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 Replies: 15 / Views: 2,056 |
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Valued Member
Pakistan
207 Posts |
I hope there is no problem that I seem to be creating so new many threads so close to each other. I just joined, and although I've been collecting for a while, joining jogged me into coin collecting overdrive, so I've got loads of questions. This was a much more specific subject, so I thought it could deserve its own thread.
I bought some coins at a shop today, all in a packet that was basically a cardboard strip with coins on it, with the whole thing held in place and encased in a plastic sheet.
When I opened the plastic cover, I was horrified to realise that the plastic that had encased the coins to the cardboard back was actually some scotch-tape/cellotape/cellophane material, and now that I've opened the coins, they are all slightly sticky.
None of the coins are very ancient or very damaged or anything, so I'm not worried about being a little rough with them for their own good, but could someone advise me on how to get rid of the stickiness of the coins?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
Sounds like a job for acetone. Search the forums, there are a million threads on how to use it.
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Moderator
 United States
188660 Posts |
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Valued Member
 Pakistan
207 Posts |
Thanks for the help. I was going through the Acetone topics, and one thing that pops up fairly regularly is to NOT USE NAILPOLISH REMOVER. Since that is the only acetone I have, and it is late now, and I don't live near a hardware store, I'll have to wait.
Is there a temporary solution I could use that doesn't involve acetone? I feel worried leaving them out (or even inside some closed container) with all that stickiness, it might collect dirt or other problems may occur, and it is going to be at least 19 hours before I can do anything with acetone, IF I am able to purchase any (sleep, work, shop for acetone, return home).
Someone in one of those threads suggested carefully using water, so I dabbed tissue paper (probably not the best thing to use, what with all the chemicals and chlorine or whatever, but I don't think I have any plain cloth, and I didn't know which kind) in water, then dabbed the coins with the wet tissue. It didn't REALLY help so much. I have to apply slight "rubbing" to get away the sticky-tape gunk on some of the coins.
Anyone got some suggestion on what else I could do?
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Valued Member
United States
318 Posts |
Don't rub at all! I don't know much, but I do know that. Soak only in chemicals that you have researched as harmless; don't believe the manufacturer, search here for the exact chemicals to use for your particular. Air dry or use one of those cans of static free air for blowing the cruft out of keyboards.
If the gunk doesn't come off, then it doesn't come off. Your coins will be more valuable "dirty" than if they are "cleaned".
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Valued Member
Canada
115 Posts |
Here are two non-damaging methods (which can also be used on other stuff besides coins).
Skin-So-Soft bath oil. Rinse with HOT water after to get off the oiliness, and despite what most people say about touching your coins, you can use your fingers to rub them, as long as you have soft skin. Dry with a t-shirt, not paper towels.
And this may sound nuts, but try peanut butter (oh, it is nuts). This actually got glue from stick-on tiles off of a wood floor ! Again, hot water rinse.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
598 Posts |
In the threads linked to for acetone, use the same procedure but with rubbing alcohol. The higher the purity the better. But, since it is just sticky tape residue, I'm sure any strength of rubbing alcohol will work just fine. On a side note, and not for coins... WD40 will remove similar residues as well, then the WD40 residue can be removed with alcohol. Bonne Chance!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
Quote:
Skin-So-Soft bath oil. Rinse with HOT water after to get off the oiliness, and despite what most people say about touching your coins, you can use your fingers to rub them, as long as you have soft skin. Dry with a t-shirt, not paper towels... I disagree strongly with this advice. Your skin may be soft, but there will be microscopic particles of dust and debris stuck to them which will not be. Don't rub the coins at all, period. Remember too - the patina on the coins may be even softer than the underlying metal. Water, oil and peanut butter are all substances that should be kept away from coins. |
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Valued Member
Canada
115 Posts |
CaptainF puh-lease, the coins have sticky stuff all over and your worried about dust and dirt particles on a finger? These aren't pristine coins as the owner points out. Obviously you've never tried any of these things or you would know what they do or don't do. Take some of your crummy, extra coins and try it before pontificating.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4132 Posts |
I made plenty of mistakes in handling my coins when I was first getting started collecting. And I've seen all kinds of bad cleaning advice passed off as "safe", and I've had to return a lot of coins that somebody thought they'd improved with some unsafe cleaning method.
It's one thing to experiment on junk coins, but if you intend to preserve a coin, I'll repeat my advice - DO NOT rub it. A gentle rinse in acetone can lift off many kinds of stickiness without rubbing. When in doubt, do nothing.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
531 Posts |
As what some might describe as a veteran collector I will agree with CaptainF completely. If you do not agree with his sage advice simply don't do as he advises. You will learn by that great instructor experience that he was right.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Mechanical friction and coins do not mix, rubbing is NEVER a good idea. Even thoroughly rinsing a coin before rubbing will not guarantee the removal of all bits of grit and dirt that will certainly lead to hairlines.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I suspect most here have failed to notice that on the left it is stated that Babar is in a place called Pakistan. I really don't know what is available over there but items like WD-40, peanut butter of the brand we use, certain brands of dish soaps if there are dish soaps there at all. No one here has an idea of what is in their water either. Remember, for example some of our area are on well water. If you've ever used well water you would know it is so full of STUFF, it makes me wonder why anyone would ever use it on a coin, let alone drink it. Not sure if they have shopping malls like we do here in the USA either or in Canada. Also, I suspect most here are not aware of the moisture in the air there. The summation of the above would be to ask what is available there first prior to saying use this or that. Quote:
hope there is no problem that I seem to be creating so new many threads so close to each other. I just joined, and although I've been collecting for a while, joining jogged me into coin collecting overdrive, so I've got loads of questions. And no there is no problem for you to ask as much as you need to or want to ask. Remember that many others would have the same questions but are afraid to ask so you asking helps them all. And you could help us all by telling us what it is like over there for coins. What is available for coins. |
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Valued Member
Pakistan
207 Posts |
Heheh...yeah, some of the suggestions were a bit out of my league. I've seen Skippy's in shops here, probably imported, but since I don't eat peanut butter, I didn't have any at hand, and it seemed a bit silly just to buy it to clean coins. I've got a can of WD-40 around somewhere, but considering how powerful that stuff is, I really wasn't ready to try using it on my coins. I'm not sure what Baby Oil is, but I didn't want to use Johnson & Johnson or Vaseline (the two things I have that sounded most similar).
In the end, I'm ashamed to admit, I washed them in warm water (and yeah, I'm using well water, which I know for a fact is a little hard), patted it down with my t-shirt, then air dried them and picked off the little left-over bits of sticky gunk. The coins are slightly less sticky now.
I'll buy acetone today, if I can find some hardware store, and figure out what the name is here.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19952 Posts |
Wiffo is correct!
Lincoln Cent Lover!VERDI-CARE™ INVENTOR https://verdi.care/
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
I'll buy acetone today, if I can find some hardware store, and figure out what the name is here. Remember that basically Acetone is used for painting items or procedures. You really don't necessarily need a hardware type store for that. Almost any place that carries painting supplies should also have Acetone. Here in the USA we have large stores called Walmart, Kmart, Sears and numerous other places that carry painting supplies. And here in the USA those places usually charge less than a hardware store. |
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Replies: 15 / Views: 2,056 |
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Posted 04/25/2012 1:41 pm
