When you buy raw coins and the seller uses a flip that may have PVC material?

TheGoonies1985

Do you give it an acetone bath just to make sure all is OK? Have a coin that arrived today from Spain have no idea if it does have PVC or not never seen a flip like that before.

PeakRarities

Better safe than sorry, acetone bath can't hurt.

TheGoonies1985

@DeplorableDan said:
Better safe than sorry, acetone bath can't hurt.

For how long and is acetone OK on the hands or not good for the skin? I just purchased today and have never done this before. Is it enough to swipe it over with a dipped q-tip in acetone?

PeakRarities

@PillarDollarCollector said:

@DeplorableDan said:
Better safe than sorry, acetone bath can't hurt.

For how long and is acetone OK on the hands or not good for the skin? I just purchased today and have never done this before. Is it enough to swipe it over with a dipped q-tip in acetone?

I would use the forum search feature for the word "acetone", and you will likely find a myriad of advice on the subject. Definitely don't let it soak into your skin, and be aware that its highly flammable and the fumes are toxic as well. I don't really have enough experience to guide you through the process, but I have heard of people using an acetone q tip instead. Others here should chime in soon.

TheGoonies1985

Is it OK to use a glass bowl add some acetone let the coin sit on one side for a few hours then replace the acetone and do the same for the other side. Will that do the trick? I guess use a spoon to put it in and take it out?

Tom147

Glass bowl for an hour, flip it and change the acetone. No spoon. just drain the acetone and slide the coin into your gloved hand. Rinse in warm water for a minute or two. Pat dry with a terry cloth towel. This method has worked for me numerous times with no issues. Coins from 8 or 9 years ago still look good.

TheGoonies1985

@Tom147 said:
Glass bowl for an hour, flip it and change the acetone. No spoon. just drain the acetone and slide the coin into your gloved hand. Rinse in warm water for a minute or two. Pat dry with a terry cloth towel. This method has worked for me numerous times with no issues. Coins from 8 or 9 years ago still look good.

Latex gloves? And thanks!!! This may sound stupid but can I just wash the bowl with dish soap afterwards and keep using it to eat?

TheGoonies1985

When you flip the coin sides do you clean the bowl first or just empty the acetone and add new acetone? Where do you get rid of the acetone?

renomedphys

@PillarDollarCollector said:
When you flip the coin sides do you clean the bowl first or just empty the acetone and add new acetone? Where do you get rid of the acetone?

Acetone evaporates very nearly 100 percent. I don’t think there’s any harm letting it do just that. As long as we’re talking about very small amounts (like less than a quart) you could just find some concrete and make a clean spot.

Edited to add: The internet is awash with conflicting advice: 1. Let it absorb into cotton balls and bag separately. 2. Containerize it and bring it down to your local hazmat disposal site. 3. What I said above.

See for yourself.

Mr_Spud

Yes, acetone is best if the coin is in a soft pvc flip. It urgently needs it if there is a sort of hazy outline of the coin visible on the flip, even more-so if there is any hint of green. If it was just recently put in the flip, like so it could be mailed, then it’s still best to rinse it but not as urgent.

Sapyx

@PillarDollarCollector said:
Do you give it an acetone bath just to make sure all is OK? Have a coin that arrived today from Spain have no idea if it does have PVC or not never seen a flip like that before.

Here's a quick way of telling whether your coin has acquired PVC goo from residing in a flip. Take the coin out of the flip, and look at the empty flip. Do you see an outline of where the coin was sitting in the flip, perhaps multiple outlines if the coin has been in there a long time and jiggled around inside the flip? If yes, then I'd recommend acetone wash. If not, then there's no reason to worry.

@PillarDollarCollector said:
For how long and is acetone OK on the hands or not good for the skin? I just purchased today and have never done this before. Is it enough to swipe it over with a dipped q-tip in acetone?

You've got a couple of acetone threads over on the US subforum; they've got most of the answers to your questions.

Acetone isn't toxic on your skin, but it is a very good solvent - it will dissolve the oil out of your skin, leaving it feel dry. It will also feel quite cold as it evaporates, and will likely leave a white residue on your skin after it evaporates; the white residue is your skin oil, re-deposited on the surface of your skin.

