Are paint fumes bad for coins? Paint used car touch up spray paint.

TheGoonies1985

Just had my home safe painted about a month ago and the fumes can still be smelt on the inside. So now I am using a fan and opening the safe door. I decided to have it restored since it had some rust in a few areas (not anymore) and fully repainted. I put my better coins in my bank safe but a few of my coins worth 250$-300$ or less in my home safe. I am going to let the fan do its thing may take a few weeks hopefully not much longer. For now my coins are not in the safe but curious if ever some paint odour is present what could it do to coins in slabs on in 2 by Mylar?

TheGoonies1985

The exterior of the safe no longer smells that only lasted a few days. At least this gave me a chance to use bolts that do not rust (same for the metal washers). Can't believe the bolts the company I purchased it from used. One half broken the other rusted I mean come on the new bolts cost me only a few dollars each.

emeraldATV

Oh no, not again......

Sapyx

Most of the things used in modern paints are industrial solvents - toluene, xylene, acetone, such like. They're exactly the kinds of solvents we would normally recommend to clean coins with.

So in general, paint fumes are going to be worse for you and your lungs than they will be for your coins.

Nevertheless, it's always wise to store coins in an environment that isn't outgassing anything, because you just don't know for sure what's in those fumes. My general rule of thumb: if you can smell it, don't put coins in it.

Creg

@emeraldATV said:
Oh no, not again......!

Namvet69

Maybe put an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.

TheGoonies1985

@Namvet69 said:
Maybe put an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.

Thanks going to do this today and for a few days if necessary. Will replace the baking soda once every 12 hours.

DocBenjamin

Man of coins had no problems...

TheGoonies1985

@DocBenjamin said:
Man of coins had no problems...

?

TheGoonies1985

What is the worst paint fumes would do to coins make them possibly tone?

TheGoonies1985

@Namvet69 said:
Maybe put an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.

Is it best to close the safe door when doing this or just keep it partially open?

Cranium_Basher73

DocBenjamin

Man of coins had no problems...> @TheGoonies1985 said:

@DocBenjamin said:
Man of coins had no problems...

?

Forum member that gassed artificial toning into rattler slabbed Morgans.

Creative but the results were not better than average,

vplite99

@TheGoonies1985 said:

@Namvet69 said:
Maybe put an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.

Thanks going to do this today and for a few days if necessary. Will replace the baking soda once every 12 hours.

I have read (on the internet, so there's that) that is an old wives tale; baking soda must be in contact with an object to remove odor.

Activated charcoal is non-toxic and effective for removing odors.

TheGoonies1985

@vplite99 said:

@TheGoonies1985 said:

@Namvet69 said:
Maybe put an open box of baking soda inside to absorb odors.

Thanks going to do this today and for a few days if necessary. Will replace the baking soda once every 12 hours.

I have read (on the internet, so there's that) that is an old wives tale; baking soda must be in contact with an object to remove odor.

Activated charcoal is non-toxic and effective for removing odors.

Will give it a try seems a lot of people on youtube use Baking Soda will see.

TheGoonies1985

Also see that a bowl of water with sliced lemon seems to be good as well. Will do both at the same time the baking soda inside the safe and the water and lemon outside the safe.

Pnies20

Hmmm sit in there a while and take notes. Shut the door so you have privacy!

Morgan13

Your safe and your coins are safe. I've been a painter for 42 years.
Today's pains are acrylic or alkyd/acrylic. They us water to clean up. They contain no solvents.
Most labels have the "eco stamp on it".
What you are smelling is the smell of the paint for sure. I will disapaite in a week or two and I will reassure is harmless. No worse for you than those fragrant candles people use.
Not sure where you live in the US but leaving the windows open for a while would be beneficial.

TheGoonies1985

@Morgan13 said:
Your safe and your coins are safe. I've been a painter for 42 years.
Today's paints are acrylic or alkyd/acrylic. They us water to clean up. They contain no solvents.
Most labels have the "eco stamp on it".
What you are smelling is the smell of the paint for sure. I will dissipate in a week or two and I will reassure is harmless. No worse for you than those fragrant candles people use.
Not sure where you live in the US but leaving the windows open for a while would be beneficial.

