Xylene/Xylol

FadeToBlack · October 28, 2015 4:38PM

Haven't tried using it yet to dissolve some crap on a coin, but really getting close. Picked up a decent Morgan and there's some really stubborn residue (1wk in acetone with no substantial changes since day 3) on the reverse that came from long-term storage in one of those crappy Whitman albums. There's some decent toning under the crud (might be a result of it, I don't know) that I'd like to preserve if possible.

BG · October 28, 2015 10:05PM

I've used it several times. Similar to Acetone just evaporates more slowly.

Not worth buying really if Acetone hasn't worked.

Might try MS-70 or similar.

rhedden · October 28, 2015 10:57PM

There are a few types of oily or "hydrophobic" substances that might dissolve in xylene, but not in acetone. For example, xylene might be a good option if you've somehow gotten asphalt (road tar) stuck to a coin. Xylene is similar to gasoline in that it is highly flammable and it is an inhalation hazard. It will irritate and strip all oils from your skin/eyes/etc., so be sure to read the material safety warnings, wear proper protective equipment, and use in a well-ventilated area if you plan to use it to clean foreign material off coins.

7Jaguars · October 28, 2015 11:57PM

Wow, so extremely toxic and risky it is just not worth it IMO. I would urge you NOT to use this.

I will just say this, I have an extensive background in chemistry.

BAJJERFAN · October 29, 2015 12:05AM

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Wow, so extremely toxic and risky it is just not worth it IMO. I would urge you NOT to use this.

I will just say this, I have an extensive background in chemistry.

No worse than charcoal starter fluid which is freely sold without restriction. A little common sense goes a long way. Use it outdoors in a GLASS dish or jar and keep it covered. Keep it AWAY from slabs. The best way to dispose of unused or not badly contaminated xylol solvent is to put it into your car's gas tank. Or use it to start your charcoal grill and enjoy a steak.

DaveWcoins · October 29, 2015 1:05AM

The best way to dispose of unused or not badly contaminated xylol solvent is to put it into your car's gas tank. Or use it to start your charcoal grill and enjoy a steak.

"Hey Honey -- my steak tastes like a Morgan dollar. I think it was a CC!"

Sorry - couldn't resist.

Broadstruck · October 29, 2015 1:19AM

The best way to dispose of unused or not badly contaminated xylol solvent is to put it into your car's gas tank.

Probably better just to place it in your back yard and let it evaporate then pouring it in your car.

rhedden · October 29, 2015 1:20AM

Advising people to use any hazardous chemicals on this board is probably a bad idea. If they injure themselves or start a fire, who is liable? What if it is a YN who doesn't know about chemical safety?

BAJJERFAN · October 29, 2015 1:22AM

Originally posted by: Broadstruck

The best way to dispose of unused or not badly contaminated xylol solvent is to put it into your car's gas tank.

Probably better just to place it in your back yard and let it evaporate then pouring it in your car.

Why? A half a cup in 20 gallons of gasoline is nuttin. Aromatics like xylol, toluene, benzene are a common component of gasoline. Then again dumping a half cup out on to the sidewalk wouldn't hurt much either. Depends upon your conscience level.

rhedden · October 29, 2015 1:35AM

The xylene will burn beautifully in a blend with gasoline, but what about all the crud you dissolved in it? I sense a bottle of Gumout in your future if you start fueling up on dirty xylene. I'd much rather destroy my engine at the local discount gas station with their 79-octane gas-oil-ene.

BAJJERFAN · October 29, 2015 2:07AM

Originally posted by: rhedden

The xylene will burn beautifully in a blend with gasoline, but what about all the crud you dissolved in it? I sense a bottle of Gumout in your future if you start fueling up on dirty xylene. I'd much rather destroy my engine at the local discount gas station with their 79-octane gas-oil-ene.

How much crud can there be on a Morgan dollar? 50 milligrams? If it dissolves in xylol it will dissolve in gasoline. It will just get burned up. There is probably more crud in your gasoline from incidental exposure than you'd ever get from soaking a coin in it.

BAJJERFAN · October 29, 2015 2:11AM

Originally posted by: rhedden

Advising people to use any hazardous chemicals on this board is probably a bad idea. If they injure themselves or start a fire, who is liable? What if it is a YN who doesn't know about chemical safety?

Unless you give specific advice to a specific individual, I don't see that you'd have any liability.

If you went to Lowe's and bought a can of xylol, would they have any liability if something went wrong? Do they even give you a simple MSDS at the time of purchase?

7Jaguars · October 29, 2015 2:14AM

Liver and brain toxicity with such hydrocarbons/lipophilics is well known and grossly underreported. Xylene remains a significant poison in even small amounts.

BAJJERFAN · October 29, 2015 2:29AM

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Liver and brain toxicity with such hydrocarbons/lipophilics is well known and grossly underreported. Xylene remains a significant poison in even small amounts.

If that's the case xylol and products containing it should be taken off of the market.

LindeDad · October 29, 2015 2:47AM

Still like it best as a charcoal starter. Yum T-bone medium rare please.

lkeigwin · October 29, 2015 4:38AM

I've used it on old copper. Seems to work better than acetone.

