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KOINSOLV Ingredients?

RonyahskiRonyahski Posts: 3,119 ✭✭✭✭✭
KOINSOLV is advertised as a neutral coin solvent that removes PVC, oil, tape, grease, etc., and as an alternative to acetone. The instructions say to swirl the coin then let air dry. The same manufacturer used to produce DISSOLVE, which was primarily triclorotriflouroethane (sp?), an ingredient that was very popular for cleaning, but was banned from public use.

The ingredients listed in KOINSOLV are n-Propyl bromide, 1-Propanol, Oxygenated hydrocarbons, and 1,2-Epoxybutane.

What about these ingredients? What affect do they have on coins?
Some refer to overgraded slabs as Coffins. I like to think of them as Happy Coins.

Comments

  • RonyahskiRonyahski Posts: 3,119 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Anybody?
    Some refer to overgraded slabs as Coffins. I like to think of them as Happy Coins.
  • i have no idea. i have never used it. i would stick with acetone.
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  • TomBTomB Posts: 22,079 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The ingredient list makes it nearly impossible to tell exactly what is going on because it is so vague. Oxygenated hydrocarbons are any hydrocarbons that have oxygenated functional groups and this includes alcohols, ketones, aldehyds, acids, etc...The presence of n-propyl bromide would make me think this is the main component since it is a good degreaser and 1-propanol could be used as a co-solvent with 1,2-epoxybutane acting as an acid scavenger or stabilizer for chlorinated solvents.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

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  • MesquiteMesquite Posts: 4,075 ✭✭✭
    What you're describing is an organic soup. The stuff bacteria would love to grow in (as long as component concentrations are not too high). My guess is that the n-Propyl bromide (a halogenated organic molecule) is there as a preservative. Bacteria metabolize any of this and they croak.

    1-Propanol is an organic alcohol. Oxygenated hydrocarbons may include things like acetic acid, acetone, a variety of ketones, aldehydes, esters, etc. This is the stuff bacteria will utilize as a source of carbon. And, 1,2-Epoxybutane, it is a four carbon compound with an epoxide functional group.

    This is just a "super" organic solvent mixture to cover as many bases as possible. There may be "crud" that acetone by itself won't dissolve very readily. The combination of solvents is designed to dissolve as much crud as is possible in a short period of time.

    If you use this have two or three containers handy. Let the first function as a soak. Then rinse briefly in the second container before transferring to the third container for a quick dip and swish. Then let the coin air-dry.

    Do this procedure in a well-ventilated area (outside?) and don't smoke or work near an open flame. I’m quite sure that the components are volatile AND flammable.


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  • Those ingredients sound like a Britney Spears libation! (Can't say koktail of the forum!)

    I've not used Koinsolve, I stashed a pretty good quantity of TCTFE before it got banned.
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  • RonyahskiRonyahski Posts: 3,119 ✭✭✭✭✭
    TomB and Mesquite, thank you. The variety of knowledge on these boards is something.

    Sounds like KOINSOLV is a broader attack. My takeaway is that if you have a simpler issue, like PVC from a flip, perhaps acetone may be more appropriate. Acetone has not been that good for me. I don't like the effect on some coins, and too many times it has left a hazy look. Maybe it is a result from impure acetone or maybe from bad technique. I've looked for HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography) grade acetone without success.
    Some refer to overgraded slabs as Coffins. I like to think of them as Happy Coins.
  • RonyahskiRonyahski Posts: 3,119 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Those ingredients sound like a Britney Spears libation! (Can't say koktail of the forum!)

    I've not used Koinsolve, I stashed a pretty good quantity of TCTFE before it got banned. >>



    Since I can't find the HPLC you tipped me onto, how about some of your TCTFE?!?!?
    Some refer to overgraded slabs as Coffins. I like to think of them as Happy Coins.
  • TomBTomB Posts: 22,079 ✭✭✭✭✭
    HPLC grade acetone is easy to find from chemical supply houses such as Sigma Aldrich or Fisher, but I do not know if you would have to pay excessive shipping if you do not already have an account.
    Thomas Bush Numismatics & Numismatic Photography

    In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson

    image
  • I have used KOINSOLV to remove PVC (from excessive storage in soft flips).

    It worked perfectly and some of the coins were encapsulated by both ANACS and PCGS.

    Some of the coins were cleaned (wasn't apparent until after the removal of the PVC) and they were BB'd though.
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  • RedStormRedStorm Posts: 228 ✭✭✭
    I 'discovered' a Seated Dime collection that I misplaced some 20 years ago...got stuck in a box with other stuff. Turns out the album was PVC and the coins had varying degrees of green slime. Hadn't had to deal with PVC in such quantity before. I did a look to see what was currently available and got KOINSOLV.

    It worked very well!

    The stuff is pretty noxious though....definitely use it outside. Did it in one container to clean it and in another to rinse it, then air dry. After 6 or 8 coins or so...used the rinse one as the clean one and poured a new rinse one. According to the label, the solution can break down and melt some plastics, so the dipping containers I used were the bottom halfs of aluminum soft drink cans that I cut in half. This worked fairly well. When I was all done, I just left the cans outside for the rest of the solvent to evaporate.

  • BearBear Posts: 18,953 ✭✭✭
    Not only does it smell bad, but
    it tastes even worse. And It gave
    me a headache.image
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    Camelotimage

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