Acetone?
stumpy041486
Posts: 63
Where do you get acetone that you use to clean a coin? How long should it soak in the acetone? Any other tips on using acetone?
Thanks
Thanks
0
Comments
You can buy acetone at a hardware store.
Lance.
BE careful
Do not smoke while in use
Do not use indoors
Do not inhale fumes
Menomonee Falls Wisconsin USA
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistr...dset.aspx?s=68269&ac=1">Musky 1861 Mint Set
Just cherish the coin people.. I wish the tpg's would have a chemist swabbing all coins that look too good to be true and stop this practice.. Jmho...
<< <i>Acetone causes cancer ... >>
No kidding?
I was not aware that acetone is now classified as a carcinogen! Where did you find that imfo?
and they're cold.
I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
Mary
Best Franklin Website
<< <i>
<< <i>Acetone causes cancer ... >>
No kidding?
I was not aware that acetone is now classified as a carcinogen! Where did you find that imfo? >>
Pulled it out of a hat. I will die tomorrow because 20 minutes ago I used acetone on a coin, in my house, while smoking and breathing. DOOMED! Okay I was not smoking because that does not happen in the house.
Ken
Distilled water for rinsing is key too.
USE OUTDOORS!!
this'll keep you busy (not saying you don't know how to use the search function stumpy).
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
I've got a set of circ washington quarters that my mother and her father collected. (Nothing special.) They've been in a blue whitman folder for 50+ years and have blue gunk on them. Will acetone take the blue gunk off of them?
<< <i>Acetone causes cancer and most likely will clean a coin that will be inferior in a tpg's slab at a later time.
Just cherish the coin people.. I wish the tpg's would have a chemist swabbing all coins that look too good to be true and stop this practice.. Jmho... >>
Stop causing alarm when there is none.
<< <i>
<< <i>Acetone causes cancer and most likely will clean a coin that will be inferior in a tpg's slab at a later time.
Just cherish the coin people.. I wish the tpg's would have a chemist swabbing all coins that look too good to be true and stop this practice.. Jmho... >>
Stop causing alarm when there is none. >>
Ignore him.
That's just his M.O.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
I'm still alive and when I used to paint boats and cars, my buddies and I used to wash our hands with lacquer thinner or acetone. I no longer do that but just goes to show you that you won't die from breathing it for a little while.
don't recommend anyone to use Acetone or anything else to clean a coin unless it's a cruddy ancient coin. Why would anyone do such a thing?
I bought a Carr's concept dollar and want to make sure it doesn't have any fingerprints.
Thanks!
<< <i>don't recommend anyone to use Acetone or anything else to clean a coin unless it's a cruddy ancient coin. >>
Acetone is frequently used to remove PVC contamination from coins.
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>highly FLAMMABLE
BE careful
Do not smoke while in use
Do not use indoors
Do not inhale fumes >>
Ya or you will look like me.
Hoard the keys.
For the record, as a collector, I hate acetone. Or any other cleaning agent on a coin. I was open to the idea for a time, but now if it needs to be dipped or cleaned, I move on.
if a substance has no effect on the metal, wheres the harm?
and if you have ever had PVC attack your coins, acetone is your friend
if you soak a coin in water, do you consider that dipping?
Acetone might not do harm to the surface with a dip here or there, but I have a hard time believing theres no damage to the surface over time. If the acetone removes dirt, grime, or PVC, why cant it harm the surface? PCGS use to stand behind their opinion on red copper right? I take noone at their word anymore. If that makes me harsh, then so be it.
I just really feel like anything put on the surface of a coin is bad. Including but not limited to water.
<< <i>Acetone causes cancer and most likely will clean a coin that will be inferior in a tpg's slab at a later time.
Just cherish the coin people.. I wish the tpg's would have a chemist swabbing all coins that look too good to be true and stop this practice.. Jmho... >>
BUNK!
A soak in acetone is just fine, it will not alter the surface of a coin.
Stop being a "Chicken Little".
