Dipping in Acetone. How?

ormandh

How do you hold the coin and with what when dipping in acetone? I know to wear rubber gloves, butdo you hold the coin with your fingers or do you plop it in the acetone. I have done some on my own, but just making sure there is not a special technique. Thanks in advance. -Dan

clackamas

Acetone pretty much dissolves everything. Are you sure it won't dissolve rubber? I use my bare fingers, and depedning on what I want to remove I do everything from a quick dip or a multi hour soak.

JrGMan2004

From what other people have told me... just use your bare hands, then pour isopropyl alchohol on your hands when you're done, and wash em real well...

sadysta1

i use cotton swabs

relayer

<< <i>Acetone pretty much dissolves everything...I use my bare fingers >>

dorancoins

First thing - acetone is not only flamable but also if exposed with it long enough will cause cancer. You might want to use tongs with soft/rubber tips instead of your fingers. Anyways, all you need is a q-tip and a towel to pat the coin dry. 1 - dip the q-tip in the acetone (or finger polish remover, which also has acetone). 2 - swirl the q-tip on the coin lightly - do not force the q-tip on the coin. You should see dirt or pvc on the q-tip. 3 - rinse the coin in cold water. 4 - gently pat it dry. It is suggested that you should use acetone on coins only as needed.

fcloud

Vice grips. What the heck if your going to ruin a coin by dipping it you may just as well scratch it while your at it!

dorancoins

Well, if tongs are not your thing, there are gloves at your local hardware store that are resistant to chemicals including acetone. If you can find plastic tongs that can be used with acetone, try it.

ldhair

Acetone is not an acid dip. It will remove organic matter, not metal.

Fingernail polish remover was many other ingredients that can harm your coins.
Check the label.

TWQG

<< <i>but also if exposed with it long enough will cause cancer. >>

-Acetone is not carcinogenic.

foodude

Acetone is not an acid dip. It will remove organic matter, not metal.

To add to this, acetone should not affect an original coin If the use of acetone messes up the coin, either the acetone was contaminated, or the coin was already messed up. I've seen several doctor jobs come a part when the coin was rinsed in acetone. Fortunately, not any coin I owned or sold

BigE

Acetone made the s fall off of my 1909-S indian penny----------------BigE

foodude

Acetone made the s fall off of my 1909-S indian penny

Oops

SilverDollarMan

Acetone WILL NOT disolve latex gloves. I used latex gloves 2 dip some Kennedy halves, never hurt the gloves.

earlwbollinger

Very important, do it outside, preferably with a small breeze, and stand off to the side more towards the breeze direction.
You do not want to beathe in the fumes. Plus it is very flammable, so no smoking, or open flames nearby.
I use a small shot glass to hold the acetone for small coins, a small glass bowl for larger coins.
A clean cotton towel (not polyester or some other synthetic).
I use a pair of plastic tongs I had gotten someplace earlier.

wjd283

I'd suggest to deeply inhale the acetone,afterwards you wont care what your coins look like.

nwcs

True, you do not want to inhale acetone fumes. Also, you should rinse the coin after being done in another container of pure acetone. Much safer than water. And dries in <1 min.

For those curious about actual science and not speculation on the safety of acetone, here is a link to a MSDS on Acetone.