Token cleaning question

[RingDancer]

I found this token and all I have cleaned it with is a tooth brush and dish detergent and water! Was wondering what is the best method for cleaning tokens. I have rust removers and tarnish removers for jewelry. I am afraid if I use these, it will take away some of the old look to it. What method of cleaning is best here! I would like to get the rust off of it. Thanks for any help!

Pat

[coinhead2]

Originally Posted by RingDancer

I found this token and all I have cleaned it with is a tooth brush and dish detergent and water! Was wondering what is the best method for cleaning tokens. I have rust removers and tarnish removers for jewelry. I am afraid if I use these, it will take away some of the old look to it. What method of cleaning is best here! I would like to get the rust off of it. Thanks for any help!

Pat

I use baking soda and water on the stubborn one's, Feel free to use alot of pressure while scrubbing, It my leave some minor hairlines yet won't affect the overall condition.

[PAPPY]

OLIVE OIL. Let it soak for several days then clean it with a very soft toothbrush.

[Idahotokens]

Pat--the problem with the particular token you found is that it suffers from the "aluminum blows" - often when aluminum tokens are in the ground for very long, the chemicals attack the metal and you are left with various areas of aluminum oxide. Just as in iron, aluminum rusts (oxidizes) and the rust takes up more volume than the original metal. Unlike iron where the rust sometimes forms a protective surface over the metal, aluminum tends to oxidize in bubbles or worm-holes - that is the whitish stuff you see on your token.

Cleaning brass tokens with surface crud is as the others have indicated, but you can't really do much with aluminum ones. The aluminum oxide is not very soluble and it is generally not loose either. Besides it resides down in the worm holes and bubbles, making it tough to access. If you were to be able to get rid of all the aluminum oxide, you would be left with something that resembles Swiss cheese. So, in my opinion, your token as pictured is about as good as it gets.

On the general subject of cleaning, it should be mentioned that (just as in coins), beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you are cleaning a token to sell, be very cautious as many buyers would want to do the cleaning themselves or leave the piece as is. Of course if it is for your own use, feel free do do whatever you think helps. One of the reasons I like tokens is that you can actually touch them, a practice that is frowned upon with coins.

John in ID

[gordiesgirl]

Looks great just the way it is. leave it alone and enjoy your great find. WTG:santa1:

[PAPPY]

PAT, BTW it is a Brotherhood of the Elks Token.

[Buster]

That is a nice token....Buster....