Plastic Coin Tubes

Can plastic tubes shrink over time? I've got 4 old tubes of LMCs and can't get a single cent to drop out of either of them; it's like the tube shrank around them. Anyone encountered this before?

 

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Never encountered it.

A thought just crossed my mind... I wonder if tossing them in the freezer for a bit might help?

 

I have a view and they come out fairly easily but I do know that at least the pennies stick in them fairly tightly, be careful getting them out though, if they are in really good condition try not to touch them or shake the tube around a lot as they can get smudges and dings.

 

Cold things shrink not expand I suggest using a heat blanket or something.

 

I thought about that. Wasn't sure if the copper or the plastic would shrink the most. Sounds like an experiment!

 

or hold them in your hands for several minutes, slightly warming the plastic up... if the freezer doesn't do the trick

 

Sure things expand when they freeze. Put a can of beer in the freezer and find out...

 

Maybe the cents got bigger? cha cha cha chia

have not come across this scenario.I did try like HE<< to get nickels to fit in a penny tube.

 

Metal is a solid. It shrinks when chilled. Canned beer is not a solid, it is a combination of liquid and gas under pressure. (It contains dissolved CO2, a gas)

Plastic is also a solid. It also shrinks when chilled. However, per laws of thermal dynamics, since they are two different materials with different densities, they will not expand/contract at the same ratios relative to the same temperature. And since plastic is less dense, I believe it will shrink less as a ratio of metal at the same temperature. In short, I still think that your coins should fall out easier.

 

My thoughts too. The experiment is in the freezer. Anyone care to weigh in on which they think will shrink the most? Coins or tube?

 

Have you tried filling the tube with any fat dimes? Maybe the tubes will work better for some fractional gold bullion. Just an idea.

 

I hope my aging brain didn't get my memory backwards with the rate of contraction of the two materials... I haven't thought about any of this since college chem classes.

 

I've got quite a few tubes of junk silver that have been sitting for decades. Maybe I should get them out and take a look.

 

Well, so far the score's: coin tube=1 me=0. Freezer didn't work.

 

Lemme guess... you live in the south and you've been storing them in the attic for the last 5 years....?!??

 

Maybe the penny-pinching termites are holding them in...

 

Now, that sounds like fun - looking at old silver that has been sitting around for decades. Heat up nice tea, and toss out a biscuit is what I say. What a nice way to spend a Saturday morning, or evening.

 

If all else fails, try to carefully cut the bottom of the tube off with a dremel tool, bandsaw or hacksaw. I don't recommend using a sharp knofe or casecutter if you value your fingers. Once you've done that, push the coins out of the tube.

Chris

 

...because compressing the whole stack of coins in the tube as you push them out is good for them...

 

Next time don't put glue on the inside of the tube before you put in your coins