conservation question

[GatorBoy]

I would like to ask if electrolysis should be attempted on this small silver find of mine..or if something else would be better since what is left inside the crust seems like it will be fragile.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Dell Winders]

Interesting piece. Looks like a hallmark on the left end? Dell

 

[ScubaFinder]

I would say yes, 6 or 7 days of electrolysis would do it good. Maybe 3 volts and 1/4 to 1/2 amp in a 5% sodium carbonate solution. Just enough amps to make it look like it is smoking is where I get the best results. The encrustation will fall of easily in the first day or two. The oxidation doesn't stop until you stop it, even on silver. If it is fragile now, that condition will continue to get worse until you get the chlorides out. I say save what you can, that stone is a lot more interesting and valuable mounted than it is loose. It will be interesting to see what it was mounted in and if it has any markings.

Very nice find by the way........

Jason

 

[GatorBoy]

It's settled then..thank you.
I will do just that.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I also recommend electrolysis, but much, much shorter time. I have found silver seems to react must more aggressive than copper or iron based items. I would put a charge on it and check it every few minutes with a little tooth-brush rubbing each time. I have had silver rings looking just like yours lose that black encrustation in big chunks like bits of a cast falling off after a few minutes. My setup puts out a little bit more power than scuba finder's though.

One last thought. when that ring comes clean it will NOT be shiny. It look like it was acid etched or sand blasted because the surface has been attacked and eaten by the ocean electrolysis. You can make it "pretty" again with a little 1000 grit sand paper followed by jewelers rouge.

 

[GatorBoy]

Thank you both
I will be glued to the container as it is working.
I'm using a 4 amp. Setup. That's just all I have... I don't want to cook it.
Got the toothbrush on the table already.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Ohhhhhhh, man that sounds bad. 4 amps is a HUGE amount. Don't you have any old phone chargers or something similar you can scavenge for an electrolysis power source?

 

[GatorBoy]

I didn't start..I thought that might be too much.
How would I use a phone charger?
If I separate the wires I'm not sure what would be positive and negative.

 

[GatorBoy]

Assuming the black is negative the green is ground.. just use one of the red or white as positive?

 

[Jason in Enid]

Hmmmm, mine only had 2 wires. Read whats written on the charger, a lot of them have the output voltage and amps printed. If all else fails you could try a volt meter. If you want to just wing it, I would try the black as one pole and the red and green as the others. As for which is which, put alligator clips on each on and put both in the electrolyte. The one that bubbles the most is the one you want to connect to the object to be cleaned.

 

[GatorBoy]

Sounds good.

 

[sponge]

Also tie a loose knot on the wire that bubbles helps when u go set it up again nice ring

 

[GatorBoy]

Yeah.. thanks.. everyone thinks its a ring..Mabey it's the photo?
There is no curve to it.
The stone looks rose cut like alot of old amethyst I've seen.
I was thinking part of a crucifix.
It's in now..thanks everyone.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Oh, I assumed it was the top of a ring with a mounted stone. I guess that's what happens when I assume! One thing I forgot to mention, in order for the electrolysis to work, you have to make contact with the metal so you will need to clean one end spot big enough to clip to.

I can't wait to see what it is once cleaned.

 

[GatorBoy]

Well.. that was over quickly.
There was really nothing left but the crust.
The area I found that was very tanic.
..... the broken end was pretty bare already ..I may have broken it during recovery.

 

[GatorBoy]

This 1837 coin came from the same place.

 

[GatorBoy]

I got the date off the crust