Acetone bath.....

BXBOY143

how long do you let a coin sit in the bath before taking out i have not ever given any of my coins an acetone bath and would like opinions on what/how to do correctly....any suggestions....


-Paul

Hyperion

first off.... BE FRIGGIN CAREFUL AS HECK if you've NEVER WORKED WITH IT BEFORE. stuff is nasty, toxic, deadly vapors and generally very very harmful.

that being said, I dont think the duration hurts the coin... Ive heard of people doing a systematic bath in a succession of solutions, so that the stuff melting off doesn't just float back onto the coin as you remove it from the liquid. distilled water rinse afterwards? or maybe air dry... not sure.

there must be precedent threads in history.

GoldenEyeNumismatics

What are you trying to remove? That will determine how long you need to keep it in there.

SUMORADA

What metal (coin) are you talking about, long term soaking will mess with copper...and or any coin that contains copper...clad and so on....?

BXBOY143

bought this on ebay and looking to submit it to pcgs i just received the coin today cant figure out what the black cruddy stuff is and was wondering if acetone would remove it.....any recomendations?

Steve27

<< <i>first off.... BE FRIGGIN CAREFUL AS HECK if you've NEVER WORKED WITH IT BEFORE. stuff is nasty, toxic, deadly vapors and generally very very harmful.

that being said, I dont think the duration hurts the coin... Ive heard of people doing a systematic bath in a succession of solutions, so that the stuff melting off doesn't just float back onto the coin as you remove it from the liquid. distilled water rinse afterwards? or maybe air dry... not sure.

there must be precedent threads in history. >>




If you're afraid to handle it yourself, find a 14 year old girl who wears nail polish, she'll know how to handle it.

Steve27

Acetone won't help that coin; MS70 might but you may just want to leave it alone.

BXBOY143

here is the thread i had posted about a week ago with the sellers pictures from last week

now that i have the coin in hand and took many pictures of the coin myself any opinions on what it will grade/if it will grade when i submit it? the scratch on the neck in the sellers pictures is there but it is not so noticeable when looking at the coin in hand when you take a picture straight on with a slight angle the lighting makes the scratch seem more extreme than it is...any opinions?

Hyperion

<< <i>

<< <i>first off.... BE FRIGGIN CAREFUL AS HECK if you've NEVER WORKED WITH IT BEFORE. stuff is nasty, toxic, deadly vapors and generally very very harmful.

that being said, I dont think the duration hurts the coin... Ive heard of people doing a systematic bath in a succession of solutions, so that the stuff melting off doesn't just float back onto the coin as you remove it from the liquid. distilled water rinse afterwards? or maybe air dry... not sure.

there must be precedent threads in history. >>




If you're afraid to handle it yourself, find a 14 year old girl who wears nail polish, she'll know how to handle it. >>



or maybe if this guy hasn't worn nailpolish in his life, he'll go into his basement and pour out a glass and sit over it, and they'll find his dead body a few weeks later.

BXBOY143

I have handled acetone before but not for bathing coins

Hyperion

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>first off.... BE FRIGGIN CAREFUL AS HECK if you've NEVER WORKED WITH IT BEFORE. stuff is nasty, toxic, deadly vapors and generally very very harmful.

that being said, I dont think the duration hurts the coin... Ive heard of people doing a systematic bath in a succession of solutions, so that the stuff melting off doesn't just float back onto the coin as you remove it from the liquid. distilled water rinse afterwards? or maybe air dry... not sure.

there must be precedent threads in history. >>




If you're afraid to handle it yourself, find a 14 year old girl who wears nail polish, she'll know how to handle it. >>



or maybe if this guy hasn't worn nailpolish in his life, he'll go into his basement and pour out a glass and sit over it, and they'll find his dead body a few weeks later. >>



ok, that was over the top, but it can eff you up and can ignite...

