What are your thoughts on using a waterpik for cleaning coins?

[makecents]

I really need to come up with additional ways in conjunction with soaking coins to get them cleaner without damaging them. I was just curious of your thoughts on using a waterpik, high pressure water but not enough to hurt or at least I wouldn't think so.

Thanks for any input.
Jon.

[Maineman750]

Sounds pretty safe to me....use distilled water and try it on some common dates first

[stoneman227]

Make sure you set up a splash shield for water splashing all over the bathroom when you experiment.
Don't ask how I know .....

John

[makecents]

Sounds pretty safe to me....use distilled water and try it on some common dates first

Thanks Roger!! I notice you guys bring up distilled water every so often. Is what goes through a Britta water purifier acceptable or do I need to buy distilled? I'm assuming it is the contaminates that come with typical water that are an issue.

[makecents]

Make sure you set up a splash shield for water splashing all over the bathroom when you experiment.
Don't ask how I know .....

John

Hah!! Thanks John, believe it or not, I actually thought about that already, I'll devise something.

Added: I was thinking maybe a rechargeable one, so I could take it outdoors but didn't know if those would have the same juice.

[Roller]

I have tried that. There is not sufficient pressure to get anything done. The one system I use is the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Without the solution of course, using just hot or cold water, depending. Never used distilled water. It won't hurt but I think it is entirely unnecessary. I first soften up the debris with a drop of Verdi for a short time and then into the cleaner. Most times (depending on the gunk) that will not do the entire job either though. You need to get expert with the right touch/pressure with a whittled toothpick dipped in Verdi to agitate the surface crud to get it to loosen. Lots of practice before you try it on a coin you value and don't attempt on a very high value coin at all.

[makecents]

I have tried that. There is not sufficient pressure to get anything done. The one system I use is the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Without the solution of course, using just hot or cold water, depending. Never used distilled water. It won't hurt but I think it is entirely unnecessary. I first soften up the debris with a drop of Verdi for a short time and then into the cleaner. Most times (depending on the gunk) that will not do the entire job either though. You need to get expert with the right touch/pressure with a whittled toothpick dipped in Verdi to agitate the surface crud to get it to loosen. Lots of practice before you try it on a coin you value and don't attempt on a very high value coin at all.

Thank you George!! I actually have an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner and used it for a couple of months, it did help but not as much as I had hoped. I don't have an issue with patience but do with little or no results. That being said, I have, what I know are some of the greatest minds replying to my question and I appreciate it. The best I can tell from you learned folks is that I need to find my least favorite rats and figure it out. Thanks for all of your obvious experience and I will report back.

[Petespockets55]

Interesting idea Jon.

Remember that BadThad said to use different mediums to try to remove the debris because it is hard to know exactly what "solvent" was used in the original crud. Weakest to strongest. (Water, Acetone, Xylene ?)
I wonder if Acetone will work with a Waterpik without destroying the plastic or mechanics of the device. Time to look for a used one at Goodwill?

[makecents]

Interesting idea Jon.

Remember that BadThad said to use different mediums to try to remove the debris because it is hard to know exactly what "solvent" was used in the original crud. Weakest to strongest. (Water, Acetone, Xylene ?)
I wonder if Acetone will work with a Waterpik without destroying the plastic or mechanics of the device. Time to look for a used one at Goodwill?

Thanks Cliff!! Yeah, I've been trying different things over the last couple of years, including your hydrogen peroxide. I'm not familiar with xylene but looked it up. I was thinking the same thing about going to Goodwill. I'm thinking the acetone may work over any rubber parts though and could prove to be a new way to "shoot your eye out".

[Petespockets55]

Thanks Cliff!! Yeah, I've been trying different things over the last couple of years, including your hydrogen peroxide. I'm not familiar with xylene but looked it up. I was thinking the same thing about going to Goodwill. I'm thinking the acetone may work over any rubber parts though and could prove to be a new way to "shoot your eye out".

LOL. Real good point Ralphie. (See "A Christmas Story")

(One thing someone else recommended on the H3O3 arena is to heat up the peroxide to loosen debris even more.)

[makecents]

(One thing someone else recommended on the H3O3 arena is to heat up the peroxide to loosen debris even more.)

You made me think of something else. Growing up, we used to have a New Years tradition where Mom would boil silver coins in order to clean them and put them in cooked cabbage. The saying goes, whoever found some in their cabbage, would have good luck that year. There were usually enough pieces of silver that all of us kids would find at least one piece. I wonder if boiling water might be a good way to help clean Lincolns?

[Roller]

You made me think of something else. Growing up, we used to have a New Years tradition where Mom would boil silver coins in order to clean them and put them in cooked cabbage. The saying goes, whoever found some in their cabbage, would have good luck that year. There were usually enough pieces of silver that all of us kids would find at least one piece. I wonder if boiling water might be a good way to help clean Lincolns?

Tried that too. Works some but not without some help from the pick.

[Roller]

P.S. If you try the boiling method I suggest you keep the coin from contacting the bottom of the pan so that it is not in direct contact with the heated metal.

[Jacob]

LOL. Real good point Ralphie. (See "A Christmas Story")

(One thing someone else recommended on the H3O3 arena is to heat up the peroxide to loosen debris even more.)

Christmas Story love it. My two boys remind me of Christmas story. My older boy blonde hair youngest brown hair. My older boy doesn't wear glasses though. Also my older boy wants a BB gun but I said not till he is older.

[makecents]

P.S. If you try the boiling method I suggest you keep the coin from contacting the bottom of the pan so that it is not in direct contact with the heated metal.

Maybe use a colander?

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/1-5-qt-aluminum-chinese-colander/407C1QTAC.html?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20HP&utm_term=1100404859994&utm_content=Smallwares