What acetone can do for you

CarlWohlforth · March 11, 2009 3:39AM

Ah, I love the smell of acetone in the morning.

before:

after:

Now if this wasn't a bullion coin I'd put it in a fresh rinse with a clean Q-tip to finish removing the green junk....

PerryHall · March 11, 2009 3:40AM

Looks like a major improvement.

ChrisRx · March 11, 2009 3:41AM

How long you soak that for?

ModernCoinMart · March 11, 2009 3:43AM

Don't inhale too deeply Carl...

CarlWohlforth · March 11, 2009 3:48AM

Ah, the cool, clean, refreshing feel of acetone splashed on my hands.

I took about 8 junk halves and put them into a small 1/4 liter Pyrex container all at once and filled about 1/5 the way up with hardware store acetone. I took out the halves one by one and rubbed each with a Q-tip and then placed the coins on a fresh, dry piece of paper towel. The photos are of the worst case. Very quick and low tech. They soaked maybe a few seconds, no more than one minute.

intence · March 11, 2009 3:56AM

yep itlll do that

zeebob · March 11, 2009 4:00AM

Now for a little rubb'n with Brasso and the coin in the OP will be as shiny as a new belt buckle.

BECOKA · March 11, 2009 4:04AM

<< How long you soak that for? >>

Just a note that for the stuff Acetone works on it is usually pretty quick. A fun experiment is to paint a coin in fingernail polish, let it dry and then put it in Acetone. It gets removed almost instantly.

PerryHall · March 11, 2009 4:07AM

<< 

<< How long you soak that for? >>

Just a note that for the stuff Acetone works on it is usually pretty quick. A fun experiment is to paint a coin in fingernail polish, let it dry and then put it in Acetone. It gets removed almost instantly. >>

BECOKA---You got way too much free time of your hands.

Broadstruck · March 11, 2009 4:12AM

<< Ah, the cool, clean, refreshing feel of acetone splashed on my hands. >>

Too much exposure to skin will damage your liver.

WaterSport · March 11, 2009 4:32AM

Got 9 taking a bath as I type. I do a clean up of all my cents before they get into plastic.

WS

dogwood · March 11, 2009 4:40AM

<< 

<< Ah, the cool, clean, refreshing feel of acetone splashed on my hands. >>

Too much exposure to skin will damage your liver. >>

I've been a furniture restorer for 28 years. HEED this warning! Use thick neoprene gloves and use in ventilated area!

yellowkid · March 11, 2009 4:42AM

I think you're on a slippery slope that could end in operating a meth lab!

BECOKA · March 11, 2009 4:55AM

<< 

<< Ah, the cool, clean, refreshing feel of acetone splashed on my hands. >>

Too much exposure to skin will damage your liver. >>

This is true, Acetone will go right through the pores into the blood stream, handle with caution.

relicsncoins · March 11, 2009 5:42AM

Appears to still have some PVC residue in the nooks and crannies.......I would put it back in and let it soak for a few minutes.

JJ

fc · March 11, 2009 5:45AM

look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example.

pmac · March 11, 2009 5:58AM

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh?

fc · March 11, 2009 6:05AM

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc...

it has that perfect look! :-|

JJM · March 11, 2009 6:36AM

Fairlaneman · March 11, 2009 6:43AM

<< 

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc...it has that perfect look! :-| >>

So just what is your suggestion to remove the PVC? I believe most people would do as shown.

Ken

TwoSides2aCoin · March 11, 2009 6:44AM

Tastes Great !!!

Less Filling

MikeInFL · March 11, 2009 6:44AM

<< 

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc...

it has that perfect look! :-| >>

FC, you know I like you, but you're way wrong on the above post, IMO. More to the point, there's quite difference between acetone (a solvent) and a sliver dip (an acid).

Respectfully...Mike

fc · March 11, 2009 7:14AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc...

it has that perfect look! :-| >>

FC, you know I like you, but you're way wrong on the above post, IMO. More to the point, there's quite difference between acetone (a solvent) and a sliver dip (an acid).