<< <i>Yes, I believe dipping a coin in ANYTHING is cleaning it. If PVC attacks one of my coins thats raw, I spend it or get a new coin. Unless its an 1804 $1, I can find another one. IMHO
Acetone might not do harm to the surface with a dip here or there, but I have a hard time believing theres no damage to the surface over time. If the acetone removes dirt, grime, or PVC, why cant it harm the surface? PCGS use to stand behind their opinion on red copper right? I take noone at their word anymore. If that makes me harsh, then so be it.
I just really feel like anything put on the surface of a coin is bad. Including but not limited to water. >>
I wish I could be that choosy. Probably every coin ever produced has touched some kind of solvent or water. Please spend all of yours in my area.
Acetone removes organics because it's an organic solvent. I can't understand why all this paranoia about it still exists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone
<< <i>
<< <i>Acetone causes cancer and most likely will clean a coin that will be inferior in a tpg's slab at a later time.
Just cherish the coin people.. I wish the tpg's would have a chemist swabbing all coins that look too good to be true and stop this practice.. Jmho... >>
BUNK!
A soak in acetone is just fine, it will not alter the surface of a coin.
Stop being a "Chicken Little".
Maybe he's just being a "Little Chicken"
<<I wish I could be that choosy. Probably every coin ever produced has touched some kind of solvent or water. Please spend all of yours in my area.
Acetone removes organics because it's an organic solvent. I can't understand why all this paranoia about it still exists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone
>>
<<From Wiki...like many other solvents, may depress the central nervous system. >>
If I have to worry about venting my house, or my health, Im ok without the product. It may be organic, but that doesnt mean its safe. Shrooms are organic right? I dont think Id run out and eat 5lbs of them just due to them being organic... Dipping is dipping. Cleaning is cleaning.
Also, if a coin has already been messed with, thats one thing. For me to actively dip or alter a coins surface and look intentionally is another. Im fine without the latter and if I miss some ok coins, Im cool with that.
I have a coin with some tape residue on it that I was planning on using the acetone on. Is this the best choice or is something better? Can finger nail polish remover be used because it has acetone in it?
<< <i>wow this thread exploded
I have a coin with some tape residue on it that I was planning on using the acetone on. Is this the best choice or is something better? Can finger nail polish remover be used because it has acetone in it? >>
Use pure acetone. It's great for removing glue or tape residue.
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 wish I could be that choosy. Probably every coin ever produced has touched some kind of solvent or water. Please spend all of yours in my area.
Acetone removes organics because it's an organic solvent. I can't understand why all this paranoia about it still exists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone
>>
<<From Wiki...like many other solvents, may depress the central nervous system. >>
If I have to worry about venting my house, or my health, Im ok without the product. It may be organic, but that doesnt mean its safe. Shrooms are organic right? I dont think Id run out and eat 5lbs of them just due to them being organic... Dipping is dipping. Cleaning is cleaning.
Also, if a coin has already been messed with, thats one thing. For me to actively dip or alter a coins surface and look intentionally is another. Im fine without the latter and if I miss some ok coins, Im cool with that. >>
Then keep it in the garage with the gasoline. Did you also see the part where acetone has a small but still notable presence in the human body? That's not to say you should huff it, but if you spill some, just open the window for a little while or wipe it up and leave the rag outside. Unless you douse yourself, the worst that can happen is you dry out your skin for a couple hours.
I should have clarified organic as being non-polar. You know, the oil and water don't mix thing? Acetone will wash off finger oils and assorted other oily substances. It's simply ridiculous to be such a hardliner on this, which is mainly semantics. There's dipping a coin to remove tarnish and "dipping" to rinse off any recent fingerprint oils or PVC. There's cleaning with a brillo pad and cleaning with light soap and water to remove some crud. Both of the former are more or less negative, but both of the latter are just washing.
If I didn't see anything I thought I had removed it from the bad flip in time and that all was well.
