Ultrasonic Cleaners, anybody use?

fiddler

Anyone ever used one of those ultrasonic cleaners they sell for jewelry on coins? I was curious about vibrating a coin in some Acetone with one. I wonder if Acetone would melt that plastic basket they have in them.

majorbigtime

Mom uses 'em for her dentures all the time!

PerryHall

I would avoid using acetone in any plastic container since it tends to melt plastic. Also, its extremely flamable so any sparks from the ultrasonic cleaner may cause a fire or explosion.

Coppernicus

If your coins are dirty, i.e. mud, crud, etc., then an ultrasonic cleaner can help. Forget using acetone in them though. It will melt the plastic tub and won't do anything for the coins. A bit of dishwashing liquid will loosen any crud but if there's other problems with the coin, it won't help.

I put my eyeglasses in an ultrasonic cleaner when the "nose pads" get gunked up from my skin oils. Works great!!

Mike

Steve27

I agree, I would NEVER put acetone in anything which could make a spark.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>I agree, I would NEVER put acetone in anything which could make a spark. >>



Normally one would put the acetone and the coin in a small jar and close it up TIGHT. Then you put the jar into the ultrasonic bath which is filled with water. I believe that one can get an ultrasonic bath that is explosion proof.
FWIW I tried this years ago with smoe cruddy circ Morgans using distilled water, a tad of detergent and a bit o acetone. The coins came out looking drab and pale and kind of pathetic. If anyone wants to send me a couple coins to try I will clean them to your specs and return them. You can take some before and after pix to post here.

g097103

Article on ultrasonic erosion.

mozeppa

if you use water and soap in one of those jewelry cleaners...put the coin on a square of cloth when its in the water.


because if you don't .....the the coin will vibrate against the bottom of the tank
and it will polish the coins high areas to a high shine...rims, ears, chins, foreheads...and the like.

the cloth will insulate it from this vibration,yet sonically clean out the crud.


test my answer on some cull coins before trying it on a nicer piece.

Shamika

<< <i>Normally one would put the acetone and the coin in a small jar and close it up TIGHT. Then you put the jar into the ultrasonic bath which is filled with water. >>


Agreed! This is common practice in metallurgical failure analysis. I've seen a small open beaker used in place of the jar as well.

poptopsRus

A customer of mine did that with an 1918/7 buffalo. Problem was it came out too clean and it had no dirt/grime in the low recesses of the coin. It was a nice coin when I sold it to him and he hurt the coin by cleaning it. He realized it himself before he came in to show me the results. He learned a valueable lesson on that one.

fiddler

Thanks everyone for the excellent responses! This place is a great place for info!

It hadn't occured to me about the sparks being dangerous - that is a scary scenario. I haven't bought one, but was thinking about it. I have some coins that are crudded up and I've soaked and agitated in acetone but was looking for something that would do the agitating for me. Placing in a tight little jar is an interesting approach.