Someone told me a product called "I.D. Red" will literally eat away PVC film on coins. Has anyone ever tried this? I've heard about soaking a coin in acetone. Just curious if anyone has heard of and used this product. I was told it doesn't ruin a coin's surface luster. (I need to clean PVC off a nickel; photos provided.) ~Joe Cronin
It is basically Heptane in a can. Should work like a pressure washer. Be sure to use recommended precautions. https://ehs.cranesville.com/msds.pdfs/MSDS(Z004).pdf
Acetone or leave it alone. You’ll improve the appearance slightly but being severely worn not much else you can do…imo…Spark
Nice Henning. Correct me if I'm wrong, weren't Henning Nickels made of the same material as normal ones? If so the acetone won't hurt anything. @Spark1951 I am pretty sure the dies were worn down so the coins appeared heavily circulated. This coin looks to be fairly high grade.
From its MSDS, I.D. Red would be equally harmless -- it's hydrocarbons with 5-10% isopropyl alcohol. More toxic than acetone, though, to be sure. (The main ingredient is "petroleum naphtha", which is basically "whatever comes out of the column at this temperature range", and likely includes some of the rougher carcinogenic stuff.) Edit: looks like steps are taken these days to minimize the worst carcinogens, but I'd still much rather deal with acetone, especially indoors. Or xylene, which would do a similar job to I.D. Red, but be slower to evaporate.
Thanks for all the responses. I think I am just going to do a series of acetone soaks, rinses, and then repeat. Sometimes it takes multiple soakings. Thanks, everyone
Joe - skeptical that a soak in distilled water will work, but I’ve been surprised. You might start there.
Yes, Acetone is very harmless compared to that. But if you are going to sell your grease bucket car or truck, that might help to sell easier.