Thanks. I am live up North here in Canada so the windows are open as well it is cool weather this time of year. What are your opinions on Baking Soda or water with cut up lemons?

JBK

Those remedies might or might not be helpful, but it's the fumes not the smell that are the potential issue. Granted, they might ultimately be the same but maybe not.

With all due respect to the professional painter above, there are lots of non-water clean-up paints in use, especially for metal.

TheGoonies1985

@JBK said:
Those remedies might or might not be helpful, but it's the fumes not the smell that are the potential issue. Granted, they might ultimately be the same but maybe not.

With all due respect to the professional painter above, there are lots of non-water clean-up paints in use, especially for metal.

Thanks at some point the smell will go away may take a while I just thought a few days would do it but may take weeks or more.

JimTyler

When I worked in a shop my boss would empty a jar of Jewel luster so there were only fumes inside. Lean a coin up on the edge he wanted to tone and screw the lid back on, I don’t remember how long but he would get some decent AT.

TheGoonies1985

@Morgan13 said:
Your safe and your coins are safe. I've been a painter for 42 years.
Today's pains are acrylic or alkyd/acrylic. They us water to clean up. They contain no solvents.
Most labels have the "eco stamp on it".
What you are smelling is the smell of the paint for sure. I will disapaite in a week or two and I will reassure is harmless. No worse for you than those fragrant candles people use.
Not sure where you live in the US but leaving the windows open for a while would be beneficial.

The paint used was spray paint for car touch ups. Is that dangerous or coins (smell/fumes)? It was a family member who did it he did a great job but that is the paint he used. He put 3 layers. It looks brand new and he took off any rust that was on the steel. This was not some pro job by some specialized store. There are none of those in my area for such jobs. The paint was the exact same colour as my safe so we decided to use that.

He let it air outside but forgot to open it to do the inside before bringing back to me. He usually is hyper detail oriented and it was done for free. It was that or buying a new safe at 600$ or more.

I have a fan going on it all day and most of the night plus the baking soda and lemon water as well that I started today. The fan has been set up now for a full week. The room does not smell just the inside of the safe when I stick my head into it to smell it. The outside does not smell at all.

TheGoonies1985

Any answer on that type of paint I used is is worse for coins or the same?

jacrispies

Sounds like you pretty much got your answer... your coins are fine.

@TheGoonies1985 said:

The paint used was spray paint for car touch ups. Is that dangerous or coins (smell/fumes)?

All I can add from experience is do not paint undercoat on your car with no ventilation. You will pass out in about an hour.

ifthevamzarockin

Many paints are dry to the touch within hours but can take up to 30 days to fully cure.
The more coats that are put on increases the cure time.
A spray type paint like you used has no catalyst to cure it so it will take longer than a catalyzed or epoxy based paint.
The solvents used in the type of paint you used should have no effect on your coins.

TheGoonies1985

@ifthevamzarockin said:
Many paints are dry to the touch within hours but can take up to 30 days to fully cure.
The more coats that are put on increases the cure time.
A spray type paint like you used has no catalyst to cure it so it will take longer than a catalyzed or epoxy based paint.
The solvents used in the type of paint you used should have no effect on your coins.

Thanks

TheGoonies1985

After 1 month of a portable fan going off and on daily closed my safe for 24 hours and opened it this evening the smell is still there guess this will be a long thing to get it to leave permanently. Back to having the fan running.

TheGoonies1985

It is weird because the exterior smells nothing at all same paint was used. Wonder why the interior of my home safe is taking so long to stop smelling.

Just found this on the net:

''Getting rid of paint odours can be a tricky task to tackle. A good rule to follow is to wait at least three days before moving back into a freshly painted room to allow filtration and the reduction of the initial toxic paint fumes. Even still, paint odours can linger in a room for up to 4 months as the paint fully cures.''

