Does MS70 harm coins?

If the green stuff I am removing from my coins is not pvc then what is it?

 

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I didn't think a synthetic plastic would have a chain of carbon molecules.
Thanks. Organic chemistry was over 40 years ago. No excuse.

 

After I left my question I noticed someone else said the green stuff could be some kind of organic metal salt on the coin so I guess that answers my question.

 

Yup. One carbon: methane. Three: propane. Eight: octane. A couple dozen: paraffin wax. A few hundred or more: polyethylene.

 

Do you know where I can find the documentation to back up what you have told me about how harmful paint thinner can be to a coin? Are there any pictures of coins that have been treated with paint thinner from a few years ago? I don't see any oily residue from the coins inside the holder and I don't smell anything from the coin. I get more oily residue if I use Coin Care on the coin.

I must have over 100 hundred coins that I have treated using either paint thinner or MS70 on them. It is almost impossible for me to remember which coins I have used either paint thinner or MS70 on them. Is there any way to treat the coins as a preventive measure to prevent any harmful effects from using paint thinner or MS70 on the coins? How does one even know if a coin being bought has been treated with paint thinner? With MS70 it can be a little easier to tell if the coin has been treated. The easier ones to spot are the ones that have brown areas on them. There is one coin in particular that had perfectly clean surfaces on the coin when I bought the coin but now it is tarnishing like crazy.

How do you know in which cases to use MS 70? I haven't noticed anything really bad from using MS70 on my coins. The worst that I see is sometimes the coin will turn color in areas where there was something removed but I assume it is because there was something on the surface preventing oxygen from getting to the coin and exposing the surface is making it turn brown.

I didn't know that acetone is not supposed to be flushed down the sink. Luckily I think I have only used it once before but it was flushed down with a lot of water. Would it be against the law to soak it up with a paper towel and put it in the trash?

 

I also don't want to do anything to a coin if it looks OK. I would think simply exposing a coin to running water might start a chemical reaction on the surface where the coin may start to tarnish or deteriorate.

 

Paint thinner is a generic term and from what I understand, the chemical content can vary. In order to answer your question, you need to know what's in your paint thinner

Acetone and xylene are individual chemicals. You can search the scientific literature to see how they react with metals. You may want to start out with some basic organic chemistry to understand how they work.

Products like MS70, EZest, Verdi care, salt and lemon juice, etc, each react differently to the varying surface chemistries of the coins. You don't need to be a rocket scientist, but it helps to have a basic understanding of chemistry to determine the pluses and minuses of each cleaning method in order to pick the correct one for your application.

If you don't want to learn the chemistry for whatever reason, a site like CT is a great resource. There are a number of members who are trained chemists (Inc some that have already responded to this thread) and have demonstrated their credibility over the years. One thing for certain, if I were to post some inaccurate chemistry info, it would be corrected immediately (hopefully they would show some mercy, but am not counting on it ).

I trust the chemistry info listed on CT. Hope this helps

 

What does CT stand for? What is their internet address?

 

Good God no, don’t do that! Acetone and xylene are flammable. If you soak a paper towel, the fumes will fill the trash can. You would essentially be making a bomb.

Just throw the saturated paper towel on the ground for an hour and then come back for it. I skip the paper towel entirely and just throw the acetone on my gravel driveway. It’s a natural chemical and evaporates harmlessly within seconds.

And CT is CoinTalk. You’re already here.

 

Can someone cooking meth in their trailer be considered a chemist?

 

I thought CT was Connecticut?

 

I can't agree more with your comments. I have followed Dougs advice to the letter and I've had outstanding results. What I don't understand is arguing with that advice. Proper conservation has been spelled out step by step. In-order: Distilled water, Acetone, Xylene, MS 70. You should practice on junk coins to learn how each treatment works and know when it is needed, when to stop, and when not to even try.

 

As @RonSanderson said, that would be a fire and explosion hazard, at least if there's a lid on the container. If there's no lid, it'll evaporate quickly -- but then why not skip the paper towel?

Acetone is one of the safest solvents you can choose, at least as far as toxicity and environmental impact. Your body makes it and disposes of it naturally. It degrades quickly in the atmosphere (half-life of 22 days), and doesn't do much harm in the interim.

Do make sure you've got adequate ventilation when you use it. Don't inhale the concentrated vapors (like from a bag), and don't drink it, because it is toxic if you get enough of it all at once. Also keep it away from sparks and fire, because it's extremely flammable.

Don't pour it down your drain, because it can attack plastic plumbing (although I'm not sure how much damage it would do after it's diluted with lots of water). Don't throw it away in a plastic container, or throw it into a plastic-bag-lined trash can, because it might dissolve the plastic.

If you're using gallons of it a week, dispose of it properly. If you're using a few ounces at a time, relax, and let it evaporate.

 

When you say "Doug" I assume you are referring to GDJMSP Numismatist? I'm not arguing with his advice. I am just wondering what he is basing his advice on. I would like to know what literature or past experience he is basing it on. Does he know for sure paint thinner will harm coins or is he just afraid of what it might do? Just because I ask questions does not mean I am not going to take his advice. I have my own concerns with using paint thinner but the coin dealer that I know uses it so I though it was OK to use on my coins.

 

Let’s take acetone and compare it to nail polish remover, since I think that’s a more obvious place to start. The primary component of nail polish remover is, in fact, acetone. It’s mild, but it does dry out the skin. So there are additives to make it more human-friendly. A little moisturizer is nice, so both the skin and nail end up looking fresh and clean.

So what may be absorbed into the skin will definitely not be absorbed into metal. But once the acetone dries off the coin, the additives remain. As stated above, even without repeatable experiments, a thought experiment leads most people to conclude that any remaining material will then start to collect dirt, dust, and airborne chemicals and hold them next to the coin.

Pure acetone is found in the paint department at the hardware or paint store. Yes, it is a paint thinner, and if this is what the dealer is referring to, then that is exactly what is recommended. That is also where you will find pure xylene, which would be billed as a thinner for epoxy-based paints. Read the labels!

But avoid a generic paint thinner that has other chemicals mixed in. They may have other purposes, such as helping to smooth and emulsify latex paint to the desired consistency. Again, whatever does not immediately evaporate will stay on the coin. Even if it does not harm the coin, it may attract a crowd of bad elements who can.

 

100% acetone is available in the nail section at Walmart. Small bottle for $2 or $3.

 

There is no telling what all can be found in paint thinner. Nothing about it is pure. It's going to leave junk on the coin.

If used properly, acetone will leave little to nothing on the coin. Do it wrong and you leave a film of what ever it melted on the coin.