It was later that I learned that a coin can develop PVC damage long after it is removed from a bad flip. The PVC plasticizers are oily and can adhere to the coin unseen and over time cause damage. The PVC plasticizers actually form hydrochloric acid!
So now I give all coins that come in a PVC flip an acetone bath.
But I wonder about all those coins I removed from bad flips and didn't give a bath. So I'm now in the process of bathing my most important ancients.
I'm against dipping coins and will never do it. But I'm all for preserving coins and I will use acetone.
And for those still under the misconception, using acetone is the not same as dipping.
Acetone will only dissolve organic substances. It will not harm the metal of your coin.
I also like dirty crusty coins. So I just give them just a 10 second acetone bath. It's long enough to dissolve any unseen oily PVC plasticizers, (acetone works quickly), but it's short enough it doesn't mechanically remove the dirt. Actually I've never bathed any coins longer than 10 to 15 seconds. (NOTE: There may be times when longer baths are needed but I haven't felt the need to.)
I agree with stinkinlincoln in that I avoid buying coins that have been messed with, with anything. BUT, what do you do when your otherwise beautiful original coin(s) come in a PVC flip? Take it out and cross your fingers that it will be OK in the future? Hope it doesn't develop damage in the nice slab you were able to get it into?
I would prefer to have to do nothing to my coins. Absolutely nothing.
But I now believe in being proactive with PVC. And that means using acetone when necessary.
If you've ever had coins damaged by PVC you become more passionate about this.
An uncle left me some very nice high grade US coins. But they had been stored in PVC flips. He didn't know better. I don't think many did back then. 25 plus years later when I get them they are all badly damaged from PVC. Grrrr.
And regarding the health concerns, let's stop fallacies.
http://www.gnb.com.au/MSDS/Pure%20Acetone%20-%20MSDS.doc
Potential Health Effects
Inhalation:
Short Term Exposure: Available data indicates that this product is not harmful. Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness.
Long Term Exposure: No data for health effects associated with long term inhalation.
Skin Contact:
Short Term Exposure: Available data indicates that this product is not harmful. It should present no hazards in normal use. In addition product is unlikely to cause any discomfort in normal use.
Long Term Exposure: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking.
Eye Contact:
Short Term Exposure: This product is an eye irritant. Symptoms may include stinging and reddening of eyes and watering which may become copious. Other symptoms may also become evident. If exposure is brief, symptoms should disappear once exposure has ceased. However, lengthy exposure or delayed treatment may cause permanent damage.
Long Term Exposure: No data for health effects associated with long term eye exposure.
Ingestion:
Short Term Exposure: Significant oral exposure is considered to be unlikely. However, this product may be irritating to mucous membranes but is unlikely to cause anything more than transient discomfort.
Carcinogen Status:
ASCC: No significant ingredient is classified as carcinogenic by ASCC.
NTP: No significant ingredient is classified as carcinogenic by NTP.
IARC: No significant ingredient is classified as carcinogenic by IARC.
The biggest concern is it's flammability. Keep it away from any flames or ignition source. And use it in a well ventilated area where fumes can't build up.
And thank God for acetone.
And in response to stumpy041486's OP -
as said you can get it at any hardware store. Some prefer to use ultra pure Reagent Grade acetone. But that is probably unnecessary. If you're concerned then a good compromise may be to use the hardware stuff first then a quick rinse with the Reagent Grade. I sometimes do that.
Can't make this into a link:
http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Acetone-ACS-Reagent-Grade-16oz-P6659C670.aspx
Also as already stated, do a search on the forums, it will be fruitful. You will find some different methods. For example, after the acetone bath, do you use a water rinse or a acetone rinse? I like an acetone rinse myself.
<< <i>I've collected ancient coins for many years. I would often have coins come in a soft flip that obviously had PVC plasticizers and could therefore cause PVC damage. I would immediately put the coin in a safe flip after thoroughly inspecting the coin for PVC damage.
If I didn't see anything I thought I had removed it from the bad flip in time and that all was well.