Respectfully...Mike >>

the goals are all the same in my mind. dipping is dipping. the goal
is to change the appearance of the coin. And the results are often
what I see when people post coins here. Messed around travesties.

And to the previous poster who asked what to do with a PVC coin..
i did say the OP posted a "problem" coin... which did need a dip. Often
people take non-problem coins and mess with them.

I have learned one thing about coin collectors.. they love messing with
coins. They just cannot seem to resist it! Dipping, AT, cracking them
out, etc.. It is all a game to them. Some need it.. the majority do not.

Bear · March 11, 2009 7:52AM

PLEASE, be careful when you
work with acetone. For the
following reasons:

1. It is highly flammable. No open flames

2. The fumes are toxic. Use only in a well
ventilated room. Outdoors if possible

3. If you are using acetone, do not drink
any alcoholic beverage that day. The fumes
work with alcohol to increase toxicity to your
liver.

4. If you have ever had an injury or illness, that
damaged your liver (DO NOT USE ACETONE).

CarlWohlforth · March 11, 2009 8:40AM

<<And to the previous poster who asked what to do with a PVC coin..
i did say the OP posted a "problem" coin... which did need a dip. Often
people take non-problem coins and mess with them.>>

That is a junk, bullion coin that will sell for the value of the silver in it. I just took off some of the PVC, and some still remains. To really clean it up and get it all shiny I would have to dip it in a different kind of dip. I probably should have tried soap and water too. Bottom line, I don't care, I just wanted to keep the PVC from spreading around all the coins in my junk silver box.

carl · March 11, 2009 9:30AM

Just a quote from the ATSDR or The Agency For Toxic Substances & Disease Registry:

How can acetone affect my health?
If you are exposed to acetone, it goes into your blood which then carries it to all the organs in your body. If it is a small amount, the liver breaks it down to chemicals that are not harmful and uses these chemicals to make energy for normal body functions. Breathing moderate- to-high levels of acetone for short periods of time, however, can cause nose, throat, lung, and eye irritation; headaches; light-headedness; confusion; increased pulse rate; effects on blood; nausea; vomiting; unconsciousness and possibly coma; and shortening of the menstrual cycle in women.

Swallowing very high levels of acetone can result in unconsciousness and damage to the skin in your mouth. Skin contact can result in irritation and damage to your skin.

The smell and respiratory irritation or burning eyes that occur from moderate levels are excellent warning signs that can help you avoid breathing damaging levels of acetone.

Health effects from long-term exposures are known mostly from animal studies. Kidney, liver, and nerve damage, increased birth defects, and lowered ability to reproduce (males only) occurred in animals exposed long-term. It is not known if people would have these same effects.

Be carefull out there.

DieClash · March 11, 2009 9:40AM

<< 

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc... >>

fc, acetone bathing is NOT dipping. acetone will not react with the metal of the coin, nor will it remove any of the coin's patina. What it will do is remove dirt, grease, grime, adhesive, glue and any other FOREIGN material on the coin. Carl's coin after now show the true original skin of the coin and not the troubling, invasive, erosive verdigris displayed in the before image.

DieClash · March 11, 2009 9:44AM

<< 
So just what is your suggestion to remove the PVC? I believe most people would do as shown.

Ken >>

fc just has a thing about dipping and he's opposed to acetone treatments. IMHO acetone is a very acceptable and useful method of removing foreign material from the surface of a coin without disturbing the "original skin".

I've got a Peace $1 that's been soaking for a couple of days now.

Whilst I agree that most stuff dissolves quite rapidly in acetone, some of the built up grime requires a longer soaking. I use a cotton-tipped Q-tip swab when I pull the coin out of the acetone bath. Even after more than a day in the bath, very "dirty" coins will still discolor the Q-tip! I have done this hundreds of times and I have yet to see any change in toning or patina after the treatment.

Cheers!

timber100 · March 11, 2009 11:10AM

<< PLEASE, be careful when you
work with acetone. For the
following reasons:

1. It is highly flammable. No open flames

2. The fumes are toxic. Use only in a well
ventilated room. Outdoors if possible

3. If you are using acetone, do not drink
any alcoholic beverage that day. The fumes
work with alcohol to increase toxicity to your
liver.

