Hello, brand new to this thread!

[SportsmanAll]

I got myself a small nugget this fall, first one ever! It’s my personal best find, and I’m so used to flower gold that this one almost knocked me over! But I’m looking at getting it cleaned up a bit. I don’t necessarily want it perfectly cleaned, i’d like to retain some of its personality. But I have no idea how to go about cleaning it. Any help would be super helpful!

 

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[IMAUDIGGER]

Thank you for following up on that.
Hopefully he passed on his skills to someone else.

 

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[SportsmanAll]

Just got a message from Steve. He doesn't have a website but has some pictures on instagram. You can look up his name there. Unfortunately for us, he's considering retiring from gold smithing soon and isn't taking on more business.

Oh man. Just my luck!

 

[Goldwasher]

Soaking and shaking in vinegar and salt is the simplest/safest way and very effective.

Mostly it depends on what is making the piece dirty.

Don't try to buff it with anything mechanical. Over polishing is not a good attribute to add.

I clean dirty raw gold every few days sometimes every day. I actually carry a small snuffer with salt vinegar mix in my pocket as i detect. Pieces go in as I detect. They agitate as I'm working and hiking around. By the time I get home and rinse them they look great.

I also have a battery powered handheld water pic that works great for blasting out little nooks and crannies.

These were all cleaned with vinegar and salt.
A jeweler will get the piece as clean as it needs to be. to mount it. Then will clean the whole ring very well after it is made.

A jeweler who says he doesn't know how to "deal with it" doesn't even deserve to handle it.

 

[SportsmanAll]

Soaking and shaking in vinegar and salt is the simplest/safest way and very effective.

Mostly it depends on what is making the piece dirty.

Don't try to buff it with anything mechanical. Over polishing is not a good attribute to add.

I clean dirty raw gold every few days sometimes every day. I actually carry a small snuffer with salt vinegar mix in my pocket as i detect. Pieces go in as I detect. They agitate as I'm working and hiking around. By the time I get home and rinse them they look great.

I also have a battery powered handheld water pic that works great for blasting out little nooks and crannies.

These were all cleaned with vinegar and salt.
View attachment 1782035 View attachment 1782036 A jeweler will get the piece as clean as it needs to be. to mount it. Then will clean the whole ring very well after it is made.

A jeweler who says he doesn't know how to "deal with it" doesn't even deserve to handle it.

Yeah when the guy I talked to suggested grabbing with pliers and then taking the dremel to it, I politely but quickly got it back from him. No thanks!

 

[Goldwasher]

Yeah when the guy I talked to suggested grabbing with pliers and then taking the dremel to it, I politely but quickly got it back from him. No thanks!

Oh, god...RUN AWAY!!

 

[SportsmanAll]

Three day update! I’m thrilled! Shined that puppy right up. What was gold is even brighter or more brilliant! And it didn’t take away the authenticity of the piece. U might now be able to tell in the before and after pics. But I sure can!!


Before




After

 

[delnorter]

Looks real nice.

Mike

 

[Tahoegold]

Looks real clean and shiny! What was the method you used? Congratulations, nice Christmas gift!

 

[SportsmanAll]

Looks real clean and shiny! What was the method you used? Congratulations, nice Christmas gift!

Vinegar and salt in a pill bottle for 3 days. Shake about 5 min per day, Salt acts as the agitator.