@PillarDollarCollector said:
Is it OK to use a glass bowl add some acetone let the coin sit on one side for a few hours then replace the acetone and do the same for the other side. Will that do the trick? I guess use a spoon to put it in and take it out?

Glass bowl, yes. Few hours, is probably a few hours too long. Assuming we're talking about a coin that does not actually have large deposits of goo on it; a quick swish in acetone (a few seconds) is all it really needs. A longer time won't hurt, but won't help either.
You won't need to "flip and repeat". The acetone will get underneath the coin and do its job, without you needing to flip it.

"How to get the coin out of the acetone" is always a tricky question. Don't use metal objects, as they're likely to scratch your coin. Plastic should be avoided too, as some plastics depolymerize in acetone. I always just use my bare fingers. Give your fingers a rinse in acetone to wash the oils out of your pores, then fish the coin out.

@PillarDollarCollector said:
Latex gloves? And thanks!!! This may sound stupid but can I just wash the bowl with dish soap afterwards and keep using it to eat?

There's plenty of discussion about gloves in your gloves thread over on the US subforum. Bot for acetone, you want to avoid plastic or rubber, unless you've already tested it and found that the plastic/rubber in question is acetone-resistant.
In my experience in the lab, nitrile gloves are fine, latex no so much.

Again it's my lab experience talking, but I'd never recommend using food-grade utensils to clean your coins. Coins are made of toxic heavy metals, and some of that metal is likely to be dissolving in whatever solvent you're using. It works both ways, too; you don't necessarily want food debris or dishwashing detergent getting in your acetone.

@PillarDollarCollector said:
When you flip the coin sides do you clean the bowl first or just empty the acetone and add new acetone? Where do you get rid of the acetone?

Getting rid of acetone depends on your jurisdiction, but we're not talking about a lot of acetone here. It's easiest just to pour it onto tissue paper and let it evaporate away; they you can just throw away the tissue. Acetone is also water-soluble; "down the sink with lots of water" is standard practice in our lab for disposing of small quantities of acetone, but you might not want to do that if you're concerned about degrading any plastic piping in your sewerage system.

Tom147

@PillarDollarCollector said:
Latex gloves? And thanks!!! This may sound stupid but can I just wash the bowl with dish soap afterwards and keep using it to eat?

Sounds like Sapyx is a lab guy and knows what he's talking about. I'm an EMS guy. I have an abundance of Nitrile gloves. I have a few small glass bowls that are not from the kitchen. Maybe 2 oz. of acetone covers a coin. ( one at a time ) If no visible PVC, ten seconds is plenty. I bought an album of Roosevelt silver dimes. 48 total coins. All had some faint greenish tint. After a 15 minute dip I could still see it when tilting the coin. Thus my hour time frame, flip it ( probably no need ) into a 2nd bowl with fresh acetone. Put the bowl outside and an hour later it would be evaporated. Fresh acetone, new coin. Doing three bowls/coins at a time. Been 8 or 9 years ago. They're in a Dansco now and still looking shiny new.

Mr_Spud

FYI - I work in the Pharmaceutical/Dietary Supplement industry and if you want to use solvent based coatings for tablets the use of acetone is way less restricted than the use of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Apparently there is less of a damaging effect to the environment if you emit acetone vapor into the atmosphere than if you emit isopropyl alcohol. Because I know that, I dispose of the tiny amount of acetone I use to rinse coins by pouring it on the stone walkway in front of my house and it evaporates in about a minute or so.

As for removing the coin from the acetone. If you put the coin in a small glass jar and cover the coin with the acetone until it is immersed, you really don’t use that much, just about a tablespoon full. I typically do that and put a lid on the jar (avoid rubber or soft plastic liners on the inside of the lid or the acetone vapors can start to dissolve them) and swirl it around so the coin moves around on the bottom of the jar for a few minutes. Then I pour the acetone and coin into a narrow glass container that is wider on top than on the bottom, many use a shot glass, then the acetone goes to the bottom and the coin stays suspended above the acetone. Then with white cotton or nitrile gloves you pick up the coin and place it on a clean white cotton cloth (I use a t-shirt) and it “blots” up any residual acetone. I lay the coin on one side on the t-shirt and then a second or 2 later I carefully pick it up and turn it over to “blot” the other side.