BLUEJAYWAY

Just be careful with cannabis fumes.🚭😀

Morgan13

@JBK said:
Those remedies might or might not be helpful, but it's the fumes not the smell that are the potential issue. Granted, they might ultimately be the same but maybe not.

With all due respect to the professional painter above, there are lots of non-water clean-up paints in use, especially for metal.

I thought from the beginning he was talking about his home. If your keeping your coins in a place where oil paints are being used I don't think it would harm them especially of they are in slabs.

TheGoonies1985

@Morgan13 said:

@JBK said:
Those remedies might or might not be helpful, but it's the fumes not the smell that are the potential issue. Granted, they might ultimately be the same but maybe not.

With all due respect to the professional painter above, there are lots of non-water clean-up paints in use, especially for metal.

I thought from the beginning he was talking about his home. If your keeping your coins in a place where oil paints are being used I don't think it would harm them especially of they are in slabs.

The paint used is car touch up spray paint.

TheGoonies1985

The safe is dry it is just the smell that is still there. I am still using a portable fan. I open the safe door and let the air circulate. Seems like it may take a few months since it has already been 30 days.

OAKSTAR

@TheGoonies1985 said:
Are paint fumes bad for coins?

Not if AT guys have figured it out!

Martin

@TheGoonies1985

The paint will likely off gas’ for months.

When you buy a new car, the new car smell is paint off gassing

I once bought a new armrest for a car. It came unpainted had to order the vinyl paint for it to match the interior It matched Perfectly and gave the car the new car smell. That was a long time ago 30 plus years. Paint has changed a lot. But auto paint is good stuff Not sure if they have switched to latex or not

Martin

TheGoonies1985

@Martin said:
@TheGoonies1985

The paint will likely off gas’ for months.

When you buy a new car, the new car smell is paint off gassing

I once bought a new armrest for a car. It came unpainted had to order the vinyl paint for it to match the interior It matched Perfectly and gave the car the new car smell. That was a long time ago 30 plus years. Paint has changed a lot. But auto paint is good stuff Not sure if they have switched to latex or not

Martin

Thanks

TheGoonies1985

Keep the safe open or should I just lock it up and open it in a few months? What is better? Will my fan help reduce the amount of time?

ifthevamzarockin

@TheGoonies1985 said:
Keep the safe open or should I just lock it up and open it in a few months? What is better? Will my fan help reduce the amount of time?

Keep the door open and the fan may help reduce the amount of time.

Automotive paints can be force dried with water, it doesn't force cure it though.
You could try wiping the inside down with a wet towel and then wipe it with a dry towel.
This may remove some of the thinner that has migrated to the surface of the paint.
A small space heater placed inside the safe may help to cure the paint a little more.
Only run a small heater for short times and repeat.
Time is really the only thing that will get rid of the smell.

Martin

@TheGoonies1985 said:
Keep the safe open or should I just lock it up and open it in a few months? What is better? Will my fan help reduce the amount of time?

Yes the more air flow and warmth is optimal and would let it cure faster

Martin

TheGoonies1985

Thanks all!!!

JimTyler

Use Tupperware in your safe. The patented burb will save your coins.

TheGoonies1985

@JimTyler said:
Use Tupperware in your safe. The patented burb will save your coins.

They are in PCGS/NGC slabs or in Mylar 2 by 2 cardboard holders. Then inside PCGS/NGC plastic long boxes. But will give it time for the paint to gas off more before putting them back into my safe.

TheGoonies1985

What is the worst the paint fumes could do to coins...tone them?

PerryHall

Put the slab boxes and coin boxes in food-grade zip lock bags. That should provide some degree of protection from the fumes.

TheGoonies1985

@PerryHall said:
Put the slab boxes and coin boxes in food-grade zip lock bags. That should provide some degree of protection from the fumes.

Will do this. What is the worst that could happen Perry? Toning? Or worse?

TheGoonies1985

I am starting to think I should of just purchased a new safe.