What product replaced Dissolve?

gemtone65

I was communicating with Mr. Eureka about removing PVC green spots from copper coins. He said he had past success with Dissolve, a product which is no longer sold. Does anyone know what the name is of the best substitute product, and where it can be obtained?

RKKay

I think Koinsolv replaced it.

Here is one link.

Ronyahski

Dissolve was made of the same ingredient that is found in electrical contact cleaner, which is what I use. You need to be a licensed electrician to buy it.

Edited: I should've said "was" found. I have not gone out to try to buy the stuff in two years. Electrical contact cleaner is now made from non-CFC ozone depleting chemicals, which is why Dissolve is no longer made, and why you need to be a licensed electrician to buy the cleaner. Cleaner used to be made with the same ingredient as Dissolve. Off the top of my head, the ingredient in Dissolve was trichlorotriflouroethane (anybody got a can laying around?) A similar ingredient that could be found in cleaner was 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

jeffnpcb

CRC still makes a spray solution that works called "CRC Cleaner/Degreaser as well as BrakeKleen. Make sure you read the label and not get one that contains alchohol or anything else that is flammable. The good stuff won't burn or leave a residue. Also, it may state that it has a product that may cause cancer in the State of California, so if you don't live in CA., you'll be okay!
Make sure you wear nitrile gloves, blue or green, as that it also a neuro-toxin that is absorbed through the skin. It hasn't effected me yet and have been using it since the early 70's. Don't mind the minor spasms or the abilty to ramble on for hours!!

gemtone65

Thanks Rick for the practical advice, Rony for the chemistry lesson, and Jeff for the good humor.

Barry

Simple acetone works just fine. It, along with the contact cleaners mentioned above, are all organic solvents.

Newmismatist

<< <i> trichlorotriflouroethane (anybody got a can laying around?) A similar ingredient that could be found in cleaner was 1,1,1-trichloroethane. >>



I've got about a 1/4 can left - stuff is very volitile - lost 1/4 when I left the top off on a hot summer day - also it's very toxic, so use it in a very well ventilated room - I think acetone will also remove the PVC residue, but acetone is likewise toxic and volitile -

Cuation: Anybody who starts using any of these chemicals should read about an early 20th century numismatist named J. Sanford Saltus. Apparently he was cleaning some coins with a very toxic substance which he had in a glass, and he also had a glass of ginger-ale nearby that he was drinking. Poor Mr. Saltus got so absorbed in what he was doing that he didn't pay attention to which glass he selected when he got thirsty & he his last drink was - well his last drink. (I think this guy was the President of the British numismatic society at the time - the American Numismatic society give out a J. Sanford Saltus award every year -but you've got to search hard for the story of his untimely demise) .

Anyway - there's more than one substance that will remove PVC, but some are VERY dangerous so be very careful!!

gemtone65

Barry: Acetone does not remove green spots of PVC from copper or silver. Now, I know many people will dispute this, so perahps the green spots are some other type of environmental damage than PVC. Nevertheless, acetone will also affect the color and luster of an uncirculated silver or copper coin. Again some will dispute this, but I know it to be true. Technically, the results that I've observed might be from dispersing the PVC by the acetone in the attempt to remove it. But, the result is the same: an impaired coin.

poptopsRus

1,1,1-trichloroethane is definately the best for removing that nasty green off of copper. It was also available in the older "blue ribbon" but they had to change to formula because it is bad stuff. I still have a few bottles of the old stuff laying around and still use it (shame on me). Occasionally you can find an old dealer with some old bottles of this stuff.

dorkkarl

<< <i>What product replaced Dissolve? >>

i believe it's called "Disintegrate".

K S

Cam40

I stumbled on something that seems to clean copper Lincolns pretty well and doesnt do anything substantial
to the natural brown color of the old circs.

Its not a coin cleaner per se so I,m not really recommending it for valuable pieces so
take it as that, ie highly recommended etc.
Its called GOO GONE and you can find it almost anywhere I think.
I dont know but it might turn those I cleaned black or something in a year, but so far it looks ok
as far as not changing natural color.

dorkkarl

cam40, you are correct. however, follow up the goo-gone with a couple-hours soak & subsequent very carefull swabbing of double-virgin olive-oil.

K S

bushmaster8

<< <i>Barry: Acetone does not remove green spots of PVC from copper or silver. Now, I know many people will dispute this, so perahps the green spots are some other type of environmental damage than PVC. Nevertheless, acetone will also affect the color and luster of an uncirculated silver or copper coin. Again some will dispute this, but I know it to be true. Technically, the results that I've observed might be from dispersing the PVC by the acetone in the attempt to remove it. But, the result is the same: an impaired coin. >>



Acetone does indeed work,as evidenced by the green color the acetone becomes after using it on a contaminated coin.

The key to sucessfully using acetone is use the high purity stuff. Acetone from local hardware store is full of impurities and will wreck your coins as typetone indicated. You need HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) grade acetone--it works great.

MacCoin

acetone sucks I use e-z-est for copper silver and gold than you still need to use the tooth brush just to find a big old pit under the green spot