Special lockdown request. Cleaning silver coins by electrolysis
Вставка
- Опубліковано 25 січ 2025
- I've had requests to post a video about how I clean my silver coins by electrolysis, so lockdown gave me that opportunity.
This is the way that I and my mate Pete do it, with plenty of disclaimers that it's just what works for us. Our personal preference.
Good luck, happy cleaning if you choose to, stay safe and have fun.
CBK
Coin Cleaning using Electrolysis
EQUIPMENT
9 -12v power adapter
Alligator clips attached to adapter wires
Positive with white line or dashes
Negative with black wire
An anode (sacrificial pice of metal) - I used a piece of aluminium
Place negative wire to coin
And positive wire to electrode
Bicarbonate of soda
Ground sea salt (no iodine)
MIX
Mix 2 parts Bicarb soda to 1 part sea salt in bulk for use in future
Eg: 350g BiCarb + 175g salt
Keep dry
Then mix 3 x heaped tablespoons of mix to 2 litres of water and shake well. Shake before using cash time.
Mix is ready for use. Pour about 20 to 25 mix into a flat bottomed rectangular plastic container.
Plug in the adapter, connect the electrode then connect clip to coin.
Place into mix then turn on power. Do not touch mix
Check coin after 10 minutes or so when black coating on coin.
TURN POWER OFF WHEN CHECKING COIN
When coin starts to be able to be wiped clean, remove coin.
Place 2-3 teaspoons of biCarb in a small container and mix a small amount of water to form a paste.
Wash coin or rinse in clear water.
Then clean coin with BiCarb paste and toothbrush or with fingers.
You’ll see black covering disappear gradually.
Wash coin in clean water well then soak for final clean in distilled water.
Leave in distilled water for a week.
This will make sure there is no residue from the cleaning process left on the coin.
Wipe coin dry when you take out of distilled water.
NOTE: Change cleaning solution regularly. Wear glasses, rubber gloves (optional)
Wash hands well.
DISCLAIMER: These notes were prepared from other sources freely available on the internet. I have not verified and cannot guarantee the correctness of information obtained from those sources. I accept no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, currency, completeness or interpretation of the information available in these notes or in this video. I do not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by the use of or reliance on the information provided in these notes or in this video. Please use your own discretion and be careful.
#thecoffeebushkid
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My name is Andrew, so why do they call me The Coffee Bush Kid? I may have found the odd gold coin or two in the middle of the coffee bush where others fear to tread.
Metal detecting in Central Victoria, Australia. Goldfields relics, treasures, and the odd Aussie critter.
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Contact me on thecoffeebushkid@gmail.com
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thanks friend. worked beautifully on a knackered coin I dug here in the states today. thanks for the recipe.
That’s like year 11 science 🧪 .. Geez the florin came up nice as . Love the aprati haaa . Thanks for the video and advice loved it .
That ok Paul. Glad you got something out of it. The full silvers really come up a treat. Stay safe mate. Regards Andrew 👍😁
Not wrong they looked awesome. Heading out for a hunt soon . On holidays so glad they lifted the restrictions. Old as site again hopefully score some more old silvers. Have a good day old chap 👍
Great video. Have wondered how to do that, now I know. Cheers and thanks for the tips.
For those real tough ones to clean , this is the way to go 👌 nice work Andrew
Thanks for watching Ant. They come up nice when you do. Stay safe mate. Regards Andrew 👍😁
Wow looks easy peasy thanks for sharing 👍
No wuckers Paul 👍😁
I stated doing the same works relly well brother you have had some relly cool silvers brother top job
Gday Terry. It does work well. Everyone down here loves to find a florin but any silver is a good silver. Stay safe mate. Regards Andrew 🦘🦘👍😁
Thanks very much for sharing Andrew! Great video and very interesting way of cleaning coins. I’m (Ant) always looking for ways to clean my coins. Cheers, really appreciate it! 😁👍
No worries Ant. I reckon it works ok but I will give Jim’s CLR a go fir the fifty percenters. Stay safe mate and happy swinging 👍😁
@The Coffee Bush Kid yeah I bought some CLR last week 👍 haven’t tried it out yet but will do soon! Cheers and stay safe too. All the best on your next adventure 👍😁⛏
Awesome info and a great video. Much appreciated!
Thanks Anthony. Glad you got something out of it. 👍😁
Very good detailed video(might look complicated at first), and fast effective method of cleaning each coin! Don't tell Olive Oil! Good watch !
Thanks Dean. Glad you enjoyed it. Stay safe over there mate. Regards Andrew 🦘🦘👍😁
Thanks Mate Going to give this a go another option other than the tumbler cheers 👍👍
Thanks Mark. Glad you got something out of it. Regards Andrew 👍
Nice video Andrew, Thank you ! Not everyone will ever agree on the best and greatest way to clean coins or wether to or not but it’s all down to personal preference, I think they came up a treat :) job well done.
