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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,640 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
There is this coin that looks like it could have a lot of details under this buildup of some type of dirt, or is it corrosion. Question is, can it be cleaned and how?  I am talking about the bottom left coin with the buildup on it. The coin has good detail, also some damage as well.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3229 Posts |
The two methods that I have been most successful with are the distilled water soak and the olive oil soak along with mechanical cleaning. I use a silver pick, brass pick, and diamond dusted dental pick (600 grit). Use tiny cicles.
I would start with distilled water (change the water every couple of weeks). If that does not work switch to olive oil. IMHO I think that the coin on the bottom left should clean up. From the pics the top of the coin looks restorable to me.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
The deposits on the coin look like dirt that a soaking in olive oil should soften and you can use dental picks to lift off. You can also try soaking it in hydrogen peroxide, we have been getting good results with it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2661 Posts |
I took one that was cover in what seemed like concrete and soaked it in PB Blaster for a few months. Did this after water and a year in olive oil failed to do anything. I checked it every week or so until I was satisfied that I could get the rest off with dental and tooth picks. Worked very well and did not harm the patina.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
Tim Stroud- Interesting! So what exactly is PB Blaster?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
842 Posts |
Yes.....do tell! What is this PB Blaster? 
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2044 Posts |
I just looked it up. Apparently, it's similar to WD-40. It's a spray can solvent used to loosen up bolts and for other uses.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
There is a lot of promising detail on that coin--good luck!  Has anyone here researched what museums/convervators use to remove hard mineral deposits? From what I've read, a lot of encrustations are lime-based, which basically produces concrete. If lime can be removed without attacking bronze, that might be pretty effective. Just thinking aloud here--I ought to buy a cheap crustie and expirement.
Edited by DVCollector 01/29/2012 4:09 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote: It's a spray can solvent used to loosen up bolts and for other uses. Car mechanics keep a bucket of brake fluid handy for loosening up frozen connections. Better than WD40.
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,640 |
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