Question about electroysis

[adaminnh]

Does using electrolysis cause a copper coin to get a porus/pitted look or do they look that way out of the ground and I just cant tell cause of all the grime/funk?

 

[releventchair]

Have not run enough to prove,but have seen a point of diminishing returns where coin begins to degrade with prolonged electrolysis.
One copper coin had before electrolysis corrosion causing flaking of outside leaving a porous sandstone appearance.
Some detail came up but want to continue to experiment with less valued coins before possibly over doing it.

 

[adaminnh]

I just ran a bunch of 70's pennys for about 45 minutes straight. Usually only do 3-5 minute intervals until satisfied. Figured I smelted them for sure. They came out bright and shiney like the day they were minted. Petina was the only thing affected. I found this 192? wheatie last night and ran it for like 4 minutes this morning. Seems to only be like this on the older copper ive dug. Tempted to cook one of my nicer old weaties for science sake.

 

[releventchair]

Well your right where i,m at with it. One particular coin that went porous was in bad shape to begin,weird it had detail like outer layer was just a skin where earth touched it. That came off cleaning it not gently enough i guess,or getting it wet allowed separation before electrolysis. Good luck.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Bad idea to fry copper coins, there are much better ways, and safer to clean them.

SS

 

[dustywallen]

I just ran a bunch of 70's pennys for about 45 minutes straight. Usually only do 3-5 minute intervals until satisfied. Figured I smelted them for sure. They came out bright and shiney like the day they were minted. Petina was the only thing affected. I found this 192? wheatie last night and ran it for like 4 minutes this morning. Seems to only be like this on the older copper ive dug. Tempted to cook one of my nicer old weaties for science sake.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=698098"/>

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=698099"/>

What setup are you using? How much salt to water ratio and how much power? I use filtered 2 cups water teaspoon salt and 120 AC to 12 DC

 

[adaminnh]

I use 2 teaspoons of salt to 1 1/2 cups water. 120 ac 80 dc. for power. I ran an older decent condition wheatie for a good 45 minutes. It came out without grime or petina but no other damage done. No bubbling or pitting. I included some before&after pics. The darker ones are the befores. So Im guessing they just come out of a long earthly slumber with ''coin acne''.