Need help removing PVC

BS

I need to get directions for using acetone on coins. How long do I need to soak for PVC and what
should I do to treat the coin after the acetone? Thank you

Aethelred

Brett, There is no easy answer, but if the coin in question is a circ. it should be o.k. to go over it gently with an acetone soaked Q-tip. If it is a BU coin just swish it around a bit. Be very careful with that stuff!

1jester

Python, I'd let the coin soak in acetone a few hours just to make sure the acetone can penetrate everything. I wouldn't use any abrasive items on the coin, even a Q-tip. If you must rub the coin, do it lightly using your fingers while the coin is submerged in acetone in the first jar. Here's my approach: line up 3-5 small low jars with a bit of acetone in each one, enough to liberally cover the coin(s). After soaking the coin in the first bowl (and use a metal lid while soaking so fumes don't escape), take the coin with either your fingers or metal tongs (I use my fingers) and hold it by the edges and move it from the first jar to the second, and swish it around in the second jar for a few seconds, and repeat this process until you've rinsed it in all jars. By the time you've rinsed it in the 5th jar, there should be no residue left on the coin. As you remove the coin from the last jar, hold it vertically above the jar, and the acetone will drip off and then dry within a second. That's the end of the process. You're done; no need to "follow" up with any kind of water or other solution. You'll notice PVC residue in the first jar.

No open flames or smoking in the immediate vicinity; acetone is extremely flammable.

hyperizer

I think it's safe to use a wet Q-tip on a well-circulated or ancient coin. I just use one glass bowl and pour clean acetone over the coin (using gloves) to rinse it after it has soaked. I just gave this guy a bath:

gxseries

Now that's a beauty!

Does anyone know where you get acetone?

lordmarcovan

Acetone is available at most places they sell paint.

It is also the active ingredient in many brands of fingernail polish remover. So you could find it in larger containers in the Hardware department and in smaller ones in Cosmetics, perhaps.

1jester

I suppose using a Q-tip wouldn't harm a circulated coin, as long as you don't scrub the coin with it.

I wouldn't recommend using fingernail polish remover since it has other ingredients. I would stick with pure acetone, readily available in hardware stores.

lordmarcovan

I've never had a problem when I used my wife's fingernail polish remover, but he's probably right- better to go with the pure stuff.

SYRACUSIAN

Well, I asked the same question a few days ago and I too was given this same simple advice,equally well described as Jester's. I had about 5 silver coins, all choice BU, but inexpensive ($5-$9) ,so I left them soak in acetone for a few hours, moving them from one jar to the other, holding them with my fingers by the edges. I used three jars,that's all I had, and without using any Q tip, I left the coins for about 5-6 hours in the first, much less in the other two.Then I took them out, and just left them dry. What's bothering me now, is that although PVC was completely removed, the fields show some haze , so I must have done something wrong. The same seller sent me two more coins, again with that horrible light green colour (the rims seem the most affected), and by comparing these to the ones I "cleaned", their fields, are immaculate, albeit lightly green,so I'm afraid to repeat the procedure. I'm just terrible when it comes to any kind of conservation, even as simple as PVC removal.

newsman

Jester -- does your method work with copper without affecting the color?

1jester

Syracusian, it's hard for me to diagnose the problem without seeing the coins. I don't know what type of haze you might be seeing. Could it be that the coins have suffered PVC damage already (sort of like etching on the surface of the coin where the green used to be; this etching turns to craters when PVC is left on the coin long enough)? I've never had acetone fail to remove PVC contamination, and it's always done it without harming the coin in any way. Do you have before and after pictures? Did you use pure acetone? Perhaps you can try a repeat experiment to see if there's residue on the coin: while the coin is in the acetone, gently rub it with your fingers to try to remove any film that might be attached to the surface, and rinse a few times, and see how the coin looks.

Newsman, that is a very good question. I believe I read in a thread on the Liteside recently that someone absolutely refuted that acetone alters the color of copper. I'm not 100% convinced of that, but the person who said that must have his reasons, and since I'm not well-versed in chemistry, I wouldn't be able to argue with him. But, to your question about my observations. I've never experienced any color changes on toned copper. But for some red copper, I believe I've had a couple of cases where it appeared that the color was altered a bit to a purplish color. But I must say that I can't necessarily attribute this to acetone; perhaps the coins in question had been dipped previously, thereby imparting the strange color. Now that I think about it, I had a group of Guernesey coins that had been dipped, and after acetone, they turned color slightly. So, no, I can't say that I've ever had acetone turn copper a different color, unless the coin had been altered previously. And I've conserved many hundreds of copper coins, from old and worn to brand new red copper, without any changes. I'd feel safe continuing this practice, even with new copper.

Aethelred

<< <i>Jester -- does your method work with copper without affecting the color? >>



I have used acetone on a lot of copper coins and never seen it have any impact on the color.

lordmarcovan

Steel wool also does OK at removing PVC.

AuldFartte

<< <i>I have used acetone on a lot of copper coins and never seen it have any impact on the color. >>



Same here ... Acetone or xylene have never altered color on any coins, including coppers, that I have done. It has, in a few cases, removed oils and other "biologicals" from the surface of the coin revealing some neat toning underneath. This, I'm convinced, is what others are referring to when they claim the acetone changes the color of copper. It just removed gunk from the surface, but does not affect the metal in any way.

Steve27

"does your method work with copper without affecting the color?"

Once again, acetone is as safe as water for your coins (unless you apply it while they're still in the slab).