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 Replies: 17 / Views: 7,355 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I have a pair of plastic tongs I use for dimes up to silver dollars. They're ok, but not great, the coin slips out sometimes. Are the metal tweezers/tongs with the plastic/pvc coating on the tips good? Am a little worried about dipping the pvc coated tips in acetone. Anyway I'm rambling. Not a fan of sticking my fingers in acetone, and am looking to improve my method.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1158 Posts |
I actually use chopsticks, but it isn't perfect, I'll admit! :)
Wood works pretty well in acetone and softer wood should not harm coins. I would NOT use plastic coated tweezers. I inadvertently used some plastic spoon once and it started melting like cheese instantly. I even got the stringy stuff when I pulled it out like it was pizza! I have thought about getting wood tweezers, but have not yet. I don't do acetone baths very often.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
All of my coins are in 2x2's, therefore handling is not a problem. I collect World coins ancient to modern, and so 2x2's are needed for description as well as protection.
The requirement for tongs depends on the nature of your collection, and how you store and display them. If you are collecting Cents in series for instance, a description is hardly needed for each coin, and tongs could be of real help.
In this case, the tongs should have soft plastic tips.
I use tongs when handling unset faceted gemstones, mainly sapphires.
If you have a problem with small and large coins using a single pair of tongs it would be worthwhile finding if they come in different sizes.
Sometimes, I use vise grips to hold coins that may protest.
Edited by sel_69l
12/15/2014 01:51 am
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Pillar of the Community
New Zealand
526 Posts |
Wooden or bamboo toast tongs
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Rest in Peace
United States
10625 Posts |
I use these  They were given to me about ten years ago by the gentleman who owned the mold shop that made the tool and produced these. I never did look to see if he made it to market. |
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Valued Member
United States
306 Posts |
Hey Ed,
I use Magill forceps (benefits of working in the medical community). They work great for me. You should be able to find a pair for under $10.
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Valued Member
Australia
51 Posts |
I think mine are from lighthouse but I barely use them.
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Moderator
 Australia
16832 Posts |
If dunking your fingers in acetone is something you wish to avoid (and, if I'm using the acetone to clean coins, I'm much more concerned about getting my icky, oily fingers in my nice clean acetone than I am about getting acetone all over my hands) I'd definitely prefer to use gloves of some kind and hold the coins in my gloved hands, rather than tongs. Not as secure as ungloved hands, but way more secure than tongs.
Nitrile gloves are the most durable under acetone. They're the ones usually coloured blue. They have the added advantage over latex gloves in being sulfur-free.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
3049 Posts |
I prefer using the blue nitrile gloves... easy to handle the coins.. very few times do I drop the coin.. and I use the gloves so frequently now.. pretty much almost anytime I handle the coins.. prevents any oils getting on the coins and dirt getting on my hands.. win win!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7375 Posts |
I appreciate all the input on the tongs and gloves. I think we have some blue nitrile gloves around. I was concerned about powder and stuff on the gloves. They might be powder free though.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
9792 Posts |
I don't use tongs, or gloves, never have, I probably should when using acetone to conserve, but I'm like tkbslc I use chopsticks (I eat with them a lot so it's second nature anyways).
Just clean washed hands and careful handling over a jewlers tray (a soft towel woks too) in case a coin is dropped).
"Buy the Book Before You Buy the Coin" - Aaron R. Feldman - "And read it" - Me 2013! ANA Life Member #3288 in good standing since 1981, ANS, Early American Coppers Member (EAC), Colonial Coin Collectors Club member (C4), Conder Token Collector Club member (CTCC), Civil War Token Society (CWTS) member, Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) & Numismatic Bibliomania Society member (NBS), USMex, Member in good standing, 2¢ variety collector. See my want page: http://goccf.com/t/140440 |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I never thought of chop sticks. Good idea if your not a finger in the Acetone person. Myself, I just grab the coins with my fingers by the edges.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
I don't mind fingers in acetone, just paranoid about hands not being clean enough and getting crud in acetone & on coin.
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Pillar of the Community
New Zealand
526 Posts |
The ones I have are similar to this....cheap from the kitchenware shop  |
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Pillar of the Community
New Zealand
526 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
That's pretty funny.
What's interesting, is that's how I have held my coins, by the sides. With plastic tongs though. I'm kinda new at this but recently saw some videos of coins being held with tongs/tweezers, and they were holding them by the edge, with one prong on top, and one on bottom. Looks much easier that way. I guess I was afraid of scratching the surface.
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Replies: 17 / Views: 7,355 |
Posted 12/15/2014 01:39 am
