Heated Peroxide Cleaning Setup

[pocketspill]

I am using one of these... and it works fantastic. If the candle gets too hot, you can lay some aluminum foil over part of it to regulate.



You can get these for around $25 for FOUR, and clean an entire hunt's copper in 2-3 hours.

Please use eye protection, but you didn't need me to say that, right. Peroxide can pop.... and peroxide can blind.

[WildDigger]

That is cool... Never tried Peroxide yet.

[Gauntlet]

I think if you use that much heat, for any extended period of time, you won't like the results.

Generally nuking half a Dixie Cup of Peroxide for 10-15 seconds is all it takes. May have to repeat the process however. Peroxide may turn the copper a darker/dull brown than preferred, so experiment before using it on anything you like.

[pocketspill]

Have cleaned 20 or so coppers this way and must say that they've come out nicely. I pull them out regularly and gently rub details with a wet q-tip. There are limits to the system... it won't get every bit of dirt out. But if I want that, I'll just buy coins at a coin show.

[HarveyH48]

Originally Posted by Gauntlet

I think if you use that much heat, for any extended period of time, you won't like the results.

Generally nuking half a Dixie Cup of Peroxide for 10-15 seconds is all it takes. May have to repeat the process however. Peroxide may turn the copper a darker/dull brown than preferred, so experiment before using it on anything you like.

How hot does the peroxide need to be? I have a coffee mug warmer, basically useless for coffee, but remember it got up to around 150 F. Might also try peroxide with the ultrasonic cleaner. About time to do the razor again, clean and disinfect...

[Gauntlet]

I've used it (on coppers) with some good results, and some not so good. I've never used it at a "constant" temp because it's not needed. A time or two with the nuked peroxide is usually all it takes (at least for me).

Experiment and see what works best for you to achieve the results you want.

[Nooberz]

Love the setup. Never thought of something like that.

Don't put coppers in boiling peroxide if they are flaking badly or heavily corroded, or they will turn into slugs.

I usually do cycles of 10 minutes about 4 or 5 times. I make sure to brush the coin with a toothbrush and dish soap in between cycles

Both of these were treated with peroxide and turned out great.

[pocketspill]

Originally Posted by HarveyH48

How hot does the peroxide need to be? I have a coffee mug warmer, basically useless for coffee, but remember it got up to around 150 F. Might also try peroxide with the ultrasonic cleaner. About time to do the razor again, clean and disinfect...

I'm thinking the warmer should be just about right. The key is adding heat to speed up the action of the peroxide. It works at room temp, but takes longer.

[Milhaus]

Originally Posted by Nooberz

Love the setup. Never thought of something like that.

Don't put coppers in boiling peroxide if they are flaking badly or heavily corroded, or they will turn into slugs.

I usually do cycles of 10 minutes about 4 or 5 times. I make sure to brush the coin with a toothbrush and dish soap in between cycles

Both of these were treated with peroxide and turned out great.

That reverse looks fantastic man, great all around. Nice job!
I'm learning a lot from you guys, thanks.

The question I have is where did the grey color come from, the peroxide? Other examples I have seen online look like copper.

[Nooberz]

Originally Posted by Milhaus

That reverse looks fantastic man, great all around. Nice job!
I'm learning a lot from you guys, thanks.

The question I have is where did the grey color come from, the peroxide? Other examples I have seen online look like copper.

They are nice and brown like any other copper that was peroxided. I just used olive oil for the picture to bring the details of the coin out for pictures, and its just an optical illusion. Pocketspill's idea is a really good one!!

[Spm673 (The Jersey Digger)]

Originally Posted by Nooberz

Love the setup. Never thought of something like that.

Don't put coppers in boiling peroxide if they are flaking badly or heavily corroded, or they will turn into slugs.

I usually do cycles of 10 minutes about 4 or 5 times. I make sure to brush the coin with a toothbrush and dish soap in between cycles

Both of these were treated with peroxide and turned out great.

Do you have any before shots of these coins? Any LC's I find are too far gone for a peroxide bath. If I put them in there the rest of the details come off...

[Nooberz]

Originally Posted by Spm673 (The Jersey Digger)

Do you have any before shots of these coins? Any LC's I find are too far gone for a peroxide bath. If I put them in there the rest of the details come off...

I have a a dirty picture of the 1851 LC. You can see a litle bit of what it was before cleaning. 99% of the LCs you get in fields will be really flakey and those you don't want to peroxide. The LCs you get that have a strong and even patina with good details on the coin are the ones you can peroxide and improve

[andrewjames]

Pretty cool idea...