4. If you have ever had an injury or illness, that
damaged your liver (DO NOT USE ACETONE). >>

I never knew about these dangers, my wife uses it as nail polish remover. I think she bought a bottle of it at walmart. Should I tell her to buy the non-toxic nail polish remover, or up her life insurance policy (just kidding about the life insurance) If it is that bad, how can they sell it for use on hands?

timber100 · March 11, 2009 11:17AM

I did a quick search on the web, found this link. It does not seem that acetone is very dangerous for limited use.

linky

Fairlaneman · March 11, 2009 11:17AM

<< 

<< 
So just what is your suggestion to remove the PVC? I believe most people would do as shown.

Ken >>

fc just has a thing about dipping and he's opposed to acetone treatments. IMHO acetone is a very acceptable and useful method of removing foreign material from the surface of a coin without disturbing the "original skin".

I've got a Peace $1 that's been soaking for a couple of days now.

Whilst I agree that most stuff dissolves quite rapidly in acetone, some of the built up grime requires a longer soaking. I use a cotton-tipped Q-tip swab when I pull the coin out of the acetone bath. Even after more than a day in the bath, very "dirty" coins will still discolor the Q-tip! I have done this hundreds of times and I have yet to see any change in toning or patina after the treatment.

Cheers!

>>

Thanks DieClash. I just wanted to see what fc would say. I was "CLEANING" coins with acetone probably before he started collecting them. Maybe he gets it now. Maybe not.

Ken

Fairlaneman · March 11, 2009 11:19AM

<< I did a quick search on the web, found this link. It does not seem that acetone is very dangerous for limited use.

linky >>

Its not as long as you use your head when it is in use.

Ken

Bear · March 11, 2009 11:22AM

Remember, Ex-lax used yellow Phthalein as a laxative

for 75 years, until it was removed from the market place

as too dangerous to users.

Hexachlorophene was used as an antibacterial in Phisohex

for many years, until it was found to be too toxic for further

usage and was removed from thre market place.

fc · March 11, 2009 12:27PM

ask me, if the coin did not have pvc and was dipped in acetone you
have changed the look of the coin.

a patina is nothing more then dirt or grime.

it appears to me that toning was indeed removed from that coin.

but please continue to like the halo look for your collection when it
comes to patina and toning. each to their own.

i just know for a fact, it is the dippers who ruin coins. people cannot
resist improving coins and failing miserably.

the lack of original coins in this hobby is proof enough in my mind.

the amount of posts on this forum from supposedly educated collectors
messing with coins is astounding. It seems only the dealers who have
brains and collectors who understand originality have enough common
sense to leave things alone.

the coin in the OP was not a coin that should have been left alone.
I am not attacking the OP at all.

i have seen the threads where people are asked to post a original
coin and it was laughable to say the least. the amount of people
here
who understand the term... really understand it.. is maybe 1 out of 20.

So to the two posters who are debating this with me... keep bragging
about your dipping skills.. the minority here who wish for nice coins
to be left alone just shake their heads in disgust. If you have a problem
coin feel free to attempt to fix it. But i seriously doubt you just use it
on hazed proofs or PVC. Maybe you are the ones taking an original
AU53 with a nice patina and shooting for that AU58? HMMM? Do tell.

DieClash · March 11, 2009 1:41PM

fc, no one here is trying to bust your ballz. Rather, I'm just trying to educate the board as to the difference between "dipping" and using acetone to remove debris and foreign material. Contrary to your assertion, patina is equivalent to toning and is not dirt and/or grime. The latter being undisired on coin.

In support of the OP here are before and after images of a 1923-D Peace $1 after a two-day soak in an acetone bath. Again, I repeat ACETONE treatment IS NOT DIPPING!!!

element159 · March 11, 2009 4:43PM

I don't think the dangers of breathing acetone during occasional cleaning are that bad. If you were dealing with the stuff every other day, a lot more concern would be appropriate, but my guess is most numismatic use is pretty occasional. It isn't good for you to breathe, of course, but don't panic about a whiff here and there.

