Many people want to know how to clean rusty parts, but should you? Many people ask themselves this question, especially when it is common knowledge in numismatic circles that coins generally should not be cleaned.
For informational and entertainment purposes only, here are some methods to clean rusty parts.
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As parts rust, the color of the outer metal layer often changes.
What are rusty parts (brown parts)?
The problem with rust is that it is difficult to stop. Metals oxidize due to their chemical reactions with oxygen, which is present almost everywhere in the Earth's atmosphere. One of the few ways to prevent a part from rusting is to store it in an inert environment, essentially air-free and airtight.
Otherwise, parts exposed to oxygen will develop some form of rust over time. In many cases, that's not a bad thing. Rust is simply the natural coating on metal that forms to protect it from further corrosion or other damage.
Often this oxidation takes the form of a very beautiful tint . More and more numismatics enthusiasts not only appreciate the tone of the coins, but also embrace it: look for it. After all, when left to the care of Mother Nature, rust is a completely natural thing.
However, there are people who simply don't like tinted clothing. You don't want any traces of rust on your parts. What will they do then?
Can you clean rusty parts?
Many collectors ask these questions in part because, deep down, they know that cleaning coins is often a pointless task. Cleaning almost always reduces the value of a piece . Using strong abrasives or acids can cause irreparable damage to your surfaces.
In some cases, there is not enough time or patience to heal an abrasive-cleaned piece because the scratches caused by etching or physically harsh cleaning can never be repaired naturally. They are there forever. Even if the room resonates, these streaks remain: they do not heal.
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A coin's outer layer of discoloration, called patina, often appears green on a copper coin. This is also called verdigris.
Should rusty parts be cleaned? Is it worth cleaning rusted parts?
Anyone who wants to clean a rusty coin should ask themselves the question: "What is the purpose?" » What do you want to achieve by cleaning your room?
If you really want to turn your toned Morgan dollar into a shiny whiteMorgan dollar , it's probably better to sell the coin you have. Then use these newly acquired funds to purchase the bright white piece of your choice. Because once you attempt to remove oxidation from your toned piece, be it with acids or abrasives, you can expect to remove 30-50% (or perhaps even more) of its numismatic richness. No ifs and buts.
How to clean your rusty parts
Neither this author nor Gainesville Coins endorse the idea or practice of cleaning coins, period. As we have hopefully said here, cleaning coins is generally a useless activity. This almost always damages the coin and reduces its numismatic value by about half.
So before you clean rusty parts, think carefully about what you want to do. Remember: you will never give an old room a new look again - that won't happen!
We understand that if you have read the article this far, you are either here to confirm why you should avoid the temptation to clean rusty parts or you want to know even more about some of the methods for doing so.
The following list covers many common methods for cleaning parts. You can also follow the link to learn more about how to safely clean silver coins in particular .
Ways to clean rusty parts.
- Vinegar – One of the most common ways to clean coins is to soak them in vinegar. Distilled white vinegar generally produces the most effective results because it has one of the highest acid levels of all household vinegars. It is the acid that helps reduce the oxidation of a coin.
- Lemon Juice – Another highly acidic solution is lemon juice, which can help remove oxidation from a coin. As with vinegar, the most dramatic results are usually achieved by soaking a piece directly in lemon juice for an extended period of time.
- Ketchup – It is one of the most common household foods and offers high acidity thanks to its tomato content. Unlike lemon juice or vinegar, which are runny liquids, ketchup is generally thicker and can be applied to the bar in a generous layer for several minutes to combat rust.
- Toothpaste : We're moving from acidic solutions that use chemicals to clean parts to abrasive options that remove rust by physically scraping the part. When the abrasives in toothpaste are rubbed over the surface of a coin, they can help remove oxidation and other surface materials.
- Baking soda : In general, baking soda tends to be even more abrasive than toothpaste. If applied with strong enough pressure, most if not all traces of rust can be removed as long as the part does not show any corrosion scars.
- Jewelry Cleaner – Jewelry cleaners are often used by people who want to clean oxidized pieces because many of these solutions claim to contain scratch-resistant formulas for removing tarnish. Cleaning a piece of jewelry with a jewelry cleaner can be done by immersing the piece of jewelry in the solution for several minutes. However, it is best to read the instructions on the product label, as each remedy has its own optimal methods of use.
More tips for cleaning coins
Keep in mind that whether you use an acidic cleaner, an abrasive, or a hybrid solution, any alteration to the surface of a part, whether or not it leaves scratches or other signs of depreciation, will almost always result in a depreciation of the part Part. Currency . A trained eye can usually spot the cleaning from a mile away, especially if the cleaning was done by an amateur.
Your best choice? Leave your rooms alone! If you prefer pieces that show no signs of rust, tinting, or other chemically induced natural tones, sell the pieces you don't like and buy the ones you do like. This ensures that no piece has been permanently altered through generations of mishandling, while allowing you to build your collection or portfolio with pieces that you and your aesthetic eye will treasure.
Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez is a journalist, editor, and blogger who has won multiple Numismatic Literary Guild awards. He is also the author of numerous books, including works on the history of the United States Mint and American currency.
Learn more about the numismatic hobby from the numismatic experts at Gainesville Coins:
Proper coin care: cleaning and storage
How to Collect Coins for Beginners: Coin Collecting 101
How to Buy Junk Silver Coins: Complete Guide
Numismatics Guide: Discover the Thrill of Coin Collecting
15 Best Coins to Collect in 2023
Compilation of resources for understanding the hobby of coin collecting
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