Letter 779c

Remove tarnish on pennies & copper

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How can you remove tarnish from a penny without it coming back

Michellename was deleted
- Boston, Massachusetts


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Hi Michelle,

If there was a really good way to keep pennies in circulation from tarnishing, don't you suppose the U.S. Mint would do it in the first place? :-)

If the penny is not going to be in circulation though, then you can clean it with a brass/copper polish like Brasso [link is to product info at Amazon], and then apply a Brass Lacquer. Good luck.


Ted Mooney, P.E. 
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


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I'm a eighth grader who is doing a project on tarnishing and cleaning of silver and copper. Could u please give me information? I have found almost nothing on it. Thank u,

maddie name was deleted
- new providence, New Jersey


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Maddie,

Maybe you could try cleaning the silver and copper with a toothbrush and toothpaste? You could also try a very fine wet sandpaper [link is to product info at Rockler] (very tiny sand particles), but you might wear all the way through the copper if you overdo it. Then try waxing it either with wax from a candle or with car wax.

The toothbrush and toothpaste, or sandpaper, are an abrasive and will scratch the tarnish off, leaving bare copper. Then the wax will keep air and water from reaching the copper so it doesn't tarnish again. Good luck.


Ted Mooney
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey


Note to students with science projects: Please see our FAQ on Cleaning Pennies; it will tell you everything you need to know!


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