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 Replies: 17 / Views: 12,591 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
772 Posts |
I was doing some reading on a metal detecting forums and came upon an article about cleaning a bunch of steel pennies. Their results were great... So I got to thinking, heck I have a bunch of rusty steel cents, might as well give it a shot. Oh my was I surprised. (PS - I know you don't clean good coins, but those coins were far from good, I consider them 'saved'.  ) First try. (Obverse)   (Reverse)   Round two! (Obverse)   (Reverse - I must've deleted the before oops!)  Now let me share the 'secret'.  The other post used 2tbsp lemon juice and 1tbsp water. I used 12tbsp of Lemon juice and 6tbsp of water in the second batch based on the amt of coins I was 'cleaning' at once in the second batch. I let them sit for approx 24 hours and gently wiped them with a microfiber cloth. Anyway, I just figured I would share this in hopes of someone finding it useful! |
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
Looks pretty good - I'll definitely have to try that instead of just keeping them in the "CULL" bag.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Good work!  to the CCF! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
824 Posts |
I to have a bunch of old rusty 43's. I just might have to try this. Thanks for the tip.
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Rest in Peace
10197 Posts |
Now learn to replate them. That's what replated steelies are. They clean the rust off and recoat with zinc, just makes them more shiny.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Thanks for the great photos showing your results. Seems to work awfully well  |
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
I like it! Thanks for sharing!  |
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Moderator
 United States
188102 Posts |
They turned out better than I expected.  Considering what they looked like before, I do not think they could not have lost any more value. Good job. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
Nice work!
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12817 Posts |
I like it. Thanks for sharing!
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
Wow , I didn't think it was possible . Nice work . |
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Valued Member
Canada
496 Posts |
How timely for me. I'm just transferring my Lincolns from a Whitman to 2X2s and my '43s have some rust on them.The 55 years in that Whitman hasn't been kind to them.
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Bedrock of the Community
Canada
24885 Posts |
To the Forum . Nice work |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4211 Posts |
Great job!
Thank you for sharing the pictures.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
 with the above sentiments. It worked pretty well and thanks for the pics! I'm sure we all have at least a few rusty junk '43s around to try it on. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
Basically you've soaked them in acid which stripped off the remaining zinc, broken down the Iron oxide and possibly a thin layer of the steel, and then polished off the residues with the cloth. Leaving just the bare steel surface. Lemon juice is a fairly strong acid with a pH of 2 (The lower the number the stronger the acid. Acids run from 1 to 7 and Bases from 7 to 14. 7 is neutral. The higher the number over 7 the stronger the base. Lye is 13.).
Edited by Conder101
01/19/2018 10:47 am
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Replies: 17 / Views: 12,591 |
Posted 01/18/2018 5:34 pm
