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Rinsing after dipping?

AlbumNerdAlbumNerd Posts: 193 ✭✭✭
edited June 23, 2024 2:02PM in U.S. Coin Forum

I'm dipping some old coins with PVC damage but I'm not sure if I should rinse the coins afterwards.

My fear is that if I don't, the PVC particulates in the solution will stay on the coin and will damage the entire coin over time.

If I should rinse after dipping, what should I rinse it with? More acetone?

Thoughts?

Comments

  • AtcarrollAtcarroll Posts: 405 ✭✭✭✭
    edited June 22, 2024 4:54PM

    I soak the coin in acetone, and keep a container of fresh acetone close so I can grab it and pour it on the coin immediately after i pull it out of the soak, before it has time to dry. I do it in my garage, the acetone i use to rinse evaporates off the concrete floor pretty quickly. I don't dry the coin, i just let the acetone evaporate off the surface after the rinse.

  • Pnies20Pnies20 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭✭✭

    BHNC #248 … 130 and counting.

  • 7Jaguars7Jaguars Posts: 7,454 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Umm, simple liberal irrigation with even tap water or distilled if you have it, then dish soap with fingers and then more irrigation with a tamp down afterward. NO RUBBING as per usual.

    Love that Milled British (1830-1960)
    Well, just Love coins, period.
  • TheGoonies1985TheGoonies1985 Posts: 5,492 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 23, 2024 8:06AM

    Use 100% pure acetone and a glass jar with glass lid or metal lid with no plastic liner. Let the acetone work 1-2 hours then use new acetone for the other side. When done rinse the coin under fresh acetone and let dry. Clean the jar with fresh acetone for 30-60 minutes (just add some to the jar and cover it) and then rinse with water when done.

    No need to fill the whole jar with acetone just make sure the coin is covered. I use my hands with no protection (ex gloves you should never use plastic gloves anyways with acetone) and the acetone will not harm your skin in this short of period of time (few seconds) just rinse your hands under water with soap after.

  • davewesendavewesen Posts: 6,144 ✭✭✭✭✭

    what are you 'dipping' with?

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,525 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Distilled water, rinse well.

  • WinLoseWinWinLoseWin Posts: 1,573 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Rising after dipping?

    I suppose it could occurr for some if they are happy about the results.

    "To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin

  • zas107zas107 Posts: 831 ✭✭✭

    If the coin is untoned, ammonia will strip pvc off of a coin much faster than acetone FWIW. My suggestion would be to run it under tap water for several seconds after all pvc is removed, then rinse in a bowl of distilled water followed by patting them dry.

  • AlbumNerdAlbumNerd Posts: 193 ✭✭✭

    @davewesen said:
    what are you 'dipping' with?

    100% acetone

  • AlbumNerdAlbumNerd Posts: 193 ✭✭✭

    @PillarDollarCollector said:
    Use 100% pure acetone and a glass jar with glass lid or metal lid with no plastic liner. Let the acetone work 1-2 hours then use new acetone for the other side. When done rinse the coin under fresh acetone and let dry. Clean the jar with fresh acetone for 30-60 minutes (just add some to the jar and cover it) and then rinse with water when done.

    No need to fill the whole jar with acetone just make sure the coin is covered. I use my hands with no protection (ex gloves you should never use plastic gloves anyways with acetone) and the acetone will not harm your skin in this short of period of time (few seconds) just rinse your hands under water with soap after.

    It's interesting that you mention using a glass lid. I currently plate my PVC damaged coins in a ceramic bowl, cover with 100% acetone, and cover the bowl with kitchen plastic wrap to prevent evaporation.

    Is this a risk in using the plastic wrap to cover the bowl?

  • TheGoonies1985TheGoonies1985 Posts: 5,492 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 23, 2024 12:31PM

    @AlbumNerd said:

    @PillarDollarCollector said:
    Use 100% pure acetone and a glass jar with glass lid or metal lid with no plastic liner. Let the acetone work 1-2 hours then use new acetone for the other side. When done rinse the coin under fresh acetone and let dry. Clean the jar with fresh acetone for 30-60 minutes (just add some to the jar and cover it) and then rinse with water when done.

