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Acetone bath, post Rinse with water?
Casman
Posts: 3,935 ✭✭
Well, I gave a coin an acetone bath. Yes, I messed it up as the vapor somehow ate the lid which drip puddled right on the coin after sitting for 2 days. I was watching it every 12 hours or so and thought all was well.
Anyways, during the last look I noticed the goop which had landed right on the coin. Wasn't sure how to proceed so I set up another bath of acetone, reached in and pulled it out, rinsed it under hot water and threw it into the new bath.
The goopy melted lid globule came right off and into the new bath it went.
I waited a few hours and removed it, air dried by rotating it. The original spots I'd hoped the acetone would remove were of course still there.
So much for my first attempt at an acetone bath.
My questions is, post acetone bath why do some rinse and air dry vs. just letting the acetone evaporate off?
Anyways, during the last look I noticed the goop which had landed right on the coin. Wasn't sure how to proceed so I set up another bath of acetone, reached in and pulled it out, rinsed it under hot water and threw it into the new bath.
The goopy melted lid globule came right off and into the new bath it went.
I waited a few hours and removed it, air dried by rotating it. The original spots I'd hoped the acetone would remove were of course still there.
So much for my first attempt at an acetone bath.
My questions is, post acetone bath why do some rinse and air dry vs. just letting the acetone evaporate off?
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if there is heavy contamination that dissolves into the acetone, then an air dry will deposit some of the dissolved contaminants back onto the coin. To get it done properly, they need to be rinsed. For specks I generally use successive spot treatments such that the last is like a rinse.
Rinsing with water is fine, but use only distilled water, otherwise all the dissolved solids end up on the coin.
Note
acetone is flammable
I believe there are different grades of acetone, and if its high grade, meaning pure, you don't need to rinse.
<< <i>I've heard to just let it evaporate or rinse with distilled water.
Note
acetone is flammable
I believe there are different grades of acetone, and if its high grade, meaning pure, you don't need to rinse. >>
even the highest grades won't be pure after a dip. a rinse is a good idea.
<< <i>The best way (IMO) is to soak in acetone for a while and then do a quick rinse with new, clean acetone. After that just let it air dry. It only takes a few seconds.
Rinsing with water is fine, but use only distilled water, otherwise all the dissolved solids end up on the coin. >>
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(2) Quick CLEAN acetone dip and swish.
(3) Another CLEAN acetone dip and swish.
(4) Let air dry.
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<< <i>Frankly, I would buy a couple of the smallest spray bottles that I could find. I'd remove the coin from the acetone and put it into a CLEAN container with a little more fresh acetone. I'd then take the coin between my thumb and forefinger so only the coin edge is touched and spray it on both sides with some fresh acetone followed next by some rubbing alcohol and just let it air dry. >>
What does the rubbing alcohol do that a second or third rinse in acetone won't do?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
<< <i>
<< <i>Frankly, I would buy a couple of the smallest spray bottles that I could find. I'd remove the coin from the acetone and put it into a CLEAN container with a little more fresh acetone. I'd then take the coin between my thumb and forefinger so only the coin edge is touched and spray it on both sides with some fresh acetone followed next by some rubbing alcohol and just let it air dry. >>
What does the rubbing alcohol do that a second or third rinse in acetone won't do? >>
Acetone evaporates fast and can leave a film of water behind. I think the IPA will work just as well and maybe won't evaporate quite as fast. When ever I rinse coins with acetone or IPA, I give them plenty of time to dry. Of course that is my personal preference.