Cleaning Metal Finds using Electrolysis

[Gadget(Ian)]

cleaning coins using electrolysis some of the pictures of the process working correctly below, the negative from the transformer is connected to the coin and the positive is connected to a piece of stainless steel. I have used a threaded bar as this gives more surface area to conduct the dc current. Use 2 teaspoons of salt to 1 pint of water with a few drops of lime juice to aid the conductiveness of the fluid.The SMALLER the coin the less current is needed.   

[Gadget(Ian)]

annother picture of the process working the coin will produce small stream of bubbles

[Gadget(Ian)]

the contamination from the coin is gathering around the stainless rod

[Tafflaff (Rob)]

Thanks for that Ian , now its time for me to blow the house up.

[Gadget(Ian)]

steady rob if your not sure of what your doing leave well alone mate

[bymatt666 (byron)]

ian..remember my attempts in work using various transformers etc?...... ..wrecked a couple of worthless coins.!..... ...byron

[hedgehog]

A simpler method is to place a coin in a container (I use plastic cups, tops off aerosol cans etc;) on top of a piece of tin foil (single thickness, too thick and it won't work) Put soda crystals on top of coin and foil (half a teaspoon) and then pour on boiling water (slowly otherwise coin will come off foil) leave to work (should start to fizz) and this should clean the coin.

[Gadget(Ian)]

hedghog i thought the method you described is used for cleaning silver only.

[Gadget(Ian)]

hi byron any cleaning method on valuable coins and antiques is a no no mate and should be left to the experts  As i recal we could not even get it to work correctly in work. You know yourself as a electrician this is a trial and error method and you have lots of bad results until you get the feel of it.

[Malcolm.mtts]

People are mentioning transformers ... you can use a 12 volt car battery charger for this process as well to good effect ... most battery chargers have low and high settings and some have got a 6 volt provision as well.

Works brilliantly using sat water but be careful because it can also remove too much so keep on checking the condition of the article to avoid unwanted damage.

[the sutt]

if you use a car battery or car charger its like using a sledghammer to  crack a nut
i use a mobel phone charger to do mine. and i dont use salt i use bicarbonate of soda. its not as poisonous as salt. but as said its all trial an error

[KANE (DES)]

hi stuart i use a  mobile phone charger for about two years and it works perfect, i also use washing soda it works great no problems but as ian said you have to watch the coin or whatever often DES

[the sutt]

for the detectorists, that don't know much about electrolysis, salt gives off a
poisonous gas. if you are using salt, make sure that the room or shed is well ventillated. the damage that it causes to your lungs is irreversible. this is my advice to you all   

[hedgehog]

You are right there Ian it is a method for cleaning silver, tried various methods for bronze , the best cleaned up that I have seen was an anglesey penny, it was lovely and he had used a dremel.

[PHIL YNYSBOETH]

Hi all

 I bought a nice Electrolysis kit off ebay £15.00 all in.

Ive used for days on end its powered by what looks like a phone charger
I use to buy uncleaned Roman coins that used to get them up a treat !

If i got 5 mins later ill post some pics someone might want to make something similar


all the best Phil