Help: How to clean crusty, sediment encrusted metals...(think barnacles!)

ROIGuy

Sr. Member
Jun 9, 2019
278
725
Palos Park, IL
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600/ Garrett Pro Pointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I went beach hunting yesterday and got some "hot rocks" or so I thought. Not sure what they are, because they're so heavily encrusted with sediment.

I think these are beyond soaking in lime juice or vinegar and baking soda. Any ideas on how to clean this stuff? Should I use a dremel to get off the larger sediment THEN soak it in some solution?

Here's the photos. PS----found a 'coin' that is both smaller and thinner than a dime. I haven't attempted cleaning it yet because I'm on vacation and don't have a lot of supplies.
Any idea what it might be? Maybe there's someone here with better eyes than mine but it almost looks like there could be some writing on it.

Images:

20190731_192314.jpg 20190731_192256.jpg 20190801_005219.jpg

20190801_094500.jpg 20190801_094529.jpg 20190731_192600.jpg

20190731_192622.jpg
 

Upvote 0

cudamark

Gold Member
Top Banner Poster
Mar 16, 2011
13,173
14,461
San Diego
🥇 Banner finds
1
🏆 Honorable Mentions:
3
Detector(s) used
XP Deus 2, Equinox 800/900, Fisher Impulse AQ, E-Trac, 3 Excal 1000's, White's TM808, VibraProbe, 15" NEL Attack, Mi6, Steath 920ix and 720i scoops, TRX, etc....
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
The second and third photo looks to be a crusty zinc cent. The last two probably a copper cent. If true, I'd dump the first, and tumble the second, after doing a preliminary clean up to determine type and year.
 

zigzag

Full Member
Sep 17, 2011
181
202
ft laud, fl
Detector(s) used
CTX 3030, 2 xcal II 1000's, 1 has OBN's remote PP & peltor HP's, 2 aquasounds, dual field, sunspot 920i hybrid, 720i, 3 rtg scoops, Howie scoop
Primary Interest:
Beach & Shallow Water Hunting
I use Sno Bol toilet bowl cleaner. Put the item in a plastic lid or something just big enough and cover it with toilet cleaner. It works just like when you put baking soda on a corroded battery post. I probably wouldn't do it if I thought the item was somthing real valuable.
 

Rum Tide

Full Member
Apr 28, 2019
147
542
The Treasure Coast
Detector(s) used
Yukon Coin Hustler II, Vibra-Tector 740, Pulse Dive (2), Equinox 600, Equinox 800 and Excalibur II
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Electrolysis
 

OP
OP
ROIGuy

ROIGuy

Sr. Member
Jun 9, 2019
278
725
Palos Park, IL
Detector(s) used
Minelab Equinox 600/ Garrett Pro Pointer
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
I'm going to try the 2nd method in the video while I'm still here. The method he described is heating the coin then putting it in cold water to see if I can shock some of the heavier sediment off the coin. Then I'll try electrolysis when I get home.
 

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Top