JimmyCT
Well-known member
Since it was so cotton pickin' HOT outside I spent I a good part of my day in the basement where it was cool. I also rigged up my first electrolysis machine and experimented. I first watched this video on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d9ugkIFgdU&feature=player_embedded
As you will see from my photos, my electrolysis gizmo is a variable voltage ac/dc adapter. It varies in voltage from 3 - 12 volts. 300 mA. It has been sitting in my closet too long. Time to put this thing to work lol. I spliced the ends and wrapped the bare wire to the screws on the alligator clips (about $3.00 at radio shack) As the video stated, I placed the item I wanted to clean on the negative side. My first subject was the religious statute. ( I also applied salt and lemon to the water) This took a long time to clean! Almost three hours at 12 volts! I first started out at 3 volts then 6 and I am thinking to myself, "time to crank up the voltage!" So the max of 12 volts was used. It cleaned up pretty good. Every so often, I would take the statue out and scrub with with a soft bristle toothbrush. Myself, I think it could of used another 1/2 hour of shock therapy. That crude floating on top is what was being released off the statue. The same thing happened with each of the coins as well. (below) When I saw the crude build up, I would shut off the power, pull out the coin and hit it up with the toothbrush and the green that was still on the coin would literally fall off.
I first tried a wheat penny. It cleaned up pretty good but the old grey matter didn't consider the teeth from the alligator clip. Hence scratches on the coin. So that was lesson learned (no pics provided as I think that the description is self explanatory) (again, I am certainly not using and would not use rare coins as my subjects) My next two subjects are two cruddy IH cents. 1881 & 1903. The first was the 1881. I left in for about a 1/2 hour (two 15 minute sessions. personally I think one was enough) This coin was cookin' at the 12 volt level. I also used some coin cleaner on it to clean it up - as this coin was bad. Then olive oil was applied. The 1902 cooked for appprox 15 minutes and then taken out and hit up with the toothbrush. This one cleaned up rather nicely.
Another thing I did on these coins that I didn't do with the statue, was using HOT water with the salt and lemon. I feel this made a big difference in cleaning off the crud quicker. The scrubbing bubble action seemed much better. All in all it was fun learning how to use this method of cleaning.
Another thing I used was a powerstrip with a fuse. This was easier then constantly reaching over and plugging it into the wall. I would shut the powerstrip off the then unplug before ever touching either alligator clip. I also used two other alligator clips to hold the wires on each side. The last thing I want is for the two to touch BZZZZZZZZZ. To me, safety first.
What did I learn: I feel it is a great way to clean up relics. Coins on the other hand, will clean up but make sure they are not of any value. I suppose lemon juice or vinegar would work just as well - a tip given from BigCatDaddy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d9ugkIFgdU&feature=player_embedded
As you will see from my photos, my electrolysis gizmo is a variable voltage ac/dc adapter. It varies in voltage from 3 - 12 volts. 300 mA. It has been sitting in my closet too long. Time to put this thing to work lol. I spliced the ends and wrapped the bare wire to the screws on the alligator clips (about $3.00 at radio shack) As the video stated, I placed the item I wanted to clean on the negative side. My first subject was the religious statute. ( I also applied salt and lemon to the water) This took a long time to clean! Almost three hours at 12 volts! I first started out at 3 volts then 6 and I am thinking to myself, "time to crank up the voltage!" So the max of 12 volts was used. It cleaned up pretty good. Every so often, I would take the statue out and scrub with with a soft bristle toothbrush. Myself, I think it could of used another 1/2 hour of shock therapy. That crude floating on top is what was being released off the statue. The same thing happened with each of the coins as well. (below) When I saw the crude build up, I would shut off the power, pull out the coin and hit it up with the toothbrush and the green that was still on the coin would literally fall off.
I first tried a wheat penny. It cleaned up pretty good but the old grey matter didn't consider the teeth from the alligator clip. Hence scratches on the coin. So that was lesson learned (no pics provided as I think that the description is self explanatory) (again, I am certainly not using and would not use rare coins as my subjects) My next two subjects are two cruddy IH cents. 1881 & 1903. The first was the 1881. I left in for about a 1/2 hour (two 15 minute sessions. personally I think one was enough) This coin was cookin' at the 12 volt level. I also used some coin cleaner on it to clean it up - as this coin was bad. Then olive oil was applied. The 1902 cooked for appprox 15 minutes and then taken out and hit up with the toothbrush. This one cleaned up rather nicely.
Another thing I did on these coins that I didn't do with the statue, was using HOT water with the salt and lemon. I feel this made a big difference in cleaning off the crud quicker. The scrubbing bubble action seemed much better. All in all it was fun learning how to use this method of cleaning.
Another thing I used was a powerstrip with a fuse. This was easier then constantly reaching over and plugging it into the wall. I would shut the powerstrip off the then unplug before ever touching either alligator clip. I also used two other alligator clips to hold the wires on each side. The last thing I want is for the two to touch BZZZZZZZZZ. To me, safety first.
What did I learn: I feel it is a great way to clean up relics. Coins on the other hand, will clean up but make sure they are not of any value. I suppose lemon juice or vinegar would work just as well - a tip given from BigCatDaddy