Ultrasonic experiment #1

A couple of weeks ago, I believe it was Harv who was asking about a scratch
removing product for plastic, specifically one to use on slabs. This link
was provided in response;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/dir/index.html

I have been wanting a product for improving the occasional slab, so I made a
purchase of;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82462.html

But, while I was at the site, I also purchased this;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82413.html

and the recommended cleaning solution, here;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/81871.html


Well, I received the products promptly. However, it was not until
yesterday, a week after receipt, that I had some time to open the shipping
box and play around a little. The instructions for the Ultrasonic Cleaner
say nothing about cleaning solutions, at least in my first reading, but says
to fill container 70%-80% with water. Not much else in the way of
instruction, just turn the machine on.

Well, I had been soaking a 1907 IHC for several months in olive oil, along
with mucho other copper. So I pulled it out of the oil and it looked as
though the gunk that I thought should lift off was still there. I washed
the oil off and placed the IH in the Ultrasonic Cleaner and started it up.
The machine turns itself off after 5 minutes (according to the instruction
booklet, I think it was actually only about 3 minutes). I patted the cent
dry and took it over to sunlight and had a look. No difference that I could
tell. I tried a 1868 or 1869 IHC with EF detail but with gunk. No
improvement. Then I realized that I was not following my intended
procedures, since all along I had intended some before and after pictures.
So, two things. First, I read the bottle label on the cleaning solution. I
probably did not read closely enough. I remember reading no akalynes, no
this, no that, blah, blah, and I thought the stuff really could not hurt a
coin. I found a silver peice from Germany 1930s, took a before picture,
replaced the water with the cleaning solution, and dropped the silver coin
in. Then, stupidly, I dropped the two IHCs in along with the silver.
Soundwaves and an inert cleaning solution, right? Well, maybe not. I will
have to read the label more carefully before I use it again. The silver
looked different, a look I could have gotten using a silver polish rag and
some elbow movement. Before and after;

http://showcase.netins.net/web/bills...asonicexp1.JPG

The two IHCs didn't look a lot different, but the color did look a little,
not much, but a little different. I rinsed those coins off, patted dry, and
dropped back into the olive oil. I will have a closer look at them sometime
later.

So much for experiment no. 1. Not very scientifically done, in fact, were I
in a lab I would probably blow it up. I need to read the label more
carefully on the cleaning solution bottle. If it is nothing more than an
acidic dip, forget it. I will try more coins as time allows, trying
different times, solutions, coins, etc. So far, nothing good. Bill

"Edwin Johnston" wrote in message
...

"Bill Krummel" wrote in message
...
snip
Not very scientifically done, in fact, were I
in a lab I would probably blow it up.
snip

Never try to dry off your poodle in the microwave oven. A friend of my
sister's did it and it cooked the durned dog from the inside out!

Is this the same sister's friend who had her convertible filled with cement
by a vengeful ex-boyfriend?

Or have I got her confused with the one who sold the Mrs. Fields cookie
recipe?

"Bill Krummel" wrote in message
...
snip
Not very scientifically done, in fact, were I
in a lab I would probably blow it up.
snip

Never try to dry off your poodle in the microwave oven. A friend of my
sister's did it and it cooked the durned dog from the inside out!

"Bill Krummel" wrote in
:

Soundwaves and an inert cleaning solution, right? Well, maybe not. I
will have to read the label more carefully before I use it again. The
silver looked different, a look I could have gotten using a silver
polish rag and some elbow movement. Before and after;

http://showcase.netins.net/web/bills...asonicexp1.JPG


I don't think 5 min would be long enough for a gunked coin.
A different source I looked at mentioned ammonia as a good cleaning agent
in an ultrasonic. But that was for gun parts.

Bill Krummel wrote:

A couple of weeks ago, I believe it was Harv who was asking about a scratch
removing product for plastic, specifically one to use on slabs. This link
was provided in response;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/dir/index.html

I have been wanting a product for improving the occasional slab, so I made a
purchase of;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82462.html

But, while I was at the site, I also purchased this;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/82413.html

and the recommended cleaning solution, here;

http://www.dxmarket.com/micromark/products/81871.html

Well, I received the products promptly. However, it was not until
yesterday, a week after receipt, that I had some time to open the shipping
box and play around a little. The instructions for the Ultrasonic Cleaner
say nothing about cleaning solutions, at least in my first reading, but says
to fill container 70%-80% with water. Not much else in the way of
instruction, just turn the machine on.