Thanks William. It is one of those can of worms discussions. I like them shiny but I do check them. Take care mate. Regards Andrew 👍😁
Great video Andrew, thank you for sharing this, will give it try. Keep safe :-)
No worries Deb. You stay safe too 😁👍
Hello Andrew, I usually soak my 50%
Silver's in CLR for about an hour and then I use the baking powder to rub of the gunk, usually they clean up a treat without electrolysis, the 925s I use a magic eraser, and plain water they come up a treat, thanks for sharing mate ATB GL&HH 👍
Thanks Jim. I might try the CLR trick and see how I go. Thanks for watching mate. Stay safe down there. Regards Andrew 👍😁
hi Andrew very informative thanks for sharing
No probs Jeffrey. Hope you and your wife are well. Stay safe mate 🦘🦘👍😁
Yes mate we are fine thanks staying close ta home hope you stay safe with your loved ones
Mate that was a good lesson I always wanted to know how to do that 👍👍🍺🍺
Thanks Scott. Hope it makes it easier if you go to do it. Stay safe mate 👍😁
The florin cleaned up nice mate :)
It certainly did. Thanks for watching and take care 🦘🦘👍😁
Excellent job! Also they spelled McKenzie correctly!
Thanks Dawn. Glad you liked it 👍😁
Worth their weight in silver plus rare dates even more , I tried doing that to some 20c and they came out the same colour as a red sunset on the Simpson .......sign of the times thanks for the video
Not much silver in a 20c. While I had everything set up I did a crusty penny and token. Yer no. Think the baking powder cleaned it more. Thanks for watching Brian 👍😁
“Shocking experience” 🤣🤣
I have all the gear for this but I still have not tried it. Might give it a go
Howdy Andrew, That was a very informative video. I generally use a dremel tool with a wool felt tip and Flitz polish on my silver jewelry and coins. They come out really shiny with no coppery spots and usually doesn't take long. It works great on old copper/brass too but I tend to like a green patina on those coins. Maybe I'll give electrolysis a try though. I use it on iron finds. Looking forward to the silver dump video. Take care buddy.
Thanks Roelf. There seems to be many ways that people like to clean their coins up. It’s good to hear them all. You stay safe too mate 🦘🦘👍😁
Good info Andrew, you should do one on cleaning pennies etc.
I actually haven’t cleaned a penny any more than with a brush Albert 👍😁
Thanks again Andrew for uploading this vid.I tried this method and it works a treat.I been using electrolysis for some time now,but this method seems to work better.The salt might make the difference. Cheers.
That’s great. What I have since been told, that makes sense, is to have a longer anode so the clip is not in the solution. This was setting up electroplating with the post 1946 coins and giving me the copper look. Thanks for watching mate 😁👍
Thanks for the video, I`m new to collecting and stacking, So far i have only collected pure silver coins and rounds but if i were to start with older coins i would much rather see them as they were intended to be rather than have scrungy looking ones.
Hi Andrew, as an electrolyte i use sodium carbonate, in Coles its called (Lectric Washing Soda Powder) 1tsp to 250ml water - for the cathode i use carbon rods, these can be brought on eBay or harvested from those cheap 6v lantern batteries you get 4 rods from each battery its messy but doable. Thanks for posting the video..
And thanks for all that info Tom. Stay safe 😁
Wonder if it would work on silver tarnished rings? Thanks for the info!!
They would probably come up a treat if they are .925. My Grandmother would do a load of hand washing of clothes with all her rings on if see thought the look a bit dirty. They were gold ones though. Take care mate. Regards Andrew 🦘🦘👍😁
Nyimakk,, hadirrr....
Hey mate great vidoe is there a way to remove that copper colour on the 50% silver
G'day Nicholas. No there is not from electrolysis but I have since found you can clean the 50 percenters in CLR. They come up a treat. Cheers
Ps the copper looking florin would look awesome as a ring 💍
The Coffee Buzz kid ⚡🪙
Great public service announcement 📣 !
Haha. Thanks Dug 👍😁
Hey Andrew, does this work for verdigris on pennies also? If so what sacrificial metal needs to be used???
I did try it on a penny and it didn’t work. Don’t know what would 😁👍
Any reason why your using aluminum in it and not another metal?
It is a lower base metal than silver and as an anode, it will be eaten away in the process of cleaning the coins 😁👍
Coffee , I've been doing the same procedure for more years than I want to reveal.
Works great on .925 coins.
It does work well on the .925s. Don’t mind them shiny. Take care mate. Regards Andrew 👍😁
L&S 🤠
When The cleaning object is clean the proces stops automaticly than stops the bubling in Your
container
Ive always wanted to try this but a bit apprehensive.
It helps when someone shows you the ropes. Take care mate 👍😁
Does this work on copper coins?
Not this set up Greg. Did give it a go myself. Nothing 😁👍
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Thanks mate. Glad you enjoyed it.
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION. CAREFUL GOOD WORK MATE
Thanks for the warning. Wondered what the gas would be. Will do. 👍😁
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