Acetone What Is It?

YaHa

What is acetone, and how do you mix it and then neutralize it as I read on hear. Also what metals can you use it on. I have some old bu frankies that are hazey and spotty. Help me help the ebay.

ahooka454

no valuable coins, go slow and have fun. i havent done any yet but may. it scares me abit. cleaned coins are cleaned coins...

tightbudget

Just soak the coin in acetone and PAT it dry with a soft towel. Rubbing the coin may cause hairlines. There's no harm in soaking a coin in acetone because it does not affect the metal.

P.S. Use acetone in a WELL VENTILATED area and do not inhale it unless you want a headache.

BECOKA

Please note that darker coins may be lightened a bit by using acetone. This was brought to my attention when I wanted to dip one of my coins. Some of that dark my not all be from toning and the dirt or whatever caused the darkness will be gone.

ahooka454

ill set up a experiment in the garage. try it out. ill post results.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

<< <i>What is acetone, and how do you mix it and then neutralize it as I read on hear. Also what metals can you use it on. I have some old bu frankies that are hazey and spotty. Help me help the ebay. >>



A dip in E-Zest would work better to remove the haze and spots from your Frankies.

Acetone is pretty much nail-polish remover. It does not effect the metal of the coin, although it may remove some of the crust of a circulated coin. Use it on everything but copper. It's not something where you can instantly ruin a coin. It usually takes a several minute long soak before you'll see any results, and sometimes a multi-hour long soak is required to get the desired effect.

It's best for PVC. If you want to remove toning then you should probably get some E-Zest.

TexasNationals

Acetone if fermented from acetates, like alcohol. It is highly flammable but very safe on most metals and evaporates with no residue. Soaking silver coins in it is fine, once removed they will dry extremely fast. The only residue that can be left behind after it evaporates will be anything that it dissolved, such as PVC, so I use 1 bath to soak it in and 1 quick dip in clean solution. Use only in glass or metal containers as it will dissolve many plastic containers, until you know which plastics are safe only use metal and glass. Even the safe plastic containers have a tendency to become brittle after time. It is great with gold and silver, and the debate continues on whether it will turn copper pink when soaked for a while. I have seen it turn copper pink over long soaks. Use in a well ventilated area and make sure you are using only 100% pure acetone. Good Luck!

TexasNationals

I would try diluted MS-70 before I ever used E-zest or Jewel Luster to remove haze or toning.

numisma

Acetone What Is It?

Acetone is what rich women use to tone their, uhh, umm

Swampboy

link to robertpr's acetone thread

Coxe

It's an organic solvent. Should disturb the surfaces of coins at all; I know it doesn't react with silver. It will dissolve PVC and other surface contaminants. Does not affect toning or prooflike mirrors, anything like that. It is important to rinse a coin dipped in acetone so lifted debris doesn't resettle on the surface. Pure water and a pat (not wipe) dry with a lint-free cloth (I like microfibre) works.

A few notes about acetones. (1) Use only very pure stuff. Home Depot grade is fine. Don't use mail polish remover. (2) Acetone is extremely flammable. Only work with it outside. (3) Acetone will dissolve plastic quickly. Use glass or metal containers for your dips. (4) Related -- don't pour acetone down the drain, particularly is your drains are schedule 40 PVC, and always run plenty of water down if you happen to rinse a dipped coin at the sink.

options26

Acetone will not take the toning off your franklins. It will only remove organic materials from coins and not the toning. Below are a before and after pic of some nickels I soaked about 6 months ago. I let them sit in acetone for 2 days before all the crud came off. Only use in a well vented area and I usually dump it on concrete to dispose of it, it will evaporate in seconds.

Before, the coin in the middle is the after pic:


After soaking for 2 days:

BAJJERFAN

Since acetone is neither acidic nor basic under ordinary conditions there is no reason or need to neutralize it.

CaptHenway

I recommend rinsing it off with hot water and then patting dry.
TD

MadMarty

<< <i>I recommend rinsing it off with hot water and then patting dry.
TD >>



Not water too hot, you could burn your Frankies!!!