Instead of a shot glass I use a 2 tablespoon apothecary medicine dose glass, but that’s just me. Most who use this same technique use a shot glass. Here’s what I use, the picture shows what I’m talking about where the coin stays suspended in the air and the acetone goes to the bottom.

And here’s my whole acetone rinse setup. Most don’t use this elaborate equipment and don’t use reagent grade acetone, but I enjoy the overkill involved.

TheGoonies1985

Thanks guys for all the detailed input!!! Will deal with it today.

gumby1234

If the flip is soft it probably had PVC. Newer non PVC flips are rigid.

TheGoonies1985

All went well and was easy enough just put the glass bowl on mat patio outside (cold and breezy here today) and the acetone mostly evaporated. Did both sides then a rinse under water and that is that. Found some small glass jars today while I was out will use those moving forward. Got lucky the 500ml 100% acetone were on special for 6$ at my local pharmacy instead of 14$.

If I clean them with dish soap can I reuse them and not worry about cross-contamination?

TheGoonies1985

Is it necessary to rinse the coin under water for a few minutes after the acetone bath?

Mr_Spud

I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl. Rinsing with clean acetone would prevent cross contamination better than soap or water.

TheGoonies1985

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl. Rinsing with clean acetone would prevent cross contamination better than soap or water.

The acetone I purchased is 100% pure. My concern was having residue left from either alcohol or acetone I have no idea if that would cause problems I am no chemist.

TheGoonies1985

@PillarDollarCollector said:

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl. Rinsing with clean acetone would prevent cross contamination better than soap or water.

The acetone I purchased is 100% pure. My concern was having residue left from either alcohol or acetone I have no idea if that would cause problems I am no chemist.

Guess I found my answer:

What happens when you mix acetone with rubbing alcohol?

Nothing happens when you mix them. Obviously these liquids do not react with each other. But they can be interconverted. Isopropanol can be converted to acetone simply by heating over a copper catalyst .Sep 30, 2016

PerryHall

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl. Rinsing with clean acetone would prevent cross contamination better than soap or water.

Agree except the second rinse should be with fresh pure acetone rather than alcohol. If you have pure acetone, you don't need any alcohol. Also, don't rinse with water unless it's pure distilled water rather than tap water which may not be 100% pure.

Cougar1978

I would for sure take it out of the PVC flip. As far as a dip certainly if needed. It’s been a long time since procured material in pvc flips. I avoid stuff w pvc damage or low end.

Mr_Spud

Reusing acetone> @PillarDollarCollector said:

@PillarDollarCollector said:

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl.

@PerryHall said:

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl. Rinsing with clean acetone would prevent cross contamination better than soap or water.

Agree except the second rinse should be with fresh pure acetone rather than alcohol. If you have pure acetone, you don't need any alcohol. Also, don't rinse with water unless it's pure distilled water rather than tap water which may not be 100% pure.

I actually made a mistake when I wrote that, I meant the second rinse to be with acetone, sorry for the confusion. I don’t use alcohol on coins or to rinse my glassware.

PerryHall

@Mr_Spud said:
Reusing acetone> @PillarDollarCollector said:

@PillarDollarCollector said:

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl.

@PerryHall said:

@Mr_Spud said:
I don’t rinse the coins with water after acetone. No need if the acetone is pure enough. I believe some people already mentioned checking for purity by letting some evaporate on glass and looking for residue, a mirror works even better. As for cross contamination, if the coin was heavily contaminated, a second rinse with alcohol will get rid of any remaining gunk off the coin as well as the glasses or bowl. Rinsing with clean acetone would prevent cross contamination better than soap or water.

Agree except the second rinse should be with fresh pure acetone rather than alcohol. If you have pure acetone, you don't need any alcohol. Also, don't rinse with water unless it's pure distilled water rather than tap water which may not be 100% pure.

I actually made a mistake when I wrote that, I meant the second rinse to be with acetone, sorry for the confusion. I don’t use alcohol on coins or to rinse my glassware.

You save the alcohol for after the coins are put away.