What does acetone do to copper?

sinin1

I am curious what acetone will do to copper? and how do you get PVC contaminants off of copper pennies?

airplanenut

I think it turns copper one of the dull reds- copper, as I think I've heard, will always show it's been dipped...

ksteelheader

Read this.........LINKYPOO

Barry

Acetone should have no effect on copper itself. It's an organic solvent. It will remove PVC, but don't foget if the PVC has eaten into the coin, damage will remain after the PVC's removed.

sinin1

ksteelheader -> your linkypo takes me to a replying to thread screen

ksteelheader

link
Trying again. I know what I did wrong. Sorry, Ken

Conder101

The only times I have ever had problems with acetone on a copper coin is when the coin has been previously cleaned (dipped or harshly) and recolored.

Steve27

Acetone will have the same effect as water (i.e. none) on the copper surfaces; however, it will remove PVC plasticizer residue.

satootoko

How about a long soak in olive oil?

1jester

Satootoko's suggestion is sound and effective, but don't expect olive oil to get everything off all the time. It will remove PVC residue, though, if soaked for long enough (perhaps a few months). Acetone works really well, and extremely quickly, on PVC and many other contaminents. But it doesn't work as well as olive oil on grime and verdigris.

cladking

Acetone will strip off just about anything which is soluable in water or alcohol
and will do it quickly. It will not affect the copper directly but sometimes dirt
and solubles are hiding problems. Olive oil works more mechanically by getting
down under things and loosening their grip.

I usually start with alcohol and then use acetone. For virdigris on copper I do
use olive oil and then alcohol if effective. On most circulated items it is often easiest
to just rub it off with your thumb, though this obviously isn't recommended on val-
uable items.

I avoid cleaning anything except to put into long term storage or to sell. Dirty
coins put into storage will often tarnish around dirt or debis (this includes the fine
pieces of metal that often adhere to coins in brand new rolls).

Pushkin

Acetone will have no effect on copper if a nice patina has already been formed - it will act as a cleaner, but not damage the patina. On Red and Red/Brown copper you are taking a chance with acetone. It's possible for acetone to clean RD/RB coins and leave a milky appearance to some parts of the coin. This doesn't happen very often, but I have seen it. As mentioned in a previous post, if the coin was previously cleaned, it's possible for acetone to mildly discolor the coin. In general, it won't harm the coin, but there is no certainty with acetone or any other solvent. I've seen 90% isopropyl alcohol discolor what I thought was RD copper?

As with all solvents or other "treatments" - use acetone with extreme caution - especially if the coin is not brown.

Askari

How far we have come on these boards!! Two years ago, you'd get flamed for even suggesting cleaning a copper coin ... now we're discussing the relative merits of different approaches.

joejeweler

NOT true! Acetone actually "created" a plasticizer residue on one of my copper coins. What a mess! The slab and coin became as one. I suggest you remove the coin from the holder before trying something like this.

.....sure would have been nice if someone had warned me of the hazards of acetone on copper!



<< <i>Acetone will have the same effect as water (i.e. none) on the copper surfaces; however, it will remove PVC plasticizer residue. >>

Barry

On a related note, make sure you never pour acetone into a styrofoam cup. The cup disintegrates quickly. (Yes, I speak from experience )