How to get this gunk off

It's fine for the final bath but will do nothing for the PVC. Acetone will remove any PVC but the surface of the coin under it might not look that great. Just go with the acetone and nothing else and see what you have.

 

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Just wondering, how does nail polish remover damage the coin?

 

Eddispin,
Thought about what you said above. Very interesting stuff. I have a different take. Using an acid to bring food "up" to the level of 4.6 ? You are refering to products which are more pH neutral. What is the chemistry behind oils being anaerobic? Any chemist out there?:goofer:

 

It has other ingredients that could damage the coin.

 

But what will happen? To be honest with you, I have used it one time on a silver Roosevelt (OH MY GOSH!! HE DID THAT?!) to remove tape residue and still haven't noticed any negative effects after about a year.

 

It depends does it say 100% pure acetone or have any other ingredients listed on the back.

BTW does it have a coconut on the front of the bottle by any chance?

 

It has many other ingredients.

 

I keep reading that the other chemicals will "damage" it, but I haven't heard how it will damage it or why.

 

My Graany and I used nail polish remover on some roosies in the 80's and then put them into glass cigar tubes. Just found them last year and altough they have no luster remaining and are dull, nothing else happened that I can see. I'm new though, so don't listen to what I say.

 

If you want to risk it then go ahead, but 100% pure acetone I know is 100% safe.

 

Oil is not usually maintained (stored) in a sterile environment. Some bacteria common in the environment are mainly anaerobic, meaning they do not need need oxygen to breakdown organic matter such as oil hydrocarbons. Some of these are disease producers, majority are not. When hydrocarbons such as olive oil are broken down by such bacteria, fatty acids can be produced. As the name implies, they are acidic and can increase enough to bring the pH down as hydrogen ions are released.

The olive oil needs to be routinely changed and discarded to remain neutral.

Fingernail polish remover usually has perfumes, stabilizers to prevent the acetone from evaporating too soon, maybe limonene, the "lemon smelling chemical" used in many household cleaners and such as goo-gone, and detergent type molecules.

The newer removers which are intended for use on plastic nails ( acetone would not be good for this !) are mainly limonene instead.

Actually it might not damage it, just that without knowing exactly what is in it ( and some ingredients might be proprietory and not listed, and know the effects of each chemical such as limonene residue, one is taking a chance, whereas the chemistry of pure acetone is better known and documented. Some even feel acetone is not safe, but the chemistry indicates no effect on inorganic material such as metal
( EXCEPT possibly in the presence of light, air, and moisture, acetone can affect metal like an acid over a period of 12 or more hours ) I think RLM first brought that to my attention.

Most chemists would say use a dark glass container, pure acetone for less than a couple of hrs, you should be good.

Jim

 

I have a 1919 lincoln in ag that is covered in pvc residue. I'm going to test it out and see how it works.

 

I never knew to use a dark glass container.

 

Before

Here's the coin before nail polish remover:

 

That's PVC right?

 

FG, neither did I until the article was quoted. I am sure it was RLM that posted it. I was happy to know about it as it is an easy thing to do. The only factor that was mentioned as detrimental was the ambient light. First, I was surprised as ambient light over that amount of time includes a period of artificial light I am sure. The article doesn't refer to coins, but to copper foil being degreased by acetone and similar.
http://www.sunysb.edu/vescalab/research/research7.html

You could just wrap black electrician tape around the outside of a clear glass container with a lid for the acetone. Also a "local " pharmacy might be willing to sell a dark ointment jar for the purpose.

Jim

 

acetone.

 

After

Here it is after nail polish remover. No negative effects but it didn't help either. That's what I wanted to know. Now the question is this; do I risk it on a $1 investment? All advice appreciated.

 

Get some acetone and do it right. Forget the polish remover.
All this over a $1 coin???????

 

I have learned a lot from this thread. I only paid one dollar for it, but I feel its value could increase if the PVC was taken care of.