Brasso

[DeadElvis]

Yeah, I know, don't clean your coins.

I am just curious - have any of you guys tried Brasso for your "worthless" finds? I tried it today on a dug copper penny, a dug (dark brown) 80's clad quarter, and a couple of shotgun-shell butts. I rubbed Brasso on the items, let it sit for a few minutes then polished on a terry cloth rag.

My results: Clad US quarters, buried in the South for some time, will never again regain their silvery color. Copper pennies will shine back up. Old shotgun caps don't shine up well either.

That, or my Brasso expired 15 years ago. Again, I'm not talking about polishing priceless relics. I mainly wanted to see if the shotgun caps would polish up nice.

DE

 

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[U.K. Brian]

You don't really have to bother about polishing most of your dug finds worthless or not as the years in the soil with have already caused so much damage. If there's a problem like bronze disease better to treat it and polish the coin to an even finish and then let it regain its patina over time. Then there's always people on E-Bay prepared to buy.

Worse thing to do is buy the paint on patina. Potential buyers will wonder whats hidden beneath !

 

[deepskyal]

Brasso reacts to different metals and I believe there's some mention on the can of what not to use it on.

I have an old pickle jar full of finds I haven't even washed off that I collected over time. If I want to see what they look like I'll just use mild detergent and warm water. I don't know...shiney new looking just doesn't feel right to me for something I dug out of the ground.

Al

 

[Michigan Badger]

I tried all sorts of polishing methods over the years. Today I hate polished relics and coins.

The very best way is to carefully remove surface crud and then heat the item (about 400 degrees for an hour) to dry it out (it also kills any "bronze disease"). While still very warm, coat the item with Renaissance Wax (sold on ebay, Amazon, etc.).

The wax seals the pores of the metal to keep out moisture and thus prevents any more "bronze disease" action (within bronze of course). Over time the wax will dissolve surface oxides and give the piece an awesome look. I use this method to totally restore V nickels to nearly their original luster. It can take years sometimes but it's amazing what Renaissance Wax can do.

 

[U.K. Brian]

I was told about the heating method thirty years back and it ended up costing me thousands. Bronze disease is not a disease that heat can kill but chlorides which will remain to become active at a later date.

The problem is heating and sealing appears to work and can do for several years (one good reason not to buy stuff off E-Bay !). For hopeful long term protection an item has to be degreased in acetone or alcohol, then soak for a week in sodium sesquicarbonate. Allow to fully dry then place in a benzotriazole (BTA) solution (5%). Wait at least another week then dry and finally follow up with conservation grade lacquer or wax.