Tweezers, Acetone, and Xylene

I have some coins with PVC on them. I have already read many, many excellent posts on this forum and think I have an understanding of the process and consequences of getting the PVC off. Thanks to everyone for sharing. Certainly I am not an expert, but I have to start somewhere.

Anyway, there is some debate in a few threads about using tweezers vs fingers when doing the Acetone. While I read that holding the coin with fingers by the rim is perhaps the best, I have other factors (arthritis) that I believe using some tweezers might be better for me. I found these:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#tweezers/=lne1by

Am I correct that the plastic-coated tip ones would probably be the wrong choice with the Acetone? What about those carbon-fiber tipped ones? Can somebody tell me if those are ok with the acetone? (Who would have thought there was such a thing as carbon-fiber tweezers?)

Additionally, is this a good source of Acetone and Xylene?
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/119/2026/=lne5qz

I have no affiliation with that company, just found them searching Google. They have a lot of cool stuff. I might get some of the glass petri dishes also. The petri dishes are rated up to 482 F. I'll let you know what happens when the Acetone gets heated to that temperature

BC

 

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I would certainly use fingers rather than any type of tweezers. Arthritis problem would seem to be more difficult with maintaining steady pressure with tweezers or locking forceps. If the idea of acetone on your fingers seem a problem, latex gloves are recommended for 'incidental ' contact with it.

You don't need the high grade of acetone or xylene for that price. Acetone can be purchased for about half the cost at a Walmart, Lowe's , or Home depot in the paint department, and shipping expense is negated.

Of course you were kidding about heating acetone, but for others reading, I would say, not to heat acetone. The vapor is quite flammable, and its action is not enhanced over the risk. Increase the immersion time at room temperature if more activity is desired. Use in an open area devoid of any pilot lights, HW heaters, etc.

Jim

 

Why would you even chance heating up acetone .. the fumes would be atrocious, let alone the flammability or explosive hazard

 

That was a joke which obviously failed. Sorry.

 

Acetone will melt various plastics. Obviously, if you heat acetone you run a very good chance of death for yourself and anyone unfortunate enough to be affected by your actions.

 

Electroysis may work better.

 

i would use plastic tongs for this instead of metal tweezers.

 

Did you read Tom B's post (#5) above?

 

Acetone does NOT dissolve everything called plastic:



Had you read the tweezers link, you would have seen;

I would think any of those would work fine.

 

I missed that info. Thanks. BTW, do you have a link to buy that acetone bottle? That looks useful.

 

The plastic tweezers in the url marked for chemical resistance are made of acetal or nylon, both of which has a hardness rating higher than bone. True if you hold only the edge and never slip and trace the tips across the coin, you will be OK. But just as people should never damage their coin with staples in 2x2, they still manage to do so. I still say with finger tips, either bare or within latex gloves. Unless people use tweezers on a "very often" basis, they are harder to use than fingers.

 

I would get a vented one and only fill from a storage container ( brown glass or metal) just before you use it if you want one. In the lab, we fill for experiments the day before to adjust pressure and then put any leftover into a separate container for storage as 'used' acetone. But storage is in a commercial vented volatile locker to the outside.


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http://www.mcmaster.com/#acetone-bottles/=loxbpv

 

They are all over, but that specific one was simply Yahoo images, but Jim's link will work.