Acetone question

mumu

What kind of container should be used to put the acetone in when dipping? Metal, glass? Any no nos? I know there are a ton of acetone threads but i dont think that question has been answered in most of them.

UTTM07

Avoid plastic and styrafoam because they'll dissolve. Metal and glass are OK.

ricko

I use glass containers for acetone. Metal can be used, since acetone does not react with metal. Cheers, RickO

Steve27

Glass with a lid (otherwise the fumes will create a hazard).

mumu

Thanks you too.

I think I used a glass plate with some color in it once and it wasnt a good idea. Coin looked a little funky afterward. Was a cheap test coin to make sure i was doing it right so not a biggie but dont want to make a mistake next time. Any thoughts on that? I will most likely use clear glass or metal either way next time.

Sonorandesertrat

I would use a wide, 3-4 in. high drinking glass (made of glass). You may need to do prolonged soaks. Remember to thoroughly rinse the coin with FRESH acetone and then distilled water after the initial acetone soak(s). Acetone will take off PVC and most other organic films (including organics that may cause the coin to appear beautifully toned).

laurentyvan

Small glass spice bowls work really well...

Newmismatist

<< <i>I would use a wide, 3-4 in. high drinking glass (made of glass). . . >>



NOT a good idea - here's why:

J. Sanford Saltus (1853-1922)

J. Sanford Saltus died on June 23, 1922 under peculiar circumstances: while in London to attend a meeting of the British Numismatic Society, Saltus poisoned himself with cyanide. After his death it was suggested that Saltus had committed suicide because a secret engagement was not going well; however, the cause of death was officially listed as "death by misadventure"—the coroner held that Saltus had been drinking ginger ale while cleaning coins with the cyanide and had accidentally mistaken the glass of cyanide for the one containing ginger ale. At the time of his death, Saltus was president of both the New York Numismatic Club and British Numismatic Society.

LanLord

<< <i>Avoid plastic and styrafoam because they'll dissolve. Metal and glass are OK. >>

This is only partly true. Acetone will not dissolve polypropylene or polyethylene. There are probably many other plastics which are resistant to the effects of acetone. Since it's used to removed PVC from coins, you wouldn't want to store it in a PVC container.

mumu

Ok so just to be clear I shouldnt put the acetone in my mouth with the coin and swish it around in my mouth to clean the coin right? That method can definetly be eliminated?

Seriouosly thanks for the asnwers. I think I am going to use a steel bowl.

kaz

<< <i>Small glass spice bowls work really well... >>



I use one and cover it with a small glass dish, works great.

tmot99

Here's what I use:


Just a couple of squirts and always getting a fresh rinse. Works quite well.

Southcounty

I have never used Acetone before, but I have some coins with PVC residue that need some help.

My question then is do you use gloves or bare hands when working with the coin in acetone?

If you use gloves what type?

I am inclined to just go bare handed, but I think I read on the side of an acetone can that perhaps you should use gloves.

Any past use or experience on this issue is greatly appreciated?

Thanks!

JRocco

Go out and buy a nice little jar of Gerber vanilla pudding.
Eat and enjoy the desert

Then clean out the jar and lid and there you go.

My wife once asked me why I needed so many jars....

kurtdog

<< <i>Acetone will not dissolve polypropylene or polyethylene. There are probably many other plastics which are resistant to the effects of acetone. >>


I can testify to that, my acetone comes in one of those types of containers.

tmot99

<< <i>I have never used Acetone before, but I have some coins with PVC residue that need some help.

My question then is do you use gloves or bare hands when working with the coin in acetone?

If you use gloves what type?

I am inclined to just go bare handed, but I think I read on the side of an acetone can that perhaps you should use gloves.

Any past use or experience on this issue is greatly appreciated?

Thanks! >>



The official answer is you should use gloves. The unofficial answer is I never do. Acetone is glorified nail polish remover. I wouldn't make a habit of soaking in it, but just touching your skin for a very short period is not going to kill you. It will pull the oil out of your skin though so you don't want your coins soaking in your skin oils.

Sonorandesertrat

Acetone is the principal ingredient in fingernail polish remover, so you really don't need gloves as long as you don't bathe in it. Work with it in a WELL
VENTILATED area, preferably outside and away from flames or running motors (acetone is very flammable).

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>I have never used Acetone before, but I have some coins with PVC residue that need some help.

