Cleaning with olive oil...

[scavenger1]

What's your thoughts on cleaning relics, buttons, old coins, etc with extra virgin olive oil and a ultra fine soft baby toothbrush? I'm talking soaking the item in the olive oil for weeks and taking it out from time to time to brush the mineral build up off with the baby toothbrush and change out the oil. Does that sound like a plan or maybe not? What's your thoughts on it?

 

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[ncsuwolf]

I’ve tried/am trying with mixed results. Wanted to keep the deep green patina on copper coins. Some it works on, some not. I’m using a toothpick, not a brush. Have let sit up to 6 weeks.

And why change the oil?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

The problem with olive oil is that it will eventually putrify. Don't want putrid oil soaked into your coins or relics!

 

[scavenger1]

The problem with olive oil is that it will eventually putrify. Don't want putrid oil soaked into your coins or relics!

About how long would you say before the purifying process starts in the olive oil?

 

[ncsuwolf]

The problem with olive oil is that it will eventually putrify. Don't want putrid oil soaked into your coins or relics!

I get why putrid oil would be bad for cooking, but why does it matter for a concretion removal aid?

 

[scavenger1]

I’ve tried/am trying with mixed results. Wanted to keep the deep green patina on copper coins. Some it works on, some not. I’m using a toothpick, not a brush. Have let sit up to 6 weeks.

And why change the oil?

Why change the oil you ask... well long story but I was in a archology museum and saw a display of a old dug relic the archeologists were cleaning by soaking it in distilled water and they said they will check the water in a year for how much build up in mineral it had in solution and possibly change to fresh distilled water if it was more than 80% fill of minerals. I was quite fascinated by what I was reading on the display and figured I would try the same method with olive oil and change mine out as well.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Why not mineral oil?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I get why putrid oil would be bad for cooking, but why does it matter for a concretion removal aid?

Because you'll never get all the oil off of the coin or relic, unless you boil it off. Then it's just a matter of time until it putrifies.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Why not mineral oil?

That's what I use. Much safer than olive or vegatable oil.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

About how long would you say before the purifying process starts in the olive oil?

That would depend on how you store it and where you live, I guess. Humid locations would putrify the oil a lot faster than locations that are drier and cooler.

 

[qtrs-xcite-me]

I recently found a knife buried in sand while metal detecting. I soaked it in WD-40 for several days and was amazed at the amount of encrustation that it removed from the aluminum sides. Haven't tried on a coin but might be worth a try.

 

[scavenger1]

That's what I use. Much safer than olive or vegatable oil.

But if you use mineral oil doesn't that defeat the whole purpose because you're trying to transfer the mineral build up on the relic to suspension in a fluid and if you use mineral oil its already full of mineral and unable to hold/draw up any more mineral off the relic... but tell you what I'm going to try the mineral oil on a relic just to see the results.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

But if you use mineral oil doesn't that defeat the whole purpose because you're trying to transfer the mineral build up on the relic to suspension in a fluid and if you use mineral oil its already full of mineral and unable to hold/draw up any more mineral off the relic... but tell you what I'm going to try the mineral oil on a relic just to see the results.

I'll take 'What is Mineral Oil' for $500 Alex ...

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Mineral oil softens any dirt or crud on the coin or relic. I don't leave it on long enough for it to absorb into the item. And if any residue is left, it won't putrify over time like olive oil will do.

 

[scavenger1]

Not going to lie I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of cleaning off mineral with a mineral... I mean isn't that like washing dirty clothes with mud water, like trying to rob a jewelry store but you have so many gold rings on your fingers already that you can't even hold your gun to rob the place, like showing up at a food fight (and I'm dating myself "Animal House" John Belushi) and screaming FOOD FIGHT but you're already covered in food. Anyway, I'll definitely try the mineral oil on a junk relic just to see what happens... what's the old saying "you got to fight fire with fire".

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Not going to lie I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of cleaning off mineral with a mineral... I mean isn't that like washing dirty clothes with mud water, like trying to rob a jewelry store but you have so many gold rings on your fingers already that you can't even hold your gun to rob the place, like showing up at a food fight (and I'm dating myself "Animal House" John Belushi) and screaming FOOD FIGHT but you're already covered in food. Anyway, I'll definitely try the mineral oil on a junk relic just to see what happens... what's the old saying "you got to fight fire with fire".

So many kinds of minerals .... Alex, I'll take 'What are the mineral categories for $500'

 

[djackson7348]

I've tried it in the past and never got results that I was pleased with.

 

[ncsuwolf]

I've tried it in the past and never got results that I was pleased with.

I’m just now trying it (last 3-4 mos). Wanted to keep the deep green patina…..so far i have mixed opinion on results…..hard to confirm as you can’t do the same coin 2 ways, but agree it is not a panacea.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Not going to lie I'm still trying to wrap my head around the concept of cleaning off mineral with a mineral

Works very well for me. Sorry that you can't "wrap your head" around it. Mineral oil is similar to Renaissance Wax, since both have ingredients that are refined from crude oil. Renaissance Wax is used by many museums to protect ancient coins and relics, so it must be safe to use.

 

[Almy]

"Mineral" in mineral oil mean it comes from a petroleum base, not that it has minerals in it. Mineral oil is quite pure. It is made into motor oil and other lubricating oils when additives are dissolved in it. Olive oil is full of "impurities", some of which make it acid. It is this mild acid which attacks the corrosion on the item. It's a gentler way of using acids like lemon juice and vinegar.