Fire is something to be more worried about - if you burn yourself that exposure won't fade away with time like a few breaths will. That is the real hazard.

It is bad for your eyes also, safety glasses are a good idea.

Barberian · March 11, 2009 5:53PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc... >>

fc, acetone bathing is NOT dipping. acetone will not react with the metal of the coin, nor will it remove any of the coin's patina. What it will do is remove dirt, grease, grime, adhesive, glue and any other FOREIGN material on the coin. Carl's coin after now show the true original skin of the coin and not the troubling, invasive, erosive verdigris displayed in the before image. >>

Some people are just dense. fc probably doesn't wipe his a$$ because he's afraid the paper might remove his skin.

direwolf1972 · March 11, 2009 6:56PM

So I shouldnt gargle acetone in the morning to get that PVC taste out of my mouth from the outfit my wife was wearing the night before?

PerryHall · March 11, 2009 8:17PM

There have been many posts in other similar threads where forum members had less than satisfactory results using acetone on proof copper because of the resulting unnatural color of the copper.

TwoSides2aCoin · March 11, 2009 9:59PM

Acetone is to coin doctoring, what marijuana is to expensive medicine.
It helps some people and drives others crazy. Those who use see it's benefits while those who don't see the demise of it's use.

We could compare apples to apples or oranges to oranges, but each person's opinion is theirs in this chemical world.

fc · March 12, 2009 12:02AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< look closely original coin lovers what a cleaned coin looks like.
compare to those you own in slabs.
be amazed at what you thought was a nice coin is just a dipped
scrubbed up blah example. >>

Huh? >>

huh what. the OP is demonstrating what the difference is between
an original coin (albiet a problem one) and a dipped up/cleaned one.

that look of the result is what resides in many TPG holder todays.
dark toning left in protected areas.. the open fields have no toning
remaining.. all the high points are free of toning for the most part
(can you say busties!)... etc... >>

fc, acetone bathing is NOT dipping. acetone will not react with the metal of the coin, nor will it remove any of the coin's patina. What it will do is remove dirt, grease, grime, adhesive, glue and any other FOREIGN material on the coin. Carl's coin after now show the true original skin of the coin and not the troubling, invasive, erosive verdigris displayed in the before image. >>

Some people are just dense. fc probably doesn't wipe his a$$ because he's afraid the paper might remove his skin. >>

well cutting me down has totally convinced me that people who mess with coins only do it
to ones that are appropriately in need of it and do not do it for the shot upgrade to make money
in this hobby. right...

fc · March 12, 2009 12:06AM

dieclash,

you took a nice looking coin with some patina and toning and turned it into a dipped
out piece of crap. well done! you have proven my point to perfection.

for some reason people here cannot seem to understand i use the term dipping to
mean dunking a coin in any liquid for the desired results of changing the coin.

Coll3ctor · March 12, 2009 1:40AM

YEE HAW !!!

IrishMike · March 12, 2009 1:47AM

I read a story this morning where 3 men were using acetone to clean a floor and the machine sparked and burnt all three very badly. Can't find the link. Here is another acetone horror story.

Investigators confirmed Friday that a fire at a Southeast Wichita condo that left two men hurt started accidentally.

The men were working with acetone in the basement of a condo unit when the hot water heater ignited the fumes.

One of the men is still in the hospital in serious condition. The other was treated and released.

The fire caused $110,000 in damage to the building and contents inside.

adamlaneus · March 12, 2009 1:56AM

Here's what happened to a 5 ounce round after an Acetone dip.

The coin surface had an unpleasant haze on it; the haze came from the packaging.

Acetone removed the haze in seconds. Most of it is gone; there is a little bit on the reverse which may not be the same sort of haze, as it did not come off readily. I did not attempt to clean this coin further, as any contact with a shiny silver surface can leave an annoying hairline.

The coin also has a little bit of toning, the acetone did not touch that.

Many of the scratches you see are on the capsule.

