Very Old Wheatie

[dale3fan28]

Found a very old wheatie today bout 8" down. Whats the best way to get the green off so i can check the date? Will it get pitted with vinegar/ peroxide? Or is that pitting just on salted pennies?

 

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[GatorBoy]

Oh boy.. well good luck guys... and don't drink the electrolyte solution.
I'll be on my way now.
I've been doing electrolysis for more than 20X longer.
It does not chemicaly alter the surface like ....ahhh.. using chemicals.
The item will only go back to aging as it would have before it was lost.

 

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[cudamark]

The reason I said that the instructions were incomplete is, there was no mention of the composition of the electrolite or how distance from anode to cathode can effect the reaction. Also, the various dangers involved. I know some things should be obvious, but not everyone knows these things.

 

[GatorBoy]

Its all on the same internet ...actually most of it is on t-net.
It just takes a little do it yourself research that is always better than one persons way of doing things anyway.
I suggested electrolysis ... I even suggested a cell phone charger...then I explained how to prepare it..
.. take it from there.
I think that was more than enough on my part.
Like I said...I wasn't going to do it for him...he's a grown man...he already did it.

 

[65chevy]

Thanks for the info GatorBoy. Didn't mean to cause any problems. Sorry everybody. HH

GOD BLESS!!!

 

[cudamark]

Its all on the same internet ...actually most of it is on t-net.
It just takes a little do it yourself research that is always better than one persons way of doing things anyway.
I suggested electrolysis ... I even suggested a cell phone charger...then I explained how to prepare it..
.. take it from there.
I think that was more than enough on my part.
Like I said...I wasn't going to do it for him...he's a grown man...he already did it.

In an ideal world, I would agree. It just seems that whenever I presume intelligence in a listener, one of us gets into trouble!

 

[GatorBoy]

Heck.. if he blows something up I won't feel it... :-)
Seriously though .. a crusty penny was a perfect scenario to practice.
Had it been something else I may have advised against learning with it.
I kinda went by his forum name and figured he had some mechanical ability.

 

[JoeB_OH]

Here is the oldest Wheatie I've found: 1917.

 

[Prestigitation Digger]

You sound very experienced in this. Is there a video you have done or maybe another that could teach the process to some newbies?

 

[dale3fan28]

Youtube cleaning coins by electolysis..... Many vids

 

[GatorBoy]

Dale said it best.
Other than having someone there with you to show you..watching it done is way better than reading it.
I've just been recovering and conserving Shipwreck artifacts from salt water and other old colonial items for a long while.
I've had the good fortune to see some of the best at work.

 

[Prestigitation Digger]

I figured as much but thanks...just thought you guys had a reliable video to recommend. easy to turn a object into a slug of useless metal from what I heard too. maybe too high voltage application...

 

[GatorBoy]

Always .....ALWAYS... practice on an item that does not have large importance... and use the lowest amperage you can to get an effect. A light "smoke" look coming from the artifact is usually what works best for me.
Practice on different types of junk metal even..some metals cook much quicker than others.
Don't do anything important until you feel comfortable with your ability... it really is worth taking the time to get good at.

 

[dale3fan28]

Light smoke exactly... I used my 6v/ 12v battery charger, its 1 amp and i set it on 6v, worked perfect.... 1-2 minutes then rub with moist baking soda