Acetone on White Metal

VTCoins

Just purchased a token made of some sort of white metal.

Is it OK to use acetone on the token to brighten it up?

Here is a pic of a similar token:

PerryHall

Try it with a tooth pick on a spot on the edge to make sure it doesn't harm the metal.

truthteller

Acetone will eat aluminum, so be careful.



TRUTH

VTCoins

Thank you for the info!

telephoto1

Unless there is some physical crud on the piece I wouldn't mess with it.
A soak in some distilled water may loosen gunk and won't harm the piece.

blue594

<< <i>Acetone will eat aluminum, so be careful.



TRUTH >>



What can be used on aluminum?
I would love to know what is safe for world aluminum coins.
Thanks.

John

jmski52

Acetone is a ketone and probably would affect aluminum. If I were going to try and remove crud from aluminum, I'd try a nice clean mineral spirits, xylene, toluene or hexane. All of them are VERY flammable, like gasoline so do it in small quantities outdoors and avoid ignition sources like the plague.

pruebas

I've never had any problems with acetone on aluminum. Got any proof?

That said, I don't know anything that will clean up white metal.

ricko

<< <i>< Acetone will eat aluminum, so be careful >>



Where did this idea come from??? Acetone has no effect on aluminum. Put some in a little cup made from aluminum foil.... NOTHING!!! I do not know where these assumptions come from, but people pass it on like gospel.. Doesn't anyone check this stuff?? I see more rubbish posted on this forum by individuals parroting hearsay than any other forum I frequent. Cheers, RickO

MsMorrisine

I'll try it myself.... hold please whilst I run the experiment.

JamesMurray

Ill join you Ms M and dig an aluminium coin out the world coin bucket.Ill use pure acetone in a glass container , before and after pics , maybe give it 24 hours after it leaves the acetone to see.

MsMorrisine

acetone did not affect the aluminum.

I'm no chemist, and that's why I did the experiment, but acetone is a type of organic solvent. it works on organic materials. Aluminum is inorganic. I didn't expect it to affect AL. It didn't, and just in case I tried exposing both side of the al foil to it. nada.

MsMorrisine

I don't know about "brightening"

if it has "gunk" on it, it may remove the gunk. the gunk removal may help brighten it. Otherwise, I'd expect acetone wouldn't brighten a metal coin.

ormandh

I have used acetone on aluminum many times with no ill effect. -Dan

JamesMurray

One thought occured , it's assumed this is aluminium with nothing but a picture to support that , it might be a better bet that it's actually Tin.

relicsncoins

Acetone is an organic solvent.......organic metals? I don't think so.

pruebas

<< <i>One thought occured , it's assumed this is aluminium with nothing but a picture to support that , it might be a better bet that it's actually Tin. >>

JamesMurray, the coin in the OP is white metal. Later in the thread, someone mentioned aluminum. We just debunked that myth (thanks MsMorrisine!), but that wasn't responsive to the OP.

JRocco

Hey Tim,
How are you buddy? Hope all is well.
I will try to get to the Albany show just to say hi to you.
The token is probably not aluminum but an alloy and acetone should be fine with it.
Maybe run a Q-Tip over it with some Goo Gone ? I have done this with several medals and have never had a problem and I am usually amazed at the crud that can come right off. Just don't rub the Q-Tip but roll it.

keets

i can't say with any certainty if acetone will harm the surface of White Metal, but i can say with a degree of certainty that you won't be able to improve the look of that medal. the mirrored surface/finish has been oxidized and what you have is almost certainly permanent and irreversible.

epcjimi1

Hole at the top? Acetone ain't gonna fix that.

coinman420

<< <i>i can't say with any certainty if acetone will harm the surface of White Metal, but i can say with a degree of certainty that you won't be able to improve the look of that medal. the mirrored surface/finish has been oxidized and what you have is almost certainly permanent and irreversible. >>



i would have to agree with this. the op referred to white metal. i assume you mean "pot metal" aka zinc diecast? it is mostly zinc and once it pits or corrodes(white rust) the coin is done. acetone will not harm nor help a pot metal coin.

JRocco

OP states pretty clearly:
"Here is a pic of a similar token"

PerryHall

<< <i>

<< <i>i can't say with any certainty if acetone will harm the surface of White Metal, but i can say with a degree of certainty that you won't be able to improve the look of that medal. the mirrored surface/finish has been oxidized and what you have is almost certainly permanent and irreversible. >>



i would have to agree with this. the op referred to white metal. i assume you mean "pot metal" aka zinc diecast? it is mostly zinc and once it pits or corrodes(white rust) the coin is done. acetone will not harm nor help a pot metal coin. >>



I thought pot metal was usually tin.

coindeuce

T, the very best and most effective method I have used MANY TIMES to brighten aluminum or white metal tokens and medals without any side effect is MS-70. Don't expect any solvent or chemical to eliminate cloudiness on the surface of an aluminum medal though if it is actually the result of oxidation, as that creates an etched texture especially if the medal surface was originally prooflike.

VTCoins

Sorry I didn't provide more details on my token. I was being lazy and didn't want to take the time to take a picture.

Here is a picture of my token. It shows up a bit duller in hand, and I wanted to remove some of the darkness.

Thanks for the help from everyone.

ricko

I do not know how many times it needs to be stated here.... Acetone will NOT attack metal - PERIOD!!!! Cheers, RickO

PerryHall

As I have already stated here, whatever chemical that you try on your medal, first put a small amount on the edge to verify that you won't be harming your coin.