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Cleaning finds - Cloudy ammonia
snowdrop  
Posted : Monday, 1 September 2014 6:21:11 PM(UTC)
snowdrop

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Just bought a bottle of cloudy ammonia. Boy really putrid smelling. How long should I leave coins, in fact any finds in the stuff.
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Erickd  
Posted : Monday, 1 September 2014 8:59:22 PM(UTC)
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Im not sure, yet to try that stuff, I use tin foil in hot water with baking soda and salt for silvers..have a look on YouTube or soak in lemon juice
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Mudwiggle  
Posted : Monday, 1 September 2014 10:42:14 PM(UTC)
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The cloudy ammonia is a lot safer than the tinfoil trick.
(There's no quicker way to shag a silver than the tinfoil - Been there, as my now featureless 1911 Aussie florin can testify!)

Quick usually equals brutal when cleaning. Take your time.

I use ammonia almost exclusively now, and check after every hour or so depending on how grubby it is.
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Foiled again  
Posted : Monday, 1 September 2014 11:33:50 PM(UTC)
Foiled again

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Originally Posted by: Mudwiggle Go to Quoted Post
The cloudy ammonia is a lot safer than the tinfoil trick.
(There's no quicker way to shag a silver than the tinfoil - Been there, as my now featureless 1911 Aussie florin can testify!)

Quick usually equals brutal when cleaning. Take your time.

I use ammonia almost exclusively now, and check after every hour or so depending on how grubby it is.


and wear a kitchen glove to avoid stained fingernails if cleaning a few

There's another to find and I'm gunna find it!
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snowdrop  
Posted : Monday, 1 September 2014 11:46:43 PM(UTC)
snowdrop

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Is that neat cloudy ammonia. So say would you leave several hours. Since I posted that lmessage. I googled and I have tried lemon juice,and salt and white vinegar. Would you used the ammonia for all types i.e. silver, copper, etc.
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creamer  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 9:12:07 AM(UTC)
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Cloudy ammonia seems safe on most things.
CLR, not the best idea but can help in cleaning silver from the beach.
Tin foil and baking soda has ruined one of my best old coins making it unrecogniseable.

Stick with the ammonia and a soft tooth brush.

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snowdrop  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 9:56:53 AM(UTC)
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Thanks, raw or diluted.
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Mudwiggle  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 10:44:04 AM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: snowdrop Go to Quoted Post
Thanks, raw or diluted.

Use it neat, I warm mine up for the first soak, and subsequent soaks are cold. You'll see the solution turn blue as it works.

If it's a real fragile/ancient/valuable find, soak it in plain water, then freeze it. Return to cold water to thaw and repeat many times. The freeze/thaw cycle gently shifts even the hardest crud.
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number8wire  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 12:06:58 PM(UTC)
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Originally Posted by: Mudwiggle Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: snowdrop Go to Quoted Post
Thanks, raw or diluted.

Use it neat, I warm mine up for the first soak, and subsequent soaks are cold. You'll see the solution turn blue as it works.

If it's a real fragile/ancient/valuable find, soak it in plain water, then freeze it. Return to cold water to thaw and repeat many times. The freeze/thaw cycle gently shifts even the hardest crud.


What a great but simple idea. Never thought of the freeze/thaw concept. I'll give that a try with my next fragile historic find......thanks mudwiggle.
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Mudwiggle  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 3:01:42 PM(UTC)
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Yeah, it's a neat trick I read about that uses the expansion of the ice between the dirt layers and against the 'backstop' of the metal to push the clag off. Gentle teasing with a toothbrush in between freezes speeds it up considerably. I cheat a bit by soaking mine under vacuum to really pull the water into the dirt.
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Mudwiggle  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 3:01:52 PM(UTC)
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Double post.

Edited by user Tuesday, 2 September 2014 3:02:40 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
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coinnut  
Posted : Tuesday, 2 September 2014 6:57:52 PM(UTC)
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Same can be said for heating & crash cooling, apparently the moving metal disturbs the crud, haven't tried this myself & doubt there would be enough movement in a coin sized object.
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