    No need to fill the whole jar with acetone just make sure the coin is covered. I use my hands with no protection (ex gloves you should never use plastic gloves anyways with acetone) and the acetone will not harm your skin in this short of period of time (few seconds) just rinse your hands under water with soap after.

    It's interesting that you mention using a glass lid. I currently plate my PVC damaged coins in a ceramic bowl, cover with 100% acetone, and cover the bowl with kitchen plastic wrap to prevent evaporation.

    Is this a risk in using the plastic wrap to cover the bowl?

    I am just guessing that acetone evaporation cannot be good for plastic. I am not a scientist maybe someone here can chip in on that. Just common sens is what I believe.

    Some of my metal lids on mason jars have now rust on them from the acetone and the acetone never touched the lids directly. I use only glass lids now.

    Although the lids on the acetone bottles are plastic with some type of lining in them.

    Someone suggested these to me and this are what I only use now found on Amazon for cheap a set of 2 (good up to quarter sized coins):

    Baluue Chemistry Weighing Bottle Weighing Flask 2pcs Experiment Weighing Bottle Labs Weighing Bottle with Lid Glass Weighing Holder Weighing Bottles Borosilicate Glass Weighing Bottle

  • TheGoonies1985TheGoonies1985 Posts: 5,492 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 23, 2024 12:35PM

    They cost me 13$ Canadian for a set of 2. US must be 10$. I imagine there exists larger ones for half dollars and dollars.

    Every coin I had a plastic lid I redid them in these glass bottles that was maybe 5-10 coins in my case. Just to be sure. Not even sure it did anything but it gave me peace of mind and that counts.

  • BarberianBarberian Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Put a ceramic plate over a ceramic bowl. Covering an organic solvent like acetone with plastic is asking for trouble.

    3 rim nicks away from Good
  • Mr_SpudMr_Spud Posts: 5,359 ✭✭✭✭✭

    One time I had the rubber gasket of a jar lid melt and drip into the acetone with a coin in it and ever since I’ve been careful with what I use to cover acetone

    Mr_Spud

  • TheGoonies1985TheGoonies1985 Posts: 5,492 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 23, 2024 1:39PM

    Glad you picked up these glass containers for 10$ (for those here you PM me that you made the purchase from Amazon). You need much less acetone as well with these containers because of their size. I believe they are good up to quarter sized coins I collect dime sized coins. I would imagine larger sized ones exist.

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,145 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @AlbumNerd said:
    Is this a risk in using the plastic wrap to cover the bowl?

    Probably. Put some plastic wrap in some acetone to see what happens. I'm guessing the plastic wrap will dissolve.

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • TheGoonies1985TheGoonies1985 Posts: 5,492 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Just an FYI your title is wrong it is rinsing.

  • AlbumNerdAlbumNerd Posts: 193 ✭✭✭

    @PillarDollarCollector said:
    Just an FYI your title is wrong it is rinsing.

    Good catch. Edited

  • davewesendavewesen Posts: 6,144 ✭✭✭✭✭

    When most people mention 'dipping' they are referring to a strong acid like e-Z-est, not water or acetone.

  • SapyxSapyx Posts: 2,210 ✭✭✭✭✭

    In the numismatic community, the word "Dipping", without other context such as specifying the chemical you're using, usually refers to "dip", also known as e-z-est or similar tarnish remover. E-z-est is made form sulfuric acid and thiourea; it is much harsher than acetone and will damage coins if not rinsed off properly. You definitely need to rinse off "dip", but not acetone.

    The "three dips" method for acetone outlined by pursuitofliberty above is fine. If you have an acetone wash bottle, you can use that to rinse the coin instead, but that's a bit of overkill if the only use for acetone you have is to clean coins.

    Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.
    Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

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