My question then is do you use gloves or bare hands when working with the coin in acetone?

If you use gloves what type?

I am inclined to just go bare handed, but I think I read on the side of an acetone can that perhaps you should use gloves.

Any past use or experience on this issue is greatly appreciated?

Thanks! >>



Acetone is for the most part relatively harmless. If twas me I'd use a pair of wood or soft metal/brass tweezers/forceps. Acetone has good solvent power and can absorb skin oils and crap from gloves and possibly leave a filmy deposit on your coin/s.

GrumpyEd

<< <i>cleaning coins with the cyanide >>



Scary!

wybrit

I have to do a lot of acetone soaking, because coins I buy from Brit sellers are almost always shipped in those cruddy soft plastic holders.

I use 8 oz glass tumblers for the acetone, plus a pair of hard plastic (not affected by the acetone) coin tongs. It does a fine job with no/very minimal contact of acetone to skin. Use common sense around the stuff of course (ventilation, no open flames, etc).

wybrit

cleaning coins with the cyanide

Not a good idea - CN will etch gold and is used in Au plating baths. I guess Saltus learned his lesson.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>cleaning coins with the cyanide

Not a good idea - CN will etch gold and is used in Au plating baths. I guess Saltus learned his lesson. >>



It wouldn't remove milk spots from silver eagles, but extended soaking left the coin with a permanent light tan color.

mumu

<< <i>I have never used Acetone before, but I have some coins with PVC residue that need some help.

My question then is do you use gloves or bare hands when working with the coin in acetone?

If you use gloves what type?

I am inclined to just go bare handed, but I think I read on the side of an acetone can that perhaps you should use gloves.

Any past use or experience on this issue is greatly appreciated?

Thanks! >>



Definetly not latex gloves. I learned that the hard way.

mheffner2

Would neoprene gloves work?

mumu

<< <i>Would neoprene gloves work? >>



My guess is if you are near a sink no gloves is fine.

Broadstruck

<< <i>My guess is if you are near a sink no gloves is fine. >>



Not really swift to allow acetone to go down your drain.

mumu

<< <i>

<< <i>My guess is if you are near a sink no gloves is fine. >>



Not really swift to allow acetone to go down your drain. >>



Not even the just whats on your finger tips? What is the proper way to dispose of the stuff otherwise?

tmot99

<< <i>What is the proper way to dispose of the stuff otherwise? >>



Left open outside to evaporate. Might not be the greenest method, but the easiest and probably the safest.

botanist

Neoprene gloves are rated as fine for handling acetone, but it might be prudent to first test any gloves with acetone before using them with any coins of substantial value.
Also I wonder if coin tongs might potentially harm the mirrored fields of proof coins?

lkeigwin

I use wooden chopsticks. Works great. Of course you have to be skilled with Asian cuisine.
Lance.

wybrit

Also I wonder if coin tongs might potentially harm the mirrored fields of proof coins?

Good question. I don't collect much in the way of proofs. I use tongs to grasp the edges of coins (I sedom collect anyhing larger than 25 mm these days), so little chance of harming the surfaces if done in that way.

bushmaster8

Acetone down the drain is safe and environmentally ok. Just flush afterwards with plenty of water.

Also, acetone has not been used for fingernail polish remover for quite a few years. It was replaced by ethyl acetate, which smells much better.

BAJJERFAN

<< <i>

<< <i>My guess is if you are near a sink no gloves is fine. >>



Not really swift to allow acetone to go down your drain. >>



Especially so if you have PVC plumbing. For the most part the amount that a coin dipper would dispose of in this manner is harmless and inconsequential.

wybrit

If you use a garbage disposal in your sink, you are already putting acetone into it every time you dispose of your old fruits, veggies and meats. Trace amounts, anyway. Acetone occurs naturally, even inside human bodies.

bushmaster8

Not to mention the cyanide in apple cores (seeds).

PawPaul

there are different grades/purity of acetones and I don't care what anyone might think ;

I have washed/soaked enough coins in acetone over the years to know without a doubt :

it can react with the surface of the coin and change it's appearance

BaseballAbs

<< <i>Ok so just to be clear I shouldnt put the acetone in my mouth with the coin and swish it around in my mouth to clean the coin right? That method can definetly be eliminated?

Seriouosly thanks for the asnwers. I think I am going to use a steel bowl. >>

PerryHall

If all else fails, you can try reading the warning label on the actone container.