Acetone questions

1) What are the accepted reasons for using Acetone in cleaning coins?

(they are probably debatable...)

2) Where do you get Acetone?

 

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Many hardware stores carry it. You could do a read of the wikipedia article on acetone, it is naturally occurring but can be toxic.

It can remove pvc and artificial toning.

 

1. It removes deposits like grease, glue, and ink. It can also remove PVC deposits, as Owle just mentioned; it will help prevent further corrosion from PVC residue, but won't fix corrosion that's already happened. It can remove some forms of artificial toning, but not all; for example, it probably won't affect toning from sulfur-based chemicals or heat.

2. You can get acetone at a hardware store. Don't use nail polish remover; it contains other ingredients that can harm coins.

 

One of people here at CT is one of the people involved in developing VerdiCare. He wrote about how chemicals like acetone and xylene get rid of 'gummy residues':

"In chemist speak, these are typically long-chain, organic materials which are readily soluble in a non-polar solvent like xylene. A basic principle in chemistry is 'like dissolves like'. You always want to match your conservation solvent with the type of residue you are addressing."

 

I asked a currency expert about using acetone for getting stains out of currency, he said it works best if heated up. The fact is heating acetone is dangerous unless you have a very controlled hotplate where there is no damage of ignition as acetone is very flammable, I'm not sure if what he was recommending has any merit as the guy does a lot of business but is not exactly an example of virtuous conduct.

I had good success getting deller's darkener off a gold coin which increased its value significantly, NGC contacted me saying the coin still had a residue after I had soaked it and rinsed it and it would need to go through NCS before they could give it a numerical grade.

 

I'll agree with this^^^. it works good and no real downside. won't change/ruin luster if you don't rub. rinse a few times. it's always better than what you start with if you have a grimed or gunked up coin.

 

You could just set your small bowl of acetone into a larger bowl placed in the bottom of your sink, and then run scalding hot water slowly into the larger bowl thus slowly heating the acetone bowl up with it. No flame, No explosion. lol

 

Actually, it would be kind of hard to generate enough vapors from a small bowl, but definitely not impossible. However, you missed the most likely ignition source - particularly in winter. Most people have enough sense to avoid the obvious lighters, etc., but simply walking up to the bowl can generate enough static to ignite it.

 

So heating the Acetone is only for currency?

 

Be careful with acetone and plumbing. Many people have PVC traps , connectors , or pipes ( especially in bathroom sinks and kitchen) Remember Acetone dissolves PVC. Some people may perform acetone rinses or actions over a sink, forgetting about such problems.

 

OK everybody just calm down; women haven't been bursting into flames for the last 100 years using this stuff... Nail Salons aren't exploding on every corner... use a little common sense and everything will be ok.

 

That's a great thread you pointed out Doug.
New question. Does acetone have a shelf life? Say you have a half a can that's been sitting around for a couple of years. Does it loose strength or go bad?

 

Loose its strength, no. Go bad, maybe. Long time ago, I posted here saying that it oxidizes into an acid. Obviously, that takes oxygen and I believe it took a catalyst (sunlight will do). Heat also helps. I do not remember the time frame, but it was not short term.

 

Use it often for my work first the vapors are foul they will kick your hind end and can cause long term damage best advice use outdoors or near a open window second it's flammable I'd say comparable to gasoline i often light used rags to dispose of them (carefully of course) it does work well for cleaning tape or glue off coins tho just don't abrade to remove

 

Reasonable quantities for coin treatment will cause no harm. It is normally present in everyone's body.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetone

 

As to where you get it I buy it by the gallon at lowes Home Depot or any hardware store is about $17 a gallon

 

tony likely to lose strength is extremely volatile will evaporate you could easily have half a can and if the lids loose/off you'll have an empty can is all never had a problem with it breaking down tho