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Thread: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

  1. #1
    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    I experimented last night (with some really old grungy Jefferson nickels first) using ketchup, barb-b-que sauce and Braggs liquid aminos. I was going to take Aloldstuff's advice, but I was out of worcester sauce lol and here are my results:




    I liked the result of the Bragg's best, so I soaked my 1924 buff all day long, checking on it often and turning it over (only worked on the top half each time)



    Before:







    Scrubbed some of the red off w/toothbrush and dishwashing liquid & then soaked it a few more hours:




    Finally after about 8 hours soaking and a few toothbrushin's the red color is gone






    Then scrubbed it with a plastic dish scrubby pad and dishwashing liquid for the shiny effect:











    I think I like the results I didn't think it was possible... I thought the red was all the way through the buffs stretcher: Not sure if I'll do this to the other 4 buffs I've found so far. I actually like the red color with a little dirt outlining profiles--- because they're earthy, like Native Americans...

    I'm curious what a coin dealer will say about the value- I'm not too worried about the value of buffs, it's more for display purposes, to shine them up like that. I'll take it in tomorrow, not tell him what I did and see what he says & let ya'll know lol
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    That is amazing. I thought nickels were irreversible when they turned that color.
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    Global Moderator aloldstuff's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    great process and results. Thanks for posting before and after pictures.
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    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    It is a little pitted though.... when you look through the loupe. All of the condiments seemed to do that though. The ketchup seemed to have the worst effect- I didn't post close-ups of the Jefferson nickels.

    Btw, the Bragg's is really good on kale, turnip or mustard greens
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    Elite Member milco's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Good results to show off some old nickels, thanks for posting.
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    Elite Member coinnut's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Quote Originally Posted by tanacat link=topic=6667.msg78066#msg78066 date=1312814988
    It is a little pitted though.... when you look through the loupe. All of the condiments seemed to do that though. The ketchup seemed to have the worst effect- I didn't post close-ups of the Jefferson nickels.
    Usually the pits were already there and hidden by the corrosion. When you removed the corrosion you expose the pits. I'm not sure if short term soaking would cause pits. If it did we would not have much of a stomach left lol
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    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Quote Originally Posted by coinnut link=topic=6667.msg78397#msg78397 date=1312997496
    I'm not sure if short term soaking would cause pits. If it did we would not have much of a stomach left lol
    rofl Good point!
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    thumbsup01 thumbsup01 thumbsup01 I like it, and thanks for sharing.
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Wow. Great job. Went from a throw away to an AU.
    Is Bragg Liquid Aminos only a southern thing. Have never seen it in the stores in New England.
    The best cleaning I've ever seen on a rusty buffalo.
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    Global Moderator Ill Digger's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Quote Originally Posted by midas link=topic=6667.msg78581#msg78581 date=1313109336
    Wow. Great job. Went from a throw away to an AU.
    Is Bragg Liquid Aminos only a southern thing. Have never seen it in the stores in New England.
    The best cleaning I've ever seen on a rusty buffalo.
    Same, same?
    First off WOW!! That is the best clean job on a nickle I've ever seen!! Nice job!!
    Second What the heck is liquid aminos ? lol Never heard of it
    Quote Originally Posted by tanacat link=topic=6667.msg78066#msg78066 date=1312814988
    Btw, the Bragg's is really good on kale, turnip or mustard greens
    Third.....I don't know what that stuff is either lol J/K
    Is it like a vinegar ? :->
    What ever it is it works great!! thumbsup01
    Thanks for sharing!!
    You might have to send me some of that stuff |) |)
    lol After a closer look at the pic I see its a soy sauce alt. ?
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    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    lol I think it's basically soy sauce, it is soy protein... It dawned on me that I might be breaking the rules on here by advertising it but I think it's pretty hard to find- a Kentucky thing? Not sure... I get it at our local health foods store. I might try genuine 'soy sauce' next and see if same results.
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  12. #12

    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Hi Tanacat. Just wanna say thank you for this great tip. Works great with Kikkoman soy sauce, too.

    When I read your post my two red coins came ini mind. One was a half mark 1980 (50 Pfennig) which I found on the nothsea beach (salt water), and the other was a buffalo nickle which was a gift from Goat Rancher aka Steve ( very nice friend from Indiana).

    I didn't want to ruin the buffalo so the first try was with the half mark. Soaked the coins for 24 hrs, flipped them periodically and used a tooth-brush, too.

    What I did not like was the frosted look. Thought the chrome polish from my bike will do great on the coins, too.

    Here are some pics....

    [attachimg=1]
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    [attachimg=6]

    [attachimg=7]
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    But in the pics you will not see the gloss; and for this I made a short vid.

    1916 Buffalo Nickel polishing

    Again, thanks for the tip, Tanacat.
    Attached Images Attached Images             


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    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Cool! That was a good video thumbsup01 I still haven't done my other buffs. Maybe I'll try some other coins I hadn't thought of before... some foreign. It's neat seeing the transformation. I always did like chemistry lol

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    Global Moderator Ill Digger's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Well after seeing Tana nickle transfermation I had to give it a try. It just so happened I happened to find 3 buffs that weekend
    Here's the picture I took after finding them and just a little water and a tooth brush cleaning.
    For the trial run I used the 1927 buff pictured in the middle. (the green one lol )


    After about 10 or 12 hours of flipping, brushing, and soaking. I just used regular soy sauce
    It really brings out the damage :-\ But it defiatly cleans'em up nice! lol


    The rear was in a little better shape and turned out alot nicer.

    Thanks for the tip Tawna! lol thumbsup01 |)
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    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Wow it takes the green off too! I wonder what it would do to copper. I'm thinking of the grungy old wheats I have... just to experiment lol

    That looks better Tim- esp the buffalo side. Too bad its so pitted on the obverse. Are you going to do more of them?
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Quote Originally Posted by tanacat link=topic=6667.msg80329#msg80329 date=1314191102
    Wow it takes the green off too! I wonder what it would do to copper.
    I bet coinnut would know
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    Global Moderator Ill Digger's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...


    Quote Originally Posted by tanacat link=topic=6667.msg80329#msg80329 date=1314191102
    Wow it takes the green off too! I wonder what it would do to copper. I'm thinking of the grungy old wheats I have... just to experiment lol

    That looks better Tim- esp the buffalo side. Too bad its so pitted on the obverse. Are you going to do more of them?
    Maybe on some of the slick dates. Mybe it'll bring out the date on some of them lol

    Quote Originally Posted by switch link=topic=6667.msg80332#msg80332 date=1314191737
    I bet coinnut would know
    One way to find out thumbsup01 lol
    I'll give it a shot
    I'll just use a crusty,cruddy old wheatie and we'll see thumbsup01
    Later though...I'm going huntin' now lol
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    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    Quote Originally Posted by Ill Digger link=topic=6667.msg80337#msg80337 date=1314196233
    Later though...I'm going huntin' now lol
    You lucky dog Good luck!
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  19. #19

    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    I'm trying the soy sauce on my V nickel. And i made a holder for scrubbing it off with the brush. I took a piece of wood about 3/4 of a inch thick an inch and a quarter wide and about 6 long. I used a 7/8 spade bit to drill a space the thickness of a nickel near the end of the wood. Now the nickel sits in the space while i scrub it.

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  20. #20
    Elite Member tanacat's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaned a buffalo nickel for the first time...

    That's a good idea! My hand cramps sometimes when I'm cleanin' the finds... that'd be good for holding something really grungy, like when you have to clean with a toothpick in the crevices.
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