Fitz gold quarters: to clean or not to clean?

[GenghisKhan]

Hi all,

I've just put together a solid hotstamp cash set. I've read the threads on cleaning hotstamps and have done it to some of my other chips. The Fitz gold however are a bit different, as others have noted in the past.

So I'm wondering if the same rules apply to cleaning this chip, as in "soak in oxy mix and gently scrub the outer edge with a toothbrush holding your thumb over the stamp".

Or have most of you opted not to clean the Fitz golds?

I have almost 3 racks. One rack looks very sharp, the other racks show a little dirt "hiding" the gold if you will.

Here's a pic comparing one very clean vs a few not so clean.

[JM]

I would not put hotstamps in oxy!

Use a toothbrush or hand brush and some softscrub with bleach and do the thumb over the stamp method.

I've also soaked hotstamps in a mixture of sp1c & span and water before using the toothbrush to do a final scrub as I take them out (again with thumb over).

[Moosiedad]

Oxy has never given my hotstamps any trouble. I know the gold chips are a bit of a different animal, but my gold Terrible Roulettes held up just fine with a good oxy bath. I don't have experience with the Fitz's though, so better to err on the side of caution, I suppose.

[wartdog]

have not need to clean any of my fitz quarters, gold hides the dirt well but test one, per usual when i soak and scrub the hell out of any hot stamped chips in a very strong fluid that i WANT to remove the stamp, it doesnt come off.....if i breathe on the ones i am afraid to damage or remove the stamp, it friggin falls right off!!

so test a few and let us know.....

[JM]

That's a good point, if you have an extra one or don't mind using one as a sacrificial lamb, you can try it in oxy and see how it fares.

[chipNAchair]

I tested oxy with my Sam's Town chips recently. Didn't use very much, but noticed some light fading on a couple of the stamps. Doesn't mean it won't work, but for me - I backed off from using it. I ended up using water/dawn dish soap with a good soaking.

[RussB42]

Dawn Clear Liquid Dishwashing Soap and an Electric toothbrush should do the cleaning without any damage to the H/S's.

Let soak in the dawn and warm water about 10/15 minutes. Rinse good and dry.

[MGM GRAND]

I did my fitz hotstamps in a combo oxy and dawn dish soap. They turned out nice, just go light on the oxy to be safe. I think I used a quarter scoop per 2/3 gallon (I use a gallon bucket).

[GenghisKhan]

Thanks a lot guys. You just made me remember that I ordered a sample first.

Instead of testing the oxy mix though, since they're not too dirty, I think I'll test the dw soap tomorrow to see if it cleans enough.