Zapping some pennys

[NM5K]

I rigged me up a electrolysis cleaner.. I had a load
of transformers out in the garage. They are all big
12v 1.2 amp wall warts with screw terminals. This is
handy, as I can switch warts when one starts to get a
bit warm. I cycle them around to let them cool a bit.
Anyway, I tried doing some clad quarters, and a dime,
but still not overlly jazzed about the results. It's
getting the coins clean, but so far seems to do little
as far as getting rid of the red nasty look most have.
I've got one quarter I'm really roasting over and over
to see if I can get down to some silver. May be better
off tumbling those...
but I did try some pennys, and they didn't come out half
bad considering how awful they looked out of the ground.
When doing pennys, I use a copper anode instead of the
stainless... I'm not sure, but right now, I prefer to
use the same appx anode metal as the object/victim being
zapped... :/
Anyway, as a test I grabbed 5 random wheat pennys and
ran them through the zapper for a few minutes apiece.
The pennies didn't come out too bad. At least they look
better than they did. In the picture, the coins on the top
row are the unzapped "before" pix. The coins on the lower
row are the same coins, in the same order, but after being
zapped. These coins are a few of the wheat pennys I found
in the "cache" out in the front yard. I think I'm gonna
do the rest of them. BTW, I did one of the Canada cents,
so you guys up north won't feel neglected...LOL...
MK

 

[John-Edmonton]

Also try hydrogen peroxide. Soak them (not touching) for about 24 hours and they also come out clean. I like to use the electrolysis on old jacknives and silver coins. However, you got great results with your pennies. If you run a too high voltage through them, they actually start pitting.

 

[North Georgia Relics]

What happens if the coins are touching?

 

[John-Edmonton]

You end up permanent staining and over a longer period of time you can actually get a small pitting effect.

 

[North Georgia Relics]

n/t

 

[NM5K]

Have you had any luck using electrolysis on clad
such as dimes, quarters? I tried zapping a red
stained quarter for a good while, and if anything
it looks worse now, than when I started. All the
clad around here is red stained. Not sure about
actual silver coins as I haven't found any yet...
MK

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah you complete the circuit. HA.

Bill

 

[North Georgia Relics]

Do the coins need to turned over at any point during their 24 hour bath? Thanks

 

[John-Edmonton]

n/t

 

[John-Edmonton]

I only use electrolysis on silver coins. My experience has ruined copper coins too, and crappy other clad??? I just substitute a gooder from my pocket change and spend it ASAP....kinda like passing the buck.

 

[NM5K]

It sure doesn't seem to do much on the "red" clad. Almost
all quarters and dimes, "clad" turn red here. Really ugly...
I tried zapping one for a good while, and didn't do much,
but maybe I just need to do it longer. I notice each time
I do zap it, I do see more crud come off of it. Maybe it
just takes a while for that type of corrosion. As a test,
I tried zapping "clean" clad, just to see if it damaged
the surface, etc. Nope...Worked great. Will make a dull
10 year old quarter look like new nearly. Ditto for pennies.
So doesn't seem to actually damage a clean coin. I did zap
all the rest of my cruddy wheats. Worked out pretty well,
and the coins are in decent shape now. I use a copper anode
for pennys. Use stainless for clad so far.
MK

 

[North Georgia Relics]

n/t