Cleaning buffalo nickels

tmot99

There have been many threads about cleaning coins with acetone and/or alcohol to remove PVC. Another recet post had me look at my buffalo nickels to see if I had anything special. Welll, I did. It looks like a lot of my buffalos have PVC.

I just want to be sure that acetone and/or alcohol is find with nickel. I don't anticipate a problem and these are manly VF-XF coins.

XpipedreamR

How did they get PVC contamination? Have you stored them in PVC flips?

tmot99

My local dealer has kept a lot of his coins in PVC. I bought them and put them into a Dansco.

coppercoins

Acetone and a q-tip should take care of that problem.

tmot99

That's what I figured but I would rather consultthe forum first before ruining a complete date set. Thanks.

Hoot

coppercoins is right-on. Nickel does fine with the Q-tip as long as it's one with a paper (not plastic) shaft. The acetone will dissolve the plastic of the latter style.

I always rinse a coin with water following an acetone dip, blot (don't wipe!) with a clean cotton cloth, then dry it with canned air. Leave out over night. I find that impurities in the acetone can show up later if I don't rinse the coin.

Hoot

dorkkarl

acetone is safe for nickels. also, unlike silver or copper, you can safely rinse nickels in a dilute solution of water & dishwashing liquid to remove grease, loose dirt, etc.

K S

UncleJoe

you can safely rinse nickels in a dilute solution of water & dishwashing liquid

I've not heard of this. Don't some of those dishwashing liquids have grit in them? Any particular dishwashing liquid you recommend?

Joe.

MSD61

<< <i>you can safely rinse nickels in a dilute solution of water & dishwashing liquid

I've not heard of this. Don't some of those dishwashing liquids have grit in them? Any particular dishwashing liquid you recommend?

Joe. >>



Dawn and palmolive (sp) are very good ones to use. Just stay away from ones that have scrubbing beads in them.

sliderider

Ah yes, good old acetone. I remember my first week working a printing plant the senior press operator hit me with his newbie practical joke and handed me a styrofoam cup and told me to run quick and get him a cup of acetone. I guess you know what happens to styrofoam when it comes into contact with acetone.

Theop

In regards to using acetone, or anything else for that matter, make your final rinse with DISTILLED water.

Get a gallon for $1.00 or less at the grocery store. This will eliminate any spots on drying.

Shamika

FYI: Put out the dooby before you open the bottle of acetone.

Just thought you'd like to know.

dorkkarl

don't rub the coin aggressively w/ detergent! if your careful, you'll have no problem. actually, nickel seems pretty darned resistant to very light friction.

again, this is just to remove grease or oil, or loose dirt.

K S

Steve27

"In regards to using acetone, or anything else for that matter, make your final rinse with DISTILLED water. "

Forget about this, the acetone will evaporate long before you can get water on it.