Is 99.5% acetone good enough?

I might give that a try then. When I finally get down to this, I'll take some photos and do some before, during and afters.

 

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The acetone already arrived. Earlier than planned. Time to gather the tools and get my work area prepped (may take a week, I don't have much coin time these days).

 

Join the club...

 

To be safe, test any plastic you plan on coming into contact with the acetone before using! Acetone is good at eating most plastics.

 

I think it is a little to much.

 

?

 

Has anyone used electrolysis? I might try that method soon

 

Might want to research what processes like that can and cannot do first.

 

I would be hesitant to use electrolysis because if you forcibly liberate too many electrons from your coin it may start to dissolve.

 

Photo time! Here's the first round of my efforts. Your input, opinions and advice are most welcome.

Acetone has arrived:


Potato and Orange bags that will be acetone tested prior to use:


Coins are in the pan:


Acetone poured in and lid placed on. I'll be checking on it every hour or two until I feel comfortable it is not evaporating at any concerning rate. I plan to leave this overnight.

 

Excellent! Don't forget to test the mesh for acetone resistance.

 

It is in the jar there being tested. More to follow!

 

@Kentucky @SuperDave is it possible that the coins are so dirty that it would neutralize the acetone? The liquid in the container is pretty dirty looking right now with things floating in it and I'm wondering if I should change it out.

 

It won't "neutralize" it, but it could get so contaminated that it will redeposit some of the crud back onto the coins. In fact, plan on that happening; it's why I discussed the process as I did in PM. What you want from this soak is sufficient continuous immersion to ensure that the acetone can soak into everything which it can possibly remove. The next step - quicker individual treatment - will resolve redeposits far more easily as a result.

 

Not really talking about "neutralize" here in the context of acids/bases and stuff like that, but we are talking solution, that as a system gets more concentrated, it will dissolve less stuff. I would leave it soaking until you are ready to stop and then if you want to be REALLY compulsive )), you could give a quick rinse with fresh acetone. BTW, I would filter the used acetone and put it in a bottle for future use as a soaking medium.

 

What filter would you use for it? And I intend to give a "final rinse" after soaking with both sides up. I want to do these right.

 

It would be a little slow, but a coffee filter would work admirably. When you do your final rinse, don't use so much.

 

I would use Brighto. it makes old bodies news. also, it takes paint off cars.

 

Why would you suggest something so harsh? The idea is not to destroy the coins...

 

I swapped out the acetone and flipped the coins over. The oldest ones felt slimy and slipped out of my hands a time or two. Should I rub them at all or simply continue soaking? They'll stay in overnight. Tomorrow they get a final rinse. Input and advice always welcome.

@Kentucky @SuperDave
@desertgem