the foil to begin dissolving around the edges.

Edited to note: DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK. If you ruin a coin, don't come whining to me.

Russ, NCNE