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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;calcol, post: 2584951, member: 77639&quot;]As mentioned, there have been many posts on acetone.&nbsp; To summarize: soaking US coins in pure acetone will not harm them, and may remove oils, plastic residue, etc.&nbsp; Use acetone once only; do not reuse it.&nbsp; Remember it&#039;s very flammable, and its vapor is explosive.&nbsp; It&#039;s miscible with water in all proportions and has very low toxicity.&nbsp; Small quantities can be put down the sink as long as you start the water running before adding acetone and leave the water running for a few minutes after done adding acetone.&nbsp; This procedure will prevent acetone from attacking plastic drain pipes and prevent explosive acetone vapors from forming in the drainage system.&nbsp; Don&#039;t pour acetone into a plastic sink though!</p><p><br /></p><p>For acetone containers, metal, glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, fluoroplastics (teflon, tefzel) are OK; avoid other plastics.&nbsp; For handling coins, avoid metal forceps; too easy to cause damage.&nbsp; You can use the pour-in, decant-off method and avoid using forceps at all.&nbsp; I use tefzel forceps for moving coins in and out of solvents.&nbsp; Tefzel is similar to teflon, but more flexible.&nbsp; Can&#039;t be hurt by solvents; can&#039;t hurt coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>Some ancient and non-US coins may be harmed by acetone.&nbsp; Some ancient coins, especially bronze, may have been repaired with glue, and acetone may cause them to fall apart.&nbsp; Some ancients have been oiled or lacquered.&nbsp; Removal of the oil or lacquer won&#039;t usually harm them, but they may look very different.&nbsp; For some, bits of thick patina may flake-off if the lacquer is removed.&nbsp; Some modern non-US coins, especially commemoratives, have been colored (anodized, enameled, etc.).&nbsp; I&#039;d be hesitant to use acetone on them unless I could verify that it would be harmless.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cal[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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