Information on the inhalation toxicity of acetone to humans is derived from occupational and laboratory studies. Typical symptoms of inhalation exposure are central nervous system depression and irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and throat (Morgott, 1993). Central nervous system effects can range from subtle neurobehavioral changes to narcosis depending on the magnitude and length of exposure. Neurobehavioral changes have been reported at concentrations as low as 237 ppm (574 mg/m3) (Dick et al., 1989). Irritant effects have been reported at concentrations of 500 ppm (1210 mg/m3) and higher. Transient effects were reported in workers exposed to 600-2150 ppm (1452-5203 mg/m3) (EPA, 1995). Extremely high concentrations (> 29 g/m3) can cause dizziness, confusion, unsteadiness, and unconsciousness (ATSDR, 1994). Prolonged occupational exposures to acetone vapors have not been associated with chronic systemic disorders (Morgott, 1993).

Studies have shown that acetone vapor concentrations in excess of 8000 ppm (19.36 mg/m3) are generally required to produce signs of central nervous system depression in animals, but concentrations as low as 500 ppm (1210 mg/m3) may cause subtle behavioral changes (Morgott, 1993; ATSDR, 1994). Little information is available on subchronic or chronic inhalation toxicity in animals.

Woozy

I've currently got a peace dollar soaking in some acetone. I did about 6 hours but I still see a thin greenish haze so I'm going to soak it for a day or two. Just make sure it is in a covered glass dish (not plastic) and you should be fine. I like to rinse with distilled water afterwards as my acetone is of doubtful purity.

I'm by no means an expert but I have been mucking around with acetone and this peace dollar, so far with no ill effects (to myself or the coin.)

WaterSport

Ok, lets get focused. I think Steve is correct that Acetone is not the solution of choice for your coin. I think (and assume) the black stuff is what you want to remove. But the reality is that is part of collecting silver coins and should grade, etc. Now those who dip silver should chime in if they think OTHER solutions would benefit you coin, but I think Acetone will not do a thing on your coin.

WS

DieClash

I've soaked some coins as long as a week. And I've never seen any adverse affects on copper containing coins. However, I use Koinsolv which is not pure acetone. But obviousle the main ingredient is. Now I've never soaked a classic copper coin in this stuff I have bathed many late 19th century silver coins in it.

Enough said. I believe it is harmless and only removes surface grime, grit and grease and doesn't react with surface metals. How could it? Acetone chemically doesn't combine with the base metals that make up our coins.

SamByrd

I would for sure try acetone first before a dip. If it has no effect maybe submit the coin as it is it may slab still.

Be very careful if you chose to dip the coin make sure its very short duration, there is a lot of insightful post here on the subject.

either way please keep us posted on the end result. Its a very nice example.

tmot99

I do not think acetone will help. However, I recommend using a squirt bottle. You typically don't need to soak a coin. Anything soluable with acetone usually dissolves very quickly. Plus, the added pressure of the squirt bottle helps.

JungleFever

Just wondering...........do those black spots have blue centers when viewed under a 10X loup? I have quite a few that do..I think they are in the slow oxidation process. Silver dollars and CBH's.

I don't care for the spots, but that's what's happening w/my black spotted coins.

I've used acetone a lot, not for coins however. It's not a bio hazard IMO either. But it does leave a film residue on certain metals and composites. I'd find another silver coin and experiment on that first.

Best.............

ricko

Acetone has been discussed ad infinitum on these boards... it will dissolve most organic junk.... or at least 'release' it... use glass for the holder and cover it. Do not worry if it gets on your fingers, it will deplete the oils in the skin... wash your hands in soapy water. Do not sit over the container and breath the fumes..... it does evaporate rather quickly. Soaking will not hurt your silver... can soak it for months. Cheers, RickO

coinman420

i could be way wrong but i think the coin has already been cleaned. i think pcgs would genuine slab it. i think the black stuff embedded
in the lettering is the original "crust" that the coin had before being cleaned. this is all JMO and its a nice coin. it has nice AU detail. send it in if you like and try. or you could acetone dip to remove unseen contaminants(recent fingerprints or anything else on the surface) and put it in an album to retone.

BXBOY143

you cant really tell from the pictures i posted but it does have lots of luster to the coin here are other pictures

coinman420

the coin does look nicer in the second set of pics. i want to say again i might be wrong about the cleaning. either way its nice and i`d put that in my collection.


edit for typo

tmot99

A wet toothpick (acetone is a good wetting agent) might help loosen some of that crud without scratching the surface. You need to be careful doing that though. Some others might suggest a rose thorn rather than a toothpick.