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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
HypothesisCleaning a steel cent will not remove rust TestingX. Control (No variable) 1. Dipping 2. Tooth brush (with soap, using both electric and stranded brushes) 3. Acid  (The Buffalo nickel stuff) ResultsX. Control Normal cent, yes this is the one from the vending machine   1. Dipping This didn't do too much, if anything, but oh well.   2. Tooth Brush I was supersized with this one, it actually brought out a supersizing amount of luster! However, the rust was still there.    3. Acid This worked WONDERS on the reverse edges of the coin, they have lots of luster. Unfortunately the obverse would have been like this but I left it in for too long. However, it did remove the rust. Also the acid turned RED/ORANGE    ConclusionIn conclusion, I have decided that it is best not to clean coins at all! Leave them just they way they are, even if horribly rusted/ toned. These tests have showed that while the acid did remove the rust, it removed everything else with it. If you are trying to remove the rust on a steel cent, I suggest leaving it alone.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
If you really want to take your experiment the full measure - try electrolysis. Easy to do - see Wikipedia for how.
Rust will come off super fast using Mercuric Acid. But don't breath the fumes.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
Your Science teacher would be proud of your excellent use of the Scientific Method! :)
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
Child,, nice," Show and Tell", but you need to start cropping your pictures.
This would help CCF money wise.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Tell us again what the potential useful purpose of this experiment was!  Edited by Coinfrog
07/27/2015 4:20 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1037 Posts |
In 1978, I was working retail while in High School. I obtained a 1943 cent that was rusty. I thought is was copper, but a coworker said the 1943's were made of steel. I let the cent soak in Taco Bell hot sauce for a spell and it took most of the rust off.
Now, I do not recommend this cleaning method, but it did the trick. BTW: I still have the coin too.
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Moderator
 United States
188130 Posts |
Quote:
I have decided that it is best not to clean coins at all! As expected.  While it would be easy for me to say "I told you so," I have to applaud your desire to confirm this on your own.  |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Quote:
Rust will come off super fast using Mercuric Acid. But don't breath the fumes. I don't know what mercuric acid is, I think you mean muriatic acid, which is just concentrated Hydrochloric Acid (HCl in solution) And you are right you don't want to breath the fumes either before or after you put the con in. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10034 Posts |
@welder
The Taco Bell sauce likely had vinegar in it. I use vinegar as a cleaning solution for items in a very obscure hobby of mine... RR date nails. These were put into RR ties as a way to see how the kind of wood used to make the tie would last and therefore be the most cost effective.
When these are pulled after sometimes 100 years of use they can not only be covered with creosote from the RR tie ("sleeper" if you are from Europe and reading this), but also be incredibly rusty. An overnight white vinegar soak (contains ascetic acid - and so does ketchup) would make most of the nails m look like they just came out of the factory. The first time I saw the difference, I could not believe it.
A rinse in baking soda and water solution (alkaline - base) is also needed to neutralize the ascetic acid. Then rinse with very hot water so it will evaporate before the object can rust.
This soak will likely also work with rusted 1943 pennies.
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Has anyone tried WD-40 on steel cents ?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1788 Posts |
The scientific method is nice but horrid to see for me  |
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Valued Member
United States
160 Posts |
Technically, it would have been more accurate to have 4 separate coins with identical rust spots. i.e. 1st coin- control, 2nd- dip, 3rd- toothpaste, 4th- acid.  Also, don't they make an automotive rust remover to loosen rusty bolts? I think I have a bottle in my garage. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5828 Posts |
Thanks JRG, I kind of figured that. Honestly I was hoping no one would notice Edited by ChildOfTheWheat
07/28/2015 09:57 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4932 Posts |
Welder you gotta show some pics of that coin, some 37 years later. Quote:
This would help CCF money wise.
How is that? |
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
188130 Posts |
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Replies: 27 / Views: 5,288 |
Posted 07/27/2015 3:50 pm