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>It is important to rinse a coin dipped in acetone so lifted debris doesn't resettle on the surface. Pure water and a pat (not wipe) dry with a lint-free cloth (I like microfibre) works. >>



That is exactly the wrong thing to do since any removed crud still remaining in the acetone will deposited on the coin as its solubility in acetone will be greatly reduced by the addition of I assume [distilled and not tap] water. Since acetone is relatively cheap/inexpensive it would be better to just do a few extra acetone washings. A glass turkey baster or inert spray bottle would be preferred to dipping.

Mesquite

Try this link to learn more about acetone.

bestclser1

Dont try drinking it or smoking around it.

dmb411

Acetone is a flammable basic solvent. You do not want to breathe in the fumes. Chances are it will not remove the crap from your coins. I would suggest finding a liquid compound that containes thiourea such as EZ-est or use an ethlyene glycol based solution to clean them up. Don't expose a coin to thioruea too long as it will strip the luster, and make sure you rinse thouroughly. I would suggest using denatured alcohol or a water/baking soda solution as well to neutralize the acid.

YaHa

Some very good info so far, I am just worried about patting my coins dry. I aways seem to dry veritcal and thats not a good thing.

BAJJERFAN

As long as your coins are well rinsed and clean the only thing that you need worry about patting dry is your bottom.

MORGANHUNTER2

<< <i>Some very good info so far, I am just worried about patting my coins dry. I aways seem to dry veritcal and thats not a good thing. >>



Take an old hair dryer from your better half- use a low heat and hold it away from the coin - aboot 6-8 inches- it will do an excellent job of drying- don't use an air compressor- it has moisture in it and can dump on your coin without you seeing it.

and the acetone you get from Home Depot is not 100% pure- you will need to locate a chemical company near you and order the real good stuff- it will cost a few more bucks but it is the best.

If you gonna use Ezest- dilute the stuff- try a 40/60 mix 40% Ezest/60% distilled water.


I am not a coin doctor- but I like everyone else- enjoys a mythbuster experiment from time to time.

Deadhorse

<< <i>Acetone is a flammable basic solvent. You do not want to breathe in the fumes. Chances are it will not remove the crap from your coins. >>



Interesting observation. My experiences are exactly opposite.

Chances are strong it WILL remove nearly all crap from your coins and will leave no damage behind.

EZ-est will most certainly strip the coin of it's original surfaces.

I don't think anyone has suggested a flambe, nor breathing the fumes.

Weiss

I mentioned in an earlier thread that I'm using acetone on the set of coins I got at Christmas to get rid of the masking tape residue on some of the coins as well as to reduce the presence of PVC if the coins had been improperly stored before they were taped.

This is the first time I've used acetone and I'm very pleased with the results. I'm using a shallow glass dish with a top, keeping it covered unless I'm taking the coins out or putting them in the acetone. And the dish sits in my open window sill while the coins are soaking.





Note that the toning is entirely untouched by the acetone--something I'd been a little afraid of. Only the 30-year old tape gunk is removed.

PrivateCoinCollector

<< <i>

<< <i>Some very good info so far, I am just worried about patting my coins dry. I aways seem to dry veritcal and thats not a good thing. >>



Take an old hair dryer from your better half- use a low heat and hold it away from the coin - aboot 6-8 inches- it will do an excellent job of drying- don't use an air compressor- it has moisture in it and can dump on your coin without you seeing it.

and the acetone you get from Home Depot is not 100% pure- you will need to locate a chemical company near you and order the real good stuff- it will cost a few more bucks but it is the best.

If you gonna use Ezest- dilute the stuff- try a 40/60 mix 40% Ezest/60% distilled water.


I am not a coin doctor- but I like everyone else- enjoys a mythbuster experiment from time to time. >>



Don't use a HAIR DRYER AROUND ACETONE!!! THE SPARKES FROM THE ELECTIRC MOTOR CAN CAUSE THE FUMES TO IGNITE.

achillesaero

Acetone was mainly used for desolving fiberglass resins when working with fibergass such as boats,corvette bodies what ever,mainly used today to clean any metal,I use almost every day 2 gallons aweek to mainly thin industrial military paint for airplane parts that need cleaned and painted.

achillesaero

VERY FLAMMABLE TOO,EVEN NEXT TO ANY HEAT SOURCE