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 Replies: 29 / Views: 31,358 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1137 Posts |
From what I have read, these cents were zinc-coated steel, there is a layer. Not sure about acetone yet, can't find anything on acetone on steel.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1536 Posts |
You shouldn't clean your coins but that being said, steel cents corrode and aren't worth much when they are. If you want to clean them I would try soaking them for several days in distilled water then acetone. That will take off a good portion of the rust or corrosion.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote: put some acrylic spray lacquer from a spray can on a 1964 Kennedy half when I got it in 1964. The lacquer was as clear as water, and on the coin is almost impossible to detect. The coin now is exactly as I sprayed it in 1964. That's 46 years ago. OK but now try to sell it as a coin. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1005 Posts |
Just for fun I dropped a 1943 steel cent in CLR took it out and rinsed it in water. Looks clean. Too clean.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Acetone will not affect zinc or steel. it will also not remove rust. It may make the white zinc oxide seem to go away, until the acetone evaporates off and the the white returns. WD-40 or mineral oil will also make the white seem to go away, until the volatiles in them evaporate off. Nothing is actually going to remove those corrosion products except either abrasive action, or a chemical action that dissolves the corrosion, and which will probably attack the metal as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8521 Posts |
Quote:
Just for fun I dropped a 1943 steel cent in CLR took it out and rinsed it in water. Looks clean. Too clean.
Oh man, we need before and after pics ! Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1005 Posts |
Ahh. No before.  Here's the after. |
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
The after looks pretty good to me!  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
You may have found something that can really work on those. Now here is a suggestion. Get some small empty bottles, fill with CLR, with your computer and printer make lables. Have them say "Magic Solution to Redo 1943 Cents" "May also be used to clean other valuable items." Post it on ebay, here, other coin forums and sellllllllll. Next remember me with all your profits.  |
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
Lemon juice, CLR...Anything else magically restore Steel cents?  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1005 Posts |
Reading about the wd-40 made me remember the steel cent in CLR.
For anyone not familiar with the name CLR it is a cleaner for Calcium lime rust.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8521 Posts |
Bmoney that 43 actually doesn't look too bad. Looks way better than some steelies I've seen. Thanks for the pic !
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1005 Posts |
It was typical crummy looking before. I use CLR to make the chrome in the tub shine. It makes the copper coins look funny.
Delimer is supposed to be a concentrate version of CLR. Good for cleaning washing machines. I have some de limer but no more steel cents I am willing to clean.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Mercury degrades zinc. Perhaps washing it in mercury to strip off the zinc could work nicely? I know WD-40 doesn't work.
I think simply heating the coin could clean it. zinc has a quite low combustion point, burn off the outer layer and reveal a cleaner layer inside.
Of course, both of these methods would give you a horribly cleaned coin. Original patina...hmmm, you'd have to find something that only effects iron oxide.
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Replies: 29 / Views: 31,358 |
First Page
Posted 10/28/2012 8:32 pm