It was later that I learned that a coin can develop PVC damage long after it is removed from a bad flip. The PVC plasticizers are oily and can adhere to the coin unseen and over time cause damage. The PVC plasticizers actually form hydrochloric acid!
So now I give all coins that come in a PVC flip an acetone bath.
But I wonder about all those coins I removed from bad flips and didn't give a bath. So I'm now in the process of bathing my most important ancients.
I'm against dipping coins and will never do it. But I'm all for preserving coins and I will use acetone.
And for those still under the misconception, using acetone is the not same as dipping.
Acetone will only dissolve organic substances. It will not harm the metal of your coin.
I also like dirty crusty coins. So I just give them just a 10 second acetone bath. It's long enough to dissolve any unseen oily PVC plasticizers, (acetone works quickly), but it's short enough it doesn't mechanically remove the dirt. Actually I've never bathed any coins longer than 10 to 15 seconds. (NOTE: There may be times when longer baths are needed but I haven't felt the need to.)
I agree with stinkinlincoln in that I avoid buying coins that have been messed with, with anything. BUT, what do you do when your otherwise beautiful original coin(s) come in a PVC flip? Take it out and cross your fingers that it will be OK in the future? Hope it doesn't develop damage in the nice slab you were able to get it into?
I would prefer to have to do nothing to my coins. Absolutely nothing.
But I now believe in being proactive with PVC. And that means using acetone when necessary.
If you've ever had coins damaged by PVC you become more passionate about this.
An uncle left me some very nice high grade US coins. But they had been stored in PVC flips. He didn't know better. I don't think many did back then. 25 plus years later when I get them they are all badly damaged from PVC. Grrrr.
And regarding the health concerns, let's stop fallacies.
http://www.gnb.com.au/MSDS/Pure%20Acetone%20-%20MSDS.doc
Potential Health Effects
Inhalation:
Short Term Exposure: Available data indicates that this product is not harmful. Vapours may cause drowsiness and dizziness.
Long Term Exposure: No data for health effects associated with long term inhalation.
Skin Contact:
Short Term Exposure: Available data indicates that this product is not harmful. It should present no hazards in normal use. In addition product is unlikely to cause any discomfort in normal use.
Long Term Exposure: Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking.
Eye Contact:
Short Term Exposure: This product is an eye irritant. Symptoms may include stinging and reddening of eyes and watering which may become copious. Other symptoms may also become evident. If exposure is brief, symptoms should disappear once exposure has ceased. However, lengthy exposure or delayed treatment may cause permanent damage.
Long Term Exposure: No data for health effects associated with long term eye exposure.
Ingestion:
Short Term Exposure: Significant oral exposure is considered to be unlikely. However, this product may be irritating to mucous membranes but is unlikely to cause anything more than transient discomfort.
Carcinogen Status:
ASCC: No significant ingredient is classified as carcinogenic by ASCC.
NTP: No significant ingredient is classified as carcinogenic by NTP.
IARC: No significant ingredient is classified as carcinogenic by IARC.
The biggest concern is it's flammability. Keep it away from any flames or ignition source. And use it in a well ventilated area where fumes can't build up.
And thank God for acetone.
And in response to stumpy041486's OP -
as said you can get it at any hardware store. Some prefer to use ultra pure Reagent Grade acetone. But that is probably unnecessary. If you're concerned then a good compromise may be to use the hardware stuff first then a quick rinse with the Reagent Grade. I sometimes do that.
Can't make this into a link:
http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Acetone-ACS-Reagent-Grade-16oz-P6659C670.aspx
Also as already stated, do a search on the forums, it will be fruitful. You will find some different methods. For example, after the acetone bath, do you use a water rinse or a acetone rinse? I like an acetone rinse myself. >>
FYI the PVC plasticizers DO NOT contain chlorine nor do they form hydrochloric acid. More than likely they provide a means for the chlorine/chloride in the PVC to interact with the coin's surface.
<< <i>FYI the PVC plasticizers DO NOT contain chlorine nor do they form hydrochloric acid. More than likely they provide a means for the chlorine/chloride in the PVC to interact with the coin's surface. >>
OK
I believe in years to come, Acetone will and already has cause many different diseases in the human body.. JMHO..
