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 Replies: 17 / Views: 5,258 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
668 Posts |
How can I clean corrosion off of a silver dollar? I have a 1921 S morgan that has a little bit of green stuff on it and I want to get it off without damaging it. I know olive oil works with copper coins, will this work with silver too?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Well, 90% of collectors will recommend acetone. I on the other hand suggest WD-40. You will get a lot of opinions on how to accomplish this verdigris removal. You must understand that opinions are a dime a dozen and everyone has one.
Take Care
Ben
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Valued Member
United States
367 Posts |
does wd-40 work on copper?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Works very well on copper...
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Valued Member
United States
367 Posts |
you just spray it on and the green stuff comes off or do you have to let it set?
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
668 Posts |
will wd 40 damage the coin? I'm dont want it to be bodybagged as cleaned I just want to, well conserve it I guess
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1713 Posts |
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
quote:
will wd 40 damage the coin? I'm dont want it to be bodybagged as cleaned I just want to, well conserve it I guess
My only question is, what would *any* petroleum-based product do to silver or copper? |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Sorry I didn't get back sooner. #1. Zacharycash, I'm not sure what you mean by BodyBagging. I don't use TPG services. It would seem to me that a coin bad enough to have verdigris would be too far gone for slabbing anyway. I've used it on some of my give away coins and common date loose silver halves, quarters, dimes and also on copper & nickels. No damages and the corrosion and verdigris was removed. There was no damage to the tone either for those which have it. I just sprayed it on and waited until the grime was gone. Then I rinsed it off with distilled water or acetone, LOL...  #2. Superdave, there is no damage whatsoever. Remember WD-40 is one of the substances recommended for cleaning old/antique/ museum weapons. All the workings, bolt, firing pin, trigger assembly should be sprayed and a light coating is recommended for long term storage they say. While this spray coating is not needed or recommended for coins, I've not had any bad experiences using it on the coins I've used it on. Give it a try on a few beater coins you feel okay to experiment with. You'll be surprised.  Take Care Ben |
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
When I think about it, Ben, it doesn't strike me as all that bad an idea; it's not highly acidic or anything. My only worry is removing any film it might leave behind, although acetone should lick that. Nothing I'd use on a Proof ASE, but for a gunked IHC, that's another story.... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Yes Sir, that's exactly what I'm talking about. For use in extreme cleaning circumstances.  Ben |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1247 Posts |
Zacharycash, usually when you remove something that's been adhered to a coin for any amount of time it will leave a color void, a brighter area. Anyone who notices it will know it was cleaned. Very often "solving" one problem by cleaning only brings in another problem. Of course that doesn't mean that a TPG will notice anything wrong. Eight seconds to grade a coin isn't much time to notice anything.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Please do not use WD-40 unless you don't need or like that coin. For one thing it WILL leave a oil residue that can not be removed with water. It will have to be removed with something Like Acetone. Next the loosely used term Verdigris is in fact not what is on your coin. Verigris is normally a combination of Copper and and Acetate. Other wise none as Cu(C2H3O2)2-H2O, however basic Verdigris is only Cu(OH)2-H2O. Please note the primary ingredient is Copper, not Silver.
Next, you should always remember what works for some may not work for you. This is due to the fact that even WD-40 in seldom a consistant solution. The manufacturer varies such solutions based on improvements, formulae theft and a various chemical posibilities due to a thing called tolerances in production. Products like WD-40 are intended to remove substances like rust due to a strong detergent action. This is exactly what may happen to your coin. Then you still have to remove the oily film, then the Acetone rince, then the water rinse and now you may still have a coin, but for sure cleaned and maybe damaged. Note that when the green stuff is removed, so may part of the Silver.
By the time you finish experimenting and find in your instance the coin is ruined, note people that tell you to try something do not own that coin, you do. If it fails, they can simply say, to bad, I thought it would work. I do it all the time. Yeah, right. If anyone calls Silver contamination Verdigris, well.............
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1267 Posts |
Chuckle, relax Just Carl, If I didn't know better I would say that you're a WD-40 salesperson... Seriously though, try it, it works. I have, on my coins too...
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19935 Posts |
Just to clear things up on WD40's composition. It's mostly aliphatic petrolium distillates, naphthenic distillates, some emulsifiers/corrorsion protectant like benzene sulfonic acid and a bit of a cleaner such as diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DEG). I suspect the majority of the cleaning action on coins is due to the DEG and the distillates. Just be aware, the sulfonic acids will adhere to metal....that's why they are in the forumla, for corrosion protection.
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
BadThad: Thanks for looking that up. I am a bit amazed at your ability to ascertain the properties of WD-40 though. It is not on the can, not on their web site, not on a box or package. Previously someone mentioned this and I contacted the
WD-40 organization and was told the contents are proprietary due to all the copies on the market. So, just where did you acquire those statistics. Also, as I noted the percentages of this products contents may vary and can effect coins. This product is intended for freeing up rusted nuts and bolts, not cleaning coins. And Bonedigger, this may have worked on a coin or two for you and it may have removed some of the metal. Also, eventually it may also have later effects. No, I don't think I'll try ruining a coin with WD-40, Tomato Juice or the many other items people have attemtped. I've already spent well over 50 years doing such experimentations on coins and other items in college labratories. If you have in fact really done this on valuable coins, you've been lucky. Remember that the WD-40 you used today, may not even be close to what you use tomorrow.
Bad Thad I really would like to know where you found the formulae for that. If for no other reason to call that organization and tell them about their secrecy policy.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 5,258 |
Posted 09/07/2007 8:34 pm
