step by step procedure for dipping coins...

JTMC · June 24, 2003 12:26AM

i noticed some threads on dipping and cleaning coins recently on this forum but no one has ever given a step by step procedure on how to dip coins using acetone,ms70 etc.. Would anyone be able to give all of us a step by step how to do it?

dorkkarl · June 24, 2003 12:33AM

you mean to "improve" them? simple. step #1: don't do it

K S

4thStooge · June 24, 2003 12:33AM

Well, I can start with telling you that neither of the items you mentioned are 'dips'. Someone else can take it from there.

MadMarty · June 24, 2003 12:34AM

All you need is one of these!

Iwog · June 24, 2003 2:42AM

Ignore the elitists.

Use Jeweluster or some other coin cleaning product to remove tarnish from silver coins. The most important part is choosing which coin to dip:

Never dip copper.
Never dip any coin unless you can clearly see luster under the color/spots.
Never dip circulated silver unless you've mastered retoning.

The best coins to improve are those with ugly spotting or uneven unattractive color with good blast white luster underneath. PCGS upgrades are possible with these coins. Modern proofs with hazing or milky stains are also good candidates for dipping, although with a dilute solution. (50% or less Jeweluster mixed with water)

Dip the coin in the Jeweluster for a few seconds, then rinse under warm water for at least a minute. Make sure you rinse the edge of the coin where you are holding it too. (rotate it a bit to make sure all areas are covered) Rinse the coin in Isopropyl alcohol to drive off the remaining water, then press (don't rub) in a soft cotton towel to dry. I generally keep the coin uncovered for a few minutes after this to make sure any remaining solvent/water has evaporated. Package and enjoy.

Practice makes perfect. Get a bag of junk silver and work on the darkies to see how they are affected. Don't worry about overdipping unless you're going to soak your coins for an extended period of time. Also remember to replace the solution often since used or worn out Jeweluster will work slower and be more reactive with the silver. Good luck.

Edit: Dipping a coin in Acetone and/or MS70 wont do anything. MS70 is chemically similar to soap and is used the same way, so if you have a coin caked with crud and grease, you can rub it lightly with M70 and work it off.

relayer · June 24, 2003 3:17AM

<< <i>Ignore the elitists. >>

I don't think DorkKarl qualifies as an elitist. Perhaps a purist is a better description.

Iwog · June 24, 2003 4:53AM

A purist is someone who hasn't been taught that tarnished coins look good. My 7 year old son who puts his bright pennies in one jar and the dull dirty ones in another jar is a purist. He enjoys the bright red pennies for no other reason than they are fun to look at and play with. He's not looking to impress anyone with the knowlege that a dull dirty coin is better because it's "original".

cosmicdebris · June 24, 2003 5:46AM

I thought Acetone was good for getting haze off of Proofs?

Shamika · June 24, 2003 6:29AM

DON'T DO IT!

coinkat · June 24, 2003 10:08AM

I agree with Dorkkarl... but I'm sure that comes as no surprise. In light of that, I think we should all take a moment and reflect upon the improvements to Dorkkarl's icon... it is very cool.

RGL · June 24, 2003 10:21AM

Acetone will help chemically "stabilize" a coin and/or remove mild PVC residue/contamination, but will not remove haze ...

ldhair · June 24, 2003 11:04AM

I wish to add a few words.
Don't screw up your nice coins trying to make them better.
So many have been distroyed by well meaning collectors.
There are coins that need acetone and some that need to be dipped.
Please take the time to learn before you do anything.

A wise man once said.

Many times in life there are two choices.
Lever A and Lever B.
Sometimes it's best to just leave her be.

JTMC · June 25, 2003 9:51AM

thanks to all for your input.the reason i asked the question is i have a 1943 mercury dime with full split bands that was body baged because of PVC. i am going to dip it in some acetone to get rid of the pvc and wasnt sure how long to dip it in the acetone and what to hold the coin with, fingers or tongs or how to clean off the acetone, distiled water or dish washing soap and water,

greghansen · June 25, 2003 10:16AM

The BIG DIPPERS use one of these babies to harness their coins during the bath!!!

Coin Dipping Tongs

keets · June 25, 2003 10:40AM

hey john

there probably isn't any reason to wash off the acetone since it will evaporate. dip in a second container and shake it off and air dry it. acetone is always a good place to start since it might remove what you think is a problem and alleviate the need to dip further. at any rate, it shouldn't hurt the coin.

i learned the basics from other members and from reading threads and discussing, then i hybridized my own methods. i always use 91% alcohol and distilled water. tap water or spring water is likely to have contaminants, one of which would be chlorine which is bad. don't chance it. never stop moving the coin when it's in any of the solutions and always double dip after the e-Z-est------2 bowls of alcohol and 2 bowls of water. only use the solutions for 5 coins or so and then start fresh. change where you're holding the coin so no solution is trapped for any period of time.

it also seems best for me to dip for the shortest time possible in the e-Z-est. after all, we're only trying to remove the problems and nothing else. after i'm done with the solutions i blow dry the coins with "electronic" dust spray, canned air if you will, and then i lay the coins on virgin cloth diapers and wait a minimum of 3 weeks before i do anything with them, turning them carefully every day. if they seem stable i 2x2 them. otherwise i rinse with alcohol or acetone to rmove any residue. if you change solution often that won't be a problem and the cost of all the supplies is really quite inexpensive.

i also dip nickel coins to remove haze on proofs and some unattractive tone. the downside here, and something that needs to be considered, is that oftentimes you will uncover hairlines or planchet flaws that couldn't be seen through the tone/haze. many a time i've had great looking 1968-1973 era Jefferson's emerge from a bath with knockout DCAM only to see hairlines that render them as 67 best.

try inexpensive coins first. you'll find your own technique after awhile. and remember, if you're in doubt about how the coin will look after dipping-------lever B!!!!

al h.

