| Author |
 Replies: 19 / Views: 2,528 |
Page 2 of 2
|
|
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
Dip is an acid, and works by literally dissolving a layer of metal from the surface of the coin. That's why you'll rarely see it discussed in favorable fashion around here. Coins which should be dipped are very few and far between.
|
|
Valued Member
 United States
320 Posts |
Oh boy this sounds like I'm going to end up with no fingers when I'm done lol. I purchased ez something and acetone. I picked out 3 about au morgans that look terrible. All from ugly toning. I have another 3 that are dirty. I'm going to try both methods. Why distilled water? I cant run it under the sink when done?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
EZ est? That stuff is strong enough to damage a coin, be careful with it. Don't mess with dips unless you know exactly what you are doing. Three coins isn't enough to learn, I ruined a couple nice Morgans when I was learning after the first batch came out fine.
|
|
Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
Thats why I'm going to practice. Have tons of "cull" or "junk" morgans to use. If I do a 1-2 sec dip, I cant rinse it under tap water? Why distilled? Is it because of the impurities?
|
|
Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
My dip process is acetone soak for 24h, then dip, then max hot tap water rinse for 5-10 seconds, then pat dry, then acetone for at least 24h more and I've never had a problem. If you feel the need to use distilled water, use it prior to the acetone step. A key part of the acetone step is to make sure it is covered and cannot evaporate, because if all the acetone evaporates, anything that came off the coin will just end up right back on it. Oh, and buy gloves. And check your email.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I never bought EZ est, or used it, but was considering experimenting at some point. Somewhere I read the you should dilute it 2-1 or 3-1. Is this true, or is a 2 second dip in the "full strength" stuff ok?
|
|
Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
There is no way you can tell what's "long enough" for a dip. Once a certain level of surface roughness is removed by the acid, the coin will no longer show luster but appear lifeless, for the rest of its' existence. Unrestorable, ruined. The total length of exposure to the acid a given coin can endure depends in part on the quality of the original dies and strike.
And there's no way you'll ever know if the coin you're holding has already been dipped, or for how long. Do the surfaces have five seconds of exposure left in them? Two seconds? No chance to get it out of the solution fast enough-time? It's Russian Roulette, except the gun's pointed at the coin. I'm really not a fan.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
A knowledgeable individual can dip a coin properly without risk of ruining it. It takes a long time to learn what is good and what isn't, and how long a dip the coin can take without losing much luster, but as a general rule of hand, I do no more than 2 seconds in a strong dip. Dips with weaker substances like ammonia or diluted dips can get 4-5-6-7 seconds, longer if they're real bad. I never drop the coin in the dip, it's always in my gloved hand and I always watch it closely. No harm in pulling it out too soon and having to drop it back in for another second or two, but if you dip it too much, it's ruined.
I wouldn't call it Russian Roulette, I'd compare it to cutting your hair. Do it yourself without lessons or any real experience, you might really screw it up. If you know what you're doing, it comes out looking better than it did before.
|
|
Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Quote:
If I do a 1-2 sec dip, I cant rinse it under tap water? Why distilled? Is it because of the impurities? Yep. I think you can get a gallon for a dollar. Try the acetone first. It might do all you need it to do. I assume that you will never want to sell these coins because I doubt that you'll be able to after a dip. |
|
Pillar of the Community
968 Posts |
Quote:
I assume that you will never want to sell these coins because I doubt that you'll be able to after a dip. You'd be surprised what people will pay for a dipped AU Morgan, they go from looking like AU's to looking like low MS coins to the layman. Edited by chasingtailbar
08/13/2014 5:17 pm
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
The reason I ask is I have many raw morgans. Some look as if they were struck yesterday, Due to so many counterfeits around today, some or all of your so called struck yesterday may well have been struck yesterday.  |
|
Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
Just carl, nothing I have was struck yesterday. Every morgan I have is genuine. And that comment refers to the coin having not one worn area. The pics I'm posting will show a coin I pulled from a bag of hundreds. Its easily a 64 but was in with "junk".
|
|
Valued Member
United States
320 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2815 Posts |
I had a Morgan with very harmful tape residue on the obverse. Even after professional conservation by NGC they still labeled it as IMPROPERLY CLEANED. I can understand the use of pure acetone, but I would stay away from dipping. Different strokes.....
|
|
Bedrock of the Community
United States
19975 Posts |
I would NEVER dip and AU coin, it's sure to look cleaned when done since most of the flow lines (already worn) will be dissolved.
|
|
Page 2 of 2
|
Replies: 19 / Views: 2,528 |
Page 2 of 2
|
First Page
Posted 08/13/2014 11:49 am