Before:

After

Time in acetone: About 5 to 10 seconds. It attacks the organic haze instantly. Then, a thorough washing in plain old tap water followed by a final rinse in distilled water.

fc · March 12, 2009 2:17AM

adam, how long did you dip the coin? i am guessing just for a few seconds to at most
a minute.

good example of a coin that had the fields improved due to the haze covering it.
but most everyone here knows that proofs are one example where a dip could be
very appropriate. i have nothing against that unless the proof shows an exceptional
aged look that has taken place over decades and decades. I cannot imagine dipping
a seated proof for example.

pmac · March 12, 2009 3:09AM

<< Here's what happened to a 5 ounce round after an Acetone dip.

The coin surface had an unpleasant haze on it; the haze came from the packaging.

Acetone removed the haze in seconds. Most of it is gone; there is a little bit on the reverse which may not be the same sort of haze, as it did not come off readily. I did not attempt to clean this coin further, as any contact with a shiny silver surface can leave an annoying hairline.

The coin also has a little bit of toning, the acetone did not touch that.

Many of the scratches you see are on the capsule.

Before:

After

Time in acetone: About 5 to 10 seconds. It attacks the organic haze instantly. Then, a thorough washing in plain old tap water followed by a final rinse in distilled water. >>

Beautiful coin and job making it look better. Why do you call it a 'round' when it is octaganol?

DieClash · March 12, 2009 5:06AM

<< dieclash,

you took a nice looking coin with some patina and toning and turned it into a dipped
out piece of crap. well done! you have proven my point to perfection.

for some reason people here cannot seem to understand i use the term dipping to
mean dunking a coin in any liquid for the desired results of changing the coin. >>

fc,

what you refer to as "patina" is loose dirt and grime. Patina does not wash off in acetone, but the grime does. The before pix are overexposed and yellow-shifted on the white balance. The after pix are underexposed. The coin after treatment is much improved, having removed the loose dirt and grime but none of the toning.

As a wise man once said: "opinions are like A$$*holes, everyone has one!"

fc · March 12, 2009 5:12AM

<< 

<< dieclash,

you took a nice looking coin with some patina and toning and turned it into a dipped
out piece of crap. well done! you have proven my point to perfection.

for some reason people here cannot seem to understand i use the term dipping to
mean dunking a coin in any liquid for the desired results of changing the coin. >>

fc,

what you refer to as "patina" is loose dirt and grime. Patina does not wash off in acetone, but the grime does. The before pix are overexposed and yellow-shifted on the white balance. The after pix are underexposed. The coin after treatment is much improved, having removed the loose dirt and grime but none of the toning.

As a wise man once said: "opinions are like A$$*holes, everyone has one!" >>

Listen, you are contradicting yourself in your own post.

patina == dirt and grime

"Patina does not wash off in acetone, but the grime does"

As for the coin shown by you to demonstrate the amazing results
of dippity doo.. i think it failed. It looks like another played with coin
that I would never consider for a collection. For the junk box, Yes.

The fact of the matter, to me personally, is that many many collectors
think they can improve an old coin when the rest of the collectable
industries always state.. NEVER MESS WITH THE OBJECT, YOU WILL
FAIL.

but coin collectors are an odd lot. just look at all the played with unoriginal rare coins.

element159 · March 12, 2009 5:31AM

I thought that 'patina' meant silver sulfide tarnish, and anything else, e.g. 'dirt, grime' was then NOT patina.

fc · March 12, 2009 5:32AM

<< I thought that 'patina' meant silver sulfide tarnish, and anything else, e.g. 'dirt, grime' was then NOT patina. >>

Patina (ˈpa tə nə ) is a film on the surface of bronze or similar metals (produced by oxidation over a long period); a sheen on wooden furniture produced by age, wear, and polishing; or any such acquired change of a surface through age and exposure. On metal, patina is a coating of various chemical compounds such as oxides or carbonates formed on the surface during exposure to the elements (weathering). Patina also refers to accumulated changes in surface texture and colour that result from normal use of an object such as a coin or a piece of furniture over time.

What acetone can do for you

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