I just bought some xylene to get the oils off of coins. I am a bit concerned about handling it safely. From what I understand, the vapors are dangerous and flammable. I live in a condo that has a balcony with no direct sunligh. Is this a safe place to keep the container? Also, if I dilute the xylene with distilled water, would the xylene still work to remove the oils?
Xylene should be stored in a cool dry well ventilated area. Outside or detached storage is best. Xylene is used as a diluent or solvent in lacquers, varnishes, inks, paints, surface coatings, dyes, adhesives, cleaning fluids, and rubber cements So distilled water will not dilute xylene
Your condo association probably wouldn't approve of you keeping flammable liquids on your balcony, but it's probably marginally safer than keeping the stuff indoors. Keep it tightly capped whenever you aren't using it. As onejinx indicated, xylene won't mix with water. I'm not sure of the best way to dispose of it after you use it, but DON'T try to flush it down your drains -- it'll float on the water, and won't go away. You can force it to mix by adding detergent, but it's still dangerous to flush it. Best might be to add it to your gas tank -- some people use it as an octane booster! But I'd only try this if you didn't dissolve too much crud in it -- which, if you're using it to get oils off of coins, probably wouldn't be a problem.
No, you cannot dilute Xylene with water. They are immiscible. Xylene is somewhat similar to cigarette lighter fluid (for the old Zippos) and safer than gasoline. Yes, it is flammable, but as long as you don't spread it over a large area, it is nothing wild. Keep it in a sealed metal container, you should have no problems. If it makes you happier, put it on the balcony, but don't forget about it and let it rust through.
It can also dissolve some pipes, so pouring it down the drain is a terrible, and dangerous idea. Take it to a paint store in a sealed, metal can. They can dispose of it for you.
Thank You for the information. I was very unfamiliar with xylene and therefore a little afraid of it (unlike acetone, which I am familiar with as fingernail polish remover). I was finding that any old copper coins usually had an oil on it, and I wanted to remove that oil before long term storage in an airtite.
Be sure to allow plenty of time for the coin to "dry off" after the xylene soak -- both xylene and acetone will attack the plastic of airtites. (A few hours should be fine.)
I have found out about acetone the hard way. I have managed to get my phone "glued" to its cradle due to the acetone softening the plastic. I suspect xylene would be even more dangerous.
