(Please click on thumbnails for larger picture if you need to)
List of items needed:
a non-metallic container, electrical tape, stainless steel fork or spoon (that you don't want anymore), wooden spatula (or anything non-conductive to stir with), an old AC/DC power supply (DC output of 5v and 500 milliamps is great), Stainless steel alligator clips (at least 3), distilled water (if you don't have this, use warm tap water running it through a filter, not the best but will do!), Salt, Baking soda, soldering iron and solder (if you want), side cutters, and an old wire hanger.
1. FORK or SPOON:
Time to bend them! The best way to do this is to place the spoon (in this case, you'll see a fork in the other pics) so it is touching the bottom of the container. Bend the spoon over the lip so it hangs freely, or draped, over the edge. This step complete!
2. AC/DC POWER SUPPLY:
I don't have pics for all the steps here yet, the steps are pretty self explanatory, I will be adding them in the future. This should NOT be plugged in at this time!!! First thing you need to do is snip off the connector at the far end of the wire coming from the transformer. Next, split the wire into two separate pieces by starting it with the side cutter, or just pulling them apart in most cases, normally 12" will do. Using the side cutters again, strip both ends about an inch or so. Take two of the stainless steel alligator clips and attach them to each of the exposed ends either by the soldering iron and solder, crimping, or any other way you want. The main thing is that it is a solid connection. After this step is complete, it is time to test it, this will figure out what to put where. This is an easy test to see which is the anode and cathode. We are going live here people!!! Be extremely careful in these next few steps!!
OK!!! First, fill your container with luke warm tap water and stir in some salt for good measure, making an electrolyte. Keeping the leads you made as far apart as you can, and away from anything metallic, plug in the transformer. If nothing arched and sparked, and the breaker didn't trip, you are halfway there! Next, place both of the leads (with the alligator clips) on opposite sides of the container completely submerged in the electrolyte. What we are looking for here is to see which one starts to fizz. You might have to move them closer together but DON'T let them touch, you will short out the transformer, NOT a good thing. Once you figure out which lead fizzes, this will be the one that you will be attaching the coin to, mark it and unplug the transformer.
3. ALMOST DONE:
Take the other lead (the one that didn't fizz) and clip it to the end of the bent fork or spoon. Take the electrical tape and start wrapping from the bend of the utensil, over the alligator clip, and on to the wire covering any exposed metal. This will keep the clip in place so you don't have to solder it which makes it easy for changing the utensil when the time comes. It should look similar to the pic shown below! You can also wrap where the wire meets the clip on the other end if so desired, just make sure you keep the clip free, you will need this for the coins!
4. STAND:
Last, but not least, we have to make a stand to hold the coin in place! I found that a good way to do this is to take an old wire hanger, cut off the hook and twist part with the side cutters, then form to a stand like the pic below. Make sure your top bend is at least an inch over the top of your container! I then attach the remaining alligator clip to the top end and either solder it or crimp it into place. As you notice, I used electrical tape on it also, just for more stability. I use this to keep the coin from "free floating" in the electrolyte and well as to be able to move the coin to or away from the spoon or fork. You will learn more about that in the final page!
Now that we have everything built, let's go to the next page and start cleaning!!!