Well, I had been soaking a 1907 IHC for several months in olive oil, along
with mucho other copper. So I pulled it out of the oil and it looked as
though the gunk that I thought should lift off was still there. I washed
the oil off and placed the IH in the Ultrasonic Cleaner and started it up.
The machine turns itself off after 5 minutes (according to the instruction
booklet, I think it was actually only about 3 minutes). I patted the cent
dry and took it over to sunlight and had a look. No difference that I could
tell. I tried a 1868 or 1869 IHC with EF detail but with gunk. No
improvement. Then I realized that I was not following my intended
procedures, since all along I had intended some before and after pictures.
So, two things. First, I read the bottle label on the cleaning solution. I
probably did not read closely enough. I remember reading no akalynes, no
this, no that, blah, blah, and I thought the stuff really could not hurt a
coin. I found a silver peice from Germany 1930s, took a before picture,
replaced the water with the cleaning solution, and dropped the silver coin
in. Then, stupidly, I dropped the two IHCs in along with the silver.
Soundwaves and an inert cleaning solution, right? Well, maybe not. I will
have to read the label more carefully before I use it again. The silver
looked different, a look I could have gotten using a silver polish rag and
some elbow movement. Before and after;

http://showcase.netins.net/web/bills...asonicexp1.JPG

The two IHCs didn't look a lot different, but the color did look a little,
not much, but a little different. I rinsed those coins off, patted dry, and
dropped back into the olive oil. I will have a closer look at them sometime
later.

So much for experiment no. 1. Not very scientifically done, in fact, were I
in a lab I would probably blow it up. I need to read the label more
carefully on the cleaning solution bottle. If it is nothing more than an
acidic dip, forget it. I will try more coins as time allows, trying
different times, solutions, coins, etc. So far, nothing good. Bill

Look here

http://www.alconox.com/Index.asp

for a better cleaning agent.

JAM

Randy wrote:
snipDoes anyone know the best way to secure coins so they won't come
loose under a 2500 psi stream without damaging the rim?
Crazy clue, then you can use acetone to release it!!! :-))))
Doris
might work

Calling all Australians!!!!
Please read. ta
http://home.iprimus.com.au/wpbalcombe/

On 08 Jul 2003 05:48:46 GMT, rosit (Jim) wrote:

Donald F. Boudreau adds....

I have a regular laboratory ultrasonic cleaner......The only additive I add to
the water is mild dish soap.

Remember that "you" can control the size of your environement in "any"
ultrasonic bath.

Yes, I forgot about the use of a smaller sized container within the confines of
the bath. Used that technique many times in my work many years ago.

If your bath full capacity is 30 oz of fluid, you can fill your bath 3/4 or so
with water, then submerge a smaller 8 oz vessel into the water and fill "it"
with acetone or whatever. The ultrasonic effect will work through the water and
into your vessel with negligible diminution of ultrasonic effect. Because of
metal to metal buzz, you may want to make the smaller vessel plastic (solvent
resistant in this case.......8^) or place a small piece of terry cloth at the
bottom of the bath. In this manner, you needn't dirty your whole bath, but more
importantly, can experiment with whatever medium you want.

snip
Don

"Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today."

So much for experiment no. 1.

Very interesting.

I should think that the solution does most of the work--the sonic waves just
stimulate the cleansing action in the same way that an agitator works in a
washing machine, but with no actual contact on the surface of the coin. It may
be that you need a solution that is specifically designed to remove the kind of
gunk on the coins.

Last week I dropped 2 corroded old IHCs in some "MS-70" solution, just to see
what would happen. Nothing happened right away, so I forgot about them.

This week I fished them out--they were mint red! The MS-70 did a magnificent
job of completely removing the gunk.

Unfortunately, the overall effect is very artificial, because the coins are
AG-G, and the surfaces now have a mint-red finish!

Regards,
Tom