oil soak

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lmking304
lmking304 Posts: 94
in Metal Detecting
Would anyone like to tell me the proper procedure for cleaning the coroded coins I find in the soil? I have heard of olive oil for a week or two, but what do I do after that? Wash it in water, or gently rub the oil off? If I wash it with water do I use soap to get the oil off? I guess it doesn't matter because the coins are corroded anyway but I would like some opinions please image
I have so much to learn!

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  • Musky1011
    Musky1011 Posts: 3,977 ✭✭✭✭
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    Copper coins put in a potato for a day ,take out and look at it if all the crap isn't off
    repeat process as long as it takes

    only drawback is the coin have a white residue on it when it dries

    just put a little mineral oil on it and it will be copper colored again

    Jim

    Pilgrim Clock and Gift Shop.. Expert clock repair since 1844

    Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA

    http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Musky, thanks for the potato tip.. had not heard that one before. Cheers, RickO
  • woodwalker
    woodwalker Posts: 297 ✭
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    The potato trick works. I've done it with several coins.
  • windwhispersintrees
    windwhispersintrees Posts: 605 ✭✭✭
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    Go to treasuredepot.com and search the archives.
    There are many ways to clean coins, depending on the type of damage, metal type, and value of the coin.
    They range from the extreme (sandpaper on otherwise featureless & worthless corroded copper to at least determine country/series) to gentle (hydrogen peroxide, diluted CLR, electrolysis etc).
    Oil typically isn't terribly useful for most metal detector finds.
    I'd say practice each method of cleaning on otherwise minimal value finds so you know benefits/drawbacks of every method.
    "A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes"--Hugh Downs
  • BunchOBull
    BunchOBull Posts: 6,188 ✭✭✭
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    I've heard of people purchasing rock tumblers with plastic barrels and loading it with rice and peroxide, running the coin through. Coppers I believe, I don't know about any other metal.
    Collector of most things Frank Thomas. www.BigHurtHOF.com
  • ricko
    ricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Careful with the peroxide... can pit the copper.... rice is an abrasive (as you know).. so do not use it on coins of potential value. Cheers, RickO
  • lordmarcovan
    lordmarcovan Posts: 45,335 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    Rice in the rock tumbler... hmm... why didn't I think of that? Cool.

    Collector since 1976. On the CU forums here since 2001.

  • BunchOBull
    BunchOBull Posts: 6,188 ✭✭✭
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    << <i>Careful with the peroxide... can pit the copper.... rice is an abrasive (as you know).. so do not use it on coins of potential value. Cheers, RickO >>



    Most definitely. I'm talking handfuls of Memorials. I don't recommend cleaning any valuable coin. Just arrest whatever corrosion may be occurring. I should have added that.
    Collector of most things Frank Thomas. www.BigHurtHOF.com

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