Conder101 · June 25, 2003 12:25PM

JTMC,

If you are just trying to remove the PVC residue you will find that the acetone acts very quickly and a few seconds is all it should take. Swish it in a first bath for two or three seconds, change holding position on the coin and immediately do it again in a second bowl of acetone. Change holding position again and do a final rinse by pouring a little acetone over the coin. Keep holding the coin and let the acetone evaporate off. This may take five to ten seconds. You are done. PVC residue will be gone and the coin will be clean and dry with no change in any toning and no risk of hairlining from "patting" it dry.

If for any reason you ever do have to actually dip a coin, after the final through rinses with distilled water do the final rinse with acetone as described above. It will dissolve the water and carry it off much quicker than an alcohol rinse would.

JTMC · June 25, 2003 1:15PM

thanks!!!!!
you guys are the best.

john

Merc · June 25, 2003 2:37PM

Be careful with acetone. I've used it in a chem lab. It is very flamable and you don't want to touch it or breathe it in. It will remove most organic things off a coin. Only place acetone in glass containers. It will dissolve plastic.

jonesy · June 25, 2003 8:41PM

I used acetone on a 76 Ike one time. I had trouble getting the haze out of the lettering. Anyone have anything on this?? Thanks in Advance!!

jonesy · June 26, 2003 10:17AM

Anybody???

mbbiker · June 26, 2003 11:11AM

I've tried Acetone with multiple hazed proofs and it didn't work on any of them be it silver, nickel, clad

ldhair · June 26, 2003 11:21AM

Acetone has never helped me with haze either.

It seems sometimes the haze looks worse.

Maybe just my coin shot eyes

dorkkarl · June 30, 2003 3:17AM

<< <i>we should all take a moment and reflect upon the improvements to Dorkkarl's icon... it is very cool. >>

my new icon is a-t'd!!!

K S

coinkat · June 30, 2003 10:14AM

my new icon is a-t'd!!!

Say it ain't so Dorkkarl... with that cool new icon should come a new cool name... Andy Dorkhol

crito · June 30, 2003 10:47AM

I've had excellent success removing haze from proofs with pure acetone. Many of them ended up in PCGS 69DCAM holders. In fact, the stuff I buy even comes in a plastic bottle.

cameoproofcoins · June 30, 2003 12:14PM

I use to dip my own coins. Now I use NCS. They are really great at this. I would not trust myself to work on a really expensive coin.

crito · June 30, 2003 2:34PM

...and acetone doesn't dissolve PVC. it dissolves the contaminated oil that some flips leave behind. PVC gives off a corrosive gas which the oil traps. the green or blue color is just suspended corrosion. if the oil dries the corrosion won't come off easily. mineral oil can be used to loosen it up again.

adamlaneus · August 18, 2008 8:59AM

ttt

grip · August 18, 2008 9:17AM

<< <i>Ignore the elitists.

Use Jeweluster or some other coin cleaning product to remove tarnish from silver coins. The most important part is choosing which coin to dip:

Never dip copper.
Never dip any coin unless you can clearly see luster under the color/spots.
Never dip circulated silver unless you've mastered retoning.

The best coins to improve are those with ugly spotting or uneven unattractive color with good blast white luster underneath. PCGS upgrades are possible with these coins. Modern proofs with hazing or milky stains are also good candidates for dipping, although with a dilute solution. (50% or less Jeweluster mixed with water)

Dip the coin in the Jeweluster for a few seconds, then rinse under warm water for at least a minute. Make sure you rinse the edge of the coin where you are holding it too. (rotate it a bit to make sure all areas are covered) Rinse the coin in Isopropyl alcohol to drive off the remaining water, then press (don't rub) in a soft cotton towel to dry. I generally keep the coin uncovered for a few minutes after this to make sure any remaining solvent/water has evaporated. Package and enjoy.

Practice makes perfect. Get a bag of junk silver and work on the darkies to see how they are affected. Don't worry about overdipping unless you're going to soak your coins for an extended period of time. Also remember to replace the solution often since used or worn out Jeweluster will work slower and be more reactive with the silver. Good luck.

Edit: Dipping a coin in Acetone and/or MS70 wont do anything. MS70 is chemically similar to soap and is used the same way, so if you have a coin caked with crud and grease, you can rub it lightly with M70 and work it off. >>

I have been collecting on and off for 50 years.And must say I agree with this statment.

A

jom · August 18, 2008 10:11AM

Interesting. Whatever happened to IWOG?

jom

step by step procedure for dipping coins...

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