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Can You Buy Acetone At A Local Pharmacy?

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wheatguy's Avatar
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 Posted 10/21/2009  7:42 pm Show Profile   Bookmark this topic Add wheatguy to your friends list Get a Link to this Message Number of Subscribers
Sorry, I know there are a lot of topics about this, but I read somewhere you can buy acetone at a pharmacy, is that true?
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coins92's Avatar
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851 Posts
 Posted 10/21/2009  7:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add coins92 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yea. Its just plain unscented finger nail polish remover.
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crusherjc's Avatar
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139 Posts
 Posted 10/21/2009  8:42 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add crusherjc to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I buy it at my local CVS. Just make sure it is 100% pure acetone.
Last time I bought it, I think it was about $4.50 for a 16oz bottle.
Jim
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daviscfad's Avatar
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 Posted 10/21/2009  9:05 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add daviscfad to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
you can also buy it a lowes, home depot, or hardware store
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hippiebrian's Avatar
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 Posted 10/21/2009  9:14 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add hippiebrian to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
The hardware has bigger containers, so I go there.
Bedrock of the Community
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 Posted 10/22/2009  2:26 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:

you can also buy it a lowes, home depot, or hardware store


You forgot Menards, Walmart, Kmart and almost any paint store. Sure wonder why they don't have it at the Dollar stores yet.
Regardless of where you purchase Acetone, note that it is a real great absorber of other substances. Therefore inspite of any container claims of purity, always try the simple test with a small sample prior to any usage. Placce some on a erally clean glass dish and allow it to completely evaporate. Naturally outdoors is preferable. If there is any residue at all, your Acetone is contaminated.
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snowman's Avatar
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 Posted 10/22/2009  2:29 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add snowman to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I'd be careful buying it from a pharmacy. I'd bet that most of the products there are nail polish removers. Typically these have additives that promote healtheir nails and make it smell a little nicer. Like a previous poster said, you can pick pure acetone up at the local hardware store, typically in the paint section. The last time I bought some it was less than $20 for a gallon.
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wheatguy's Avatar
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 Posted 10/22/2009  7:31 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add wheatguy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Ok thanks for the advice, I just bought some at a Home Depot. My question now is should I pour the acetone into a bowl and then dip it, or put it on a cloth and clean the coin that way? And if I touch the acetone, can it harm me?
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 Posted 10/22/2009  7:41 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add TNG to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If you have an exhaust hood in your kitchen, turn it on high. I use a paper towel folded on the bottom of a Pyrex covered casserole dish. I put about 3/4 inch of acetone in and swish the dust particles away on my nickels and put them directly into clean dust free airtites these days.
If you have an electric stove, great. If you have a gas stove, I would not get too close to it if it has the old perpetual burning pilot light flames. If it has an electric ignitor like mine then you are safer.
Your fingers can only stand so much of this activity at a time. I usually do about 20 coins at a time then take a break and always wash my hands before and after. Acetone is hard on your skin. It makes my fingers white, and it makes my cuticles split if I mess with it too long. I think breathing the vapors will be worse than what your fingers will suffer. I have messed with worse. Take care of your lungs and be careful of fire for sure.

I got a big square ( rectangular can ) at Walmart for maybe 15 or 18 dollars. I am due to get another.
Edited by TNG
10/22/2009 7:45 pm
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wheatguy's Avatar
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 Posted 10/22/2009  8:00 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add wheatguy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Ok, thanks for the advice. Do you think it'll be okay if I do it outside? And do you think a paper towel folded on the bottom of a bowl would work too?
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 Posted 10/22/2009  8:20 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add TNG to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Yes but this stuff evaporated quickly and the flat bottom and lid let me place them all in at once.
In a bowl they will go together in the center. If you use a bowl, Get a plate to cover it. I mean it, it is fast at disappearing uncovered. The paper towel is for padding.
If you have an airtite jar and your acetone is not too badly contaminated after use, save it in a sealed jar.
Use pure stuff on them after using the used stuff.
Double dip.
No sense wasting it. It cost 5 times as much as gasoline, so it isn't cheap.
Edited by TNG
10/22/2009 8:24 pm
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Ferret552's Avatar
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 Posted 10/22/2009  8:30 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Ferret552 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Absolutely. Do it outside if you can. In terms of health dangers, there are several things to be aware of. Inhaling acetone fumes for a length of time can give you headaches, a significant amount of time can give you liver problems. Also, as a molecule, it is small enough to leak into your skin. But the key thing is that small and short contact like an accidental inhalation and small splashing shouldn't be a major problem.
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SsuperDdave's Avatar
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 Posted 10/23/2009  11:28 am  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add SsuperDdave to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Especially in the case of Mint State coins, I don't like the idea of even wet paper towel contacting the coin. I use a selection of shot glasses, sized to be narrow enough that they hold the coin on an angle. Only the rims ever contact glass. A piece of picture glass covers the top, preventing evaporation. Even so, the contents will evaporate in less than 24 hours.
Bedrock of the Community
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 Posted 10/23/2009  7:39 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add just carl to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
If you are new to using such chemicals, I suggest you do a search on this web site for Acetone. Also, try cleaning coins, coin cleaning, etc. I also suggest you use such items only outside. Do not take a chance inside your home if you are not completely aware of the potential dangers with Acetone. And never use it on a gas stove with a pilot light. Carefully read as much as you can about such chemicals prior to their usage. ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.
Number one suggestion is to wear safety glasses. Burned fingers, hands and even a house is nothing compared to the loss of your eyesight. You can always check the ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseace Registry, for addtional precautions.
Again, as I mentioned priviously, to test your Acetone for purity just place some on a very cleaned glass dish, outside and allow to evaporate. There should be no residue at all.
To place and/or remove coins from Acetone, you really should use only glass utinsils. Never plastic or metals. The plastic may melt and the metals may contain contaminates. You only need to place a coin in the Acetone for a few minutes. As noted a double dip is worth the effort. Make sure you rinse the coins with Distilled water to completely rid the coin of any possible residue left from the evaporation of the Acetone. Remember that as the Acetone evaporates, any substances it hsa absorbed will be left over as a residue on anything it is on.
Most people say to lay the coin on a cotton cloth and blow dry to get rid of the moisture. Try not to use your fingers in the Acetone. Not that it will harm your fingers but you could be adding contaminates to the Acetone thet will not help your coins.
Again, I stress being carefull with such highly flamable substances. We need you here and a careless attempt at using Acetone may make that difficult. Wear safety glasses.
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wheatguy's Avatar
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 Posted 10/23/2009  7:43 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add wheatguy to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for all that info. Is there an alternative to safety goggles? Would regular glasses maybe work? With all the advice given I think I'm going to do it outside on a glass bowl. Thanks.
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Bryan1315's Avatar
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 Posted 10/23/2009  9:16 pm  Show Profile   Bookmark this reply Add Bryan1315 to your friends list Get a Link to this Reply
I know the local CVS has 100% acetone not the 40% acetone most finger nail polish remover is because I have bought it from there because they are at the end of my road and anything else is at least 15 minutes away
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