Lance.

coindeuce · October 29, 2015 5:51AM

John Pittman used to play with arsenic compounds on silver coins at his lab at Eastman Kodak. I doubt xylene or xylol would be as hazardous to someone with a little common sense. I've used xylol on copper coins with positive results.

An ultrasonic denture cleaner with diluted liquid dishwashing detergent in the basin often works well on stubborn crud on silver coins too.

7Jaguars · October 29, 2015 9:12AM

Yes, it should be taken off. You may not understand how the EPA or FDA and other regulatory agencies let things through. It does not kill right away, only works slowly. Unfortunately very little is tested or checked on unless there is immediate mortality issues. Honestly I can't believe you even made such a statement (BF).

Purfrock · October 29, 2015 9:35AM

I've used xylene several times to remove contaminants on coins. I use gloves and only work with it outdoors. I've never had any issues, but then again, I'm careful. To answer the question if it works, yes, it does. I'm an early copper collector and do a xylol/CARE combo as a preservative.

jmski52 · October 29, 2015 10:40AM

Xylene is indeed a component in gasoline. All petrochemical distillates have some degree of toxicity, so should gasoline be banned as well? It's too volatile to be used as charcoal starter, bad idea. It's not in the same family as acetone, so of course it has different solubility characteristics. It wouldn't surprise me to find that it melts liver or brain cells. By the same token, it can be used safely as some here have described. To answer the OP's question, yes it works. On what and how well depends on what you are trying to dissolve.

I would expect it to be easier on copper than acetone is. I would expect it to be useful on copper in conjunction with Care as Prufrock says.

Be careful, don't smoke, stay away from ignition sources, don't breathe it, don't let it absorb on your skin - wear rubber gloves (nitrile), use good ventilation, and be careful. Did I mention, be careful.

coindeuce · October 29, 2015 10:51AM

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Wow, so extremely toxic and risky it is just not worth it IMO. I would urge you NOT to use this.

I will just say this, I have an extensive background in chemistry.

Koin-Solv and Ez-Est are designated as carcinogens by OSHA.

So why isn't chicken-licken clucking about these chemicals too ?

BAJJERFAN · October 29, 2015 10:56AM

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Yes, it should be taken off. You may not understand how the EPA or FDA and other regulatory agencies let things through. It does not kill right away, only works slowly. Unfortunately very little is tested or checked on unless there is immediate mortality issues. Honestly I can't believe you even made such a statement (BF).

Well it won't be taken off the market, but perhaps its use could be more restricted. There are many who are of the persuasion that if it takes something 20 years to kill you instead of 20 days that it's safe. As I said earlier, a little common sense goes a long way. Use adequate ventilation and wear gloves if necessary. The average person doesn't use it enough for it to be a worry. Because it has methyl groups which are converted to carboxyl groups when metabolized, xylol is considerable safer to use than is benzene.

Christos · October 29, 2015 12:00PM

Originally posted by: 7Jaguars

Yes, it should be taken off. You may not understand how the EPA or FDA and other regulatory agencies let things through. It does not kill right away, only works slowly. Unfortunately very little is tested or checked on unless there is immediate mortality issues. Honestly I can't believe you even made such a statement (BF).

Oh WOW if you only knew what chemicals are leaching into the air in your house you would never step foot in your house again. I used xylene and many other agents as thinners for surface coatings for years. Methyl ethyl ketone is worse by far and is used to thin polyester resins, yes those threads your clothes are made of. So many coatings that are used start to off gas when hit with sunlight and we are exposed to those every day. Don't walk by a road as the dust by a road contain asbestos in it. I could keep going but well you get the point.

rhedden · October 29, 2015 12:47PM

We can't take everything off the market that's toxic. Some harmful chemicals are really useful in daily life, like battery electrolytes, "muriatic" (hydrochloric) acid, and solvents. As long as they have clear health & safety guidelines on the containers, sale to adults should be no problem. Gasoline is an interesting exception; it's possibly more harmful than xylene, considering it's a mixture of many solvents, but we buy it at the pump with no warning whatsoever like it's a gallon of milk. This is an interesting conundrum, considering that occupational health & safety guidelines are so stringent in the chemical industry that many people who work in research laboratories companies could be fined and/or fired for having an unlabeled bottle of water on the benchtop, while there is a can of gasoline sitting in their garage at home where the kids can play with it.

ricko · October 30, 2015 1:20AM

It is interesting to read the fears and warnings about the use/misuse of chemicals,

the listing of all the dangers in our everyday life (homes, clothes, food etc.).... Yet,

if one is reasonably intelligent and takes reasonable precautions, the benefits of these

'horrid chemicals' may be enjoyed. Xylene is used in many places and, with proper care,

is useful in cleaning coins. MEK (methy ethyl ketone) is a real danger and should be avoided if possible. The list goes on and on... bottom line, learn about what you live/work with, make your

decisions and move on. Cheers, RickO

Xylene/Xylol

Comments

Leave a Comment