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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,081 |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I stand to be corrected, but I think that plastic milk crates are made out of polyethylene, not polyvinyl chloride.
Food authorities will not approve poly vinyl chloride for food container use, and milk is especially sensitive to being tainted with anything.
If you are using polyethylene in the making of a coin cabinet, you will find it a difficult material to use. It will not take glues and is difficult to cut and shape. About the only reliable way to attach it to woodwork is by drilling and the use of screws. It could split through the drill holes used for the screws.
Nylon drawer runners would be better, but better still would be metal runners and ball races, as used in better quality furniture. The dimensions of the metal runners will have a strong influence on the dimensions and design of your coin cabinet.
Try to avoid laminated chipboard. The use of good quality cabinet woods would be much better, but be aware of the resins in whatever timber that you use; the slow gassing out of natural wood resins can have a deleterious effect on the patination of coins stored in the cabinet.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
711 Posts |
I make PVC for a living and confirm most of this.
Milk crates are made out of polyethylene.
PVC is not the problem, the plasticizer is. Good call there.
PVC is used in food applications. We have food safe approved additives for such. Much of the film that wraps your meat is PVC.
Final note, chicks are most unimpressed with PVC knowledge.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12835 Posts |
Quote:
Final note, chicks are most unimpressed with PVC knowledge.  Sadly, most are not impressed with coin knowledge either, I've found... or maybe I hang around the wrong women. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
So you can imagine how interesting you are when you know about BOTH PVC and coins.
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Moderator
 United States
23522 Posts |
 We are such nerds. |
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1118 Posts |
Ok, so here is my idea...
I figured that milk crates would be safe for coins if they are safe for food. What is all this with plasticizers?
The idea is to find some way to stick rods through the sides of the crates and then set plastic selves in there. I plan on making the selves out of plastic "boards" made from an old tupper ware container storage type unit.
On top of that I would put jewelry trays on the boards.
Since there are allready cross hatching in the sides of the milk crates I figured I could stick my rods throught there.
What should I use for rods and does this sound like a smart idea?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12835 Posts |
Plasticizers are chemical compounds that make normally rigid PVC flexible. As SsuperDdave mentioned, plasticized PVC is used in applications such as shower curtains and coin flips. Those plasticizers tend to leach/out-gas out of whatever they're in over time and can cause damage to coins.
As has been mentioned milk crates are not made of PVC to begin with, and even if they were they would not have plasticizers in them because of their intended use (which calls for rigidity). So you're probably fine using them. I'll assume you're planning on using genuine dairy industry milk crates and not the Target/Walmart knock-offs that they sell in the home organization section. I've found those to be not nearly as rigid and will sag/flex if you put too much weight on them.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
What goes on the shelves? You're not going to just leave coins laying out in the open, right? You have to protect them.
Just grab a couple lengths of 1/4" wooden dowel from Home Depot. That'll be plenty strong enough for your needs.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
Wood, are you sure? Yes, I will leave the coins out in the open on the jewelry trays, no 2x2 or airtites. They are Sassanian drachmas and I was told that you can handle ancients like that.
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Moderator
United States
23522 Posts |
You can handle anything you want to that way. You just_don't_store coins out in the atmosphere. You don't. You are a temporary caretaker of history, and owe a debt of preservation to those who follow you as owners of those coins.
But you can do whatever you wish with them. You own them. For now.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
Well that is what I am trying to figure out Super Dave. I keep all my trade tokens, small cents and pre-confederation Canadian coins in 2x2s in pages, in binders, in a tuper ware unit. I was told however that since ancient coins are literally ancient they will be ok in trays as is. Are you telling me this iss wrong?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
937 Posts |
I am assuming that we are not talking about Super high end one of a kind coins here. I think I understand what you are attempting here. I would not use shelfs made of T-ware if I were you, but that just may come from my hatred of the product and plastics in general. This web site http://www.coincabinets.com/ shows some coin cabinets that might give you some ideas. Here is one were the guy built his own. http://www.numisology.com/Coin-cabinet-1.htmlYour idea is interesting and I like the reusing and repurposing that you are doing. Woden dowels will not cause any undue harm to your coins as I doubt if you will keep them in there for decades. If you can, I would sugest you contact a CCF member named Tom Goodheart. He is an English collector of high end Charles I silver that he keeps in a cabinet. I think your idea is basicly sound and your ancients would look good in a cabinet setting. And the guy who designed those crates never dreamed they would be holding ancient coins opne day. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1118 Posts |
Tom Goodheart replied to this topic I started that is running parallel o this discussion. https://goccf.com/t/194161The 12 or so milk crates I own are used for everything from furniture to an accordion case! I am selling off most of my collection of odds and ends to refocus like a laser on my collection, I will have to look at allocating some of the money to a cabinet. I seen those links already in my pre-CCF post making Google session. Even if I could afford a mahogany cabinet I could only imagine the shipping to the Canadian Maritimes. I seen (saw?) a lighthouse product I am kind of digging but I really like the tray/cabinet hook up. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
937 Posts |
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Even if I could afford a mahogany cabinet I could only imagine the shipping to the Canadian Maritimes Do you ever go to charity stores like Goodwill, or small antique shops? Mahogany can aften be found rather cheaply that is just dying to be loved again. With your obvious knack of repurposing things I trust you could come up with an idea or two. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I always recommend the following: Contact the manufacturer. You stated an item that could have numerous different manufacturers. Sort of like asking something like are all cars the same for gas mileage? Or do all candies taste the same? Just to many variables. And if those are made in China, could be made of almost anything. Prior to using them, look for a name on them. If no name or product info, your just taking a chance. This is true of almost anything today. If possible find out who makes them.
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Posted 01/03/2015 9:21 pm
