Cleaning war nickels with acetone

jesbroken

I would like to soak some war nickels with acetone and would like to know if some brand new lidded tins(no idea of the tin's actual metal) would be an acceptable container to use. I've never done well with acetone and have found that 20 seconds or so isn't enough time. Just would like some advice on the container's acceptability or does it require glass containers.
Jim

TomB

If you aren't certain about what to use then simply use a small glass or porcelain dish with aluminum foil on the top. Easy.

Mr_Spud

Glass is safer, sometimes tins have a coating that might dissolve and the lids aren’t very tight so the acetone might evaporate on you. But if you presoak the tins with the acetone and anything dissolvable is already gone you’d probably get away with it. Glass jars are so easy to come by though. Of course I go overboard and use these

I like those because you only need to use about a tablespoon of acetone at most to completely immerse the coin and has a glass lid with no gasket. One time, long ago, I had a glass jar gasket melt just from acetone fumes and it dripped down into the acetone with the coin in it.

spacehayduke

Late to the show, yes glass for sure. You could even take a coffee mug you no longer use, put the coins and acetone in it, find a cover (aluminum for example) and put it outside or in the garage as you don't want to smell alot of acetone (goes into the kidneys apparently). But the suggestion by Mr. Spud above is a great solution to the problem. Be safe in using it tho and minimize exposure:

From da web-

"Studies on animals determined that long-term exposure to acetone damages the kidneys, liver and nerves. Birth defects and male reproductive problems were other results."

MsMorrisine

imagine a not so clean tin. you ca contaminate your acetone before you put the coin in.

if, as suggested, you clean it with acetone really well ,or use a new tin, then it should be ok.

the go to is glass or a clean dish or something since those are easier to clean.

Clackamas1

I have actetoned hundreds of war nickels; heck probably thousands (never really thought about it). Mostly because when you get them out of OBW rolls they are just dirty, the paper deterioties and leaves the coins just not clean. If you don't get the desired result in less than 3 seconds there is nothing you can do. I use glass for acetone. Acetone gets used once and tossed. Acetone will just remove crud there is no chemical reaction, hence why it is an acceptable method to clean a coin. DO NOT acetone an attractive toned coin; that rainbow is not actually a metal reaction, it is a light layer of something else that refracts light different depending of the dept of the deposit. Acetone will strip it off faster than you can think.

silviosi

For home : I suggest MEK and tarnX. Be aware the containers to clean must be sterile glass. Do not took same solute for two coins and after each use, sterilixe the containers. Other considerents: Acetone and MEK are volatile and harmfull for your health. Acetone it is ffast reaction and Mek slow react on the human health. Took precautions.

BStrauss3

Hit up the local thrift store for some small glass dishes or bowls.

bsshog40

I like using one of those little canning jars. Pretty cheap at walmart.

TwoSides2aCoin

I prefer WD-40 to acetone for war nickels.

OAKSTAR

Acetone evaporates fast. I use a small grass bowl like one of these (it's actually a little smaller) and put saran wrap cling'n seal over the top.