And sorry for any information many of you have taken pop shots at me as a chicken or someone that has no worth.. All I have to say is good luck drinking your city water... I know of a chemical plant here in Alabama that has dumped barrels and barrels of acetone and other solvents in your water ways and got a slap on the wrist for doing so. Brian
<< <i>It's not the PVC that invades the surfaces of the coin, it just might be the gas given off by the compound that makes PVC pliable enough for the flips that we used in the past (DEHP). >>
Taint true atall. What gas would be given off by the DEHP aka Di 2-EthylHexyl Phthalate.
That is all
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>
<< <i>It's not the PVC that invades the surfaces of the coin, it just might be the gas given off by the compound that makes PVC pliable enough for the flips that we used in the past (DEHP). >>
Taint true atall. What gas would be given off by the DEHP aka Di 2-EthylHexyl Phthalate. >>
"DEHP can be released to the environment during its production, distribution and incorporation into PVC. DEHP is also released when PVC material is heated or comes into contact with certain media. DEHP is not chemically bound into the polymer matrix and therefore can migrate out of the polymer."
That gas would be........DEHP!
<< <i>wow this thread exploded
I have a coin with some tape residue on it that I was planning on using the acetone on. Is this the best choice or is something better? Can finger nail polish remover be used because it has acetone in it? >>
Avoid finger nail polish - I tried this and the impurities left a white residue in the crevices... nothing terrible, but a bit distracting.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>It's not the PVC that invades the surfaces of the coin, it just might be the gas given off by the compound that makes PVC pliable enough for the flips that we used in the past (DEHP). >>
Taint true atall. What gas would be given off by the DEHP aka Di 2-EthylHexyl Phthalate. >>
"DEHP can be released to the environment during its production, distribution and incorporation into PVC. DEHP is also released when PVC material is heated or comes into contact with certain media. DEHP is not chemically bound into the polymer matrix and therefore can migrate out of the polymer."
That gas would be........DEHP! >>
The stuff has a boiling point of 385 degrees Centigrade which would hardly qualify it to be gaseous at ordinary temperatures under which many/most coins are kept. The C in PVC stands for chloride/chlorine. Over time as the PVC contacts active surface atoms on coins, it will slowly react with the metal. In the case of pure silver it will show as a milky haze of AgCl or silver chloride. For coins like Morgans which are a silver/copper alloy [with the copper being the more reactive of the two] PVC corrosion manifests itself as the pale green residue of cuprous chloride Cu2Cl2.
<< <i>Well, despite all the naysayers and nervous nellies, I am glad rational, provable science has been posted in this thread. Of course, it has been posted before, but we get new members and information does need to be refreshed from time to time. As has been stated, acetone is coin friendly and a real help with PVC and other organic oils. Use it freely, it will not react with coins. It is NOT dipping, it is NOT cleaning - in the sense that most collectors use the term. It will not harm your precious tarnish either. Rinsing in DI water afterwards is recommended mainly to be sure you remove any residues that went into solution with the acetone - it evaporates very quickly and will leave the residues behind without a good rinse. Cheers, RickO >>
I'd just do a final rinse or two with fresh acetone and/or 85% rubbing alcohol. Just let your coins set around to dry in a place where no one will put their grubby little paws on em.
<< <i>Water boils at 100C and yet the air you breath always cointains H2O. >>
Yep, but the vapor pressure of DEHP is extremely low and there is nothing about its chemical structure that suggests it would be reactive with coinage metals. You should take a new copper penny and put a drop of DEHP on it and cover it with a clear glass. Do the same with another copper penny, only this time put a piece of a known PVC flip on it. Report back here every 6 months.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
After a couple days, the acetone was green and the nickels were grey. I will submit them and report back what PCGS says.
I wish I'd taken photos.
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>How about the blue gunk from an old whitman album? >>
It won't hurt to try it.