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Replies: 34 / Views: 5,377 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2403 Posts |
I took the 50 mile trip into town to get some 100% acetone. Now I have everything I need to dip/bathe some coins.
After reading several "How To" posts on this here and elsewhere, my question is if acetone is supposed to conserve a coin, why do people do a distilled water rinse at end? Doesn't this negate the conservative effects of the acetone?
Just a newbie wanting to make sure I am not doing more harm than good. Thanks!!
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I have no idea. I wouldn't. 
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New Member
United States
31 Posts |
the acetone is to clean the rinse is to get the acetone off.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2403 Posts |
I understand the distilled water rinse is to get the acetone off...but doesn't it evaporate off fairly quick? If you use 100% pure acetone it should.
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Moderator
 United States
14463 Posts |
I have also heard of people doing the final rinse with acetone to make sure there is no residue of what the initial acetone removed from the coin 
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
Never, ever rinse with distilled water! It makes no sense at all.  Always rinse with fresh acetone. This will remove any residue left when the initial acetone rinse evaporates.
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Rest in Peace
United States
4078 Posts |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Some do this due leaving the Acetone just evaporate. This means whatever it dissolved will now land back on the coin. Some people rinse with Distilled water to get rid of whatever that was. IF you simply dip a coin in Acetone, pull out and don't allow whatever is now in the Acetone to land back on the coin. Problems with using distilled water is it does not evaporate fast enough and could absorb dirt in the air to now go back on the coins. Some people use a hair dryer to get rid of this excess water. This too will now blow dirt back on the coin.
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
MontCollector, you did good if you really procured 100% acetone. Outside of specialty chemical supply companies, it's usually about 97% (natural grade). Most of the remainder is water, but also contained are non-volatile substances at trace levels. Acetone is such a good solvent that it's difficult to keep it pure. Evaporate some "clean fresh" acetone on squeaky clean glass and you may notice a faint white film. I don't know exactly what this stuff is, but it would coat a coin if not washed off before the acetone evaporates. I work in a lab (bottle washer emeritus) and use several rinses of distilled water then pure ethanol for spot-free scientific glassware. I haven't tried it, but a good denatured alcohol would probably work as well for coins. Just do a spot-check on glass first.
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Rest in Peace
United States
18456 Posts |
NoPoNoCo , I think you just burst all of our bubbles over here. we finally got to a stage where using pure acetone without a distilled water final rinse was the 11th commandment . now you say acetone will leave a faint white film on our coins. 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1211 Posts |
Relax. Just use the acetone. It is fine.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Quote: Evaporate some "clean fresh" acetone on squeaky clean glass and you may notice a faint white film If you have a white film, then the acetone that you use is contaminated. Clean, pure acetone(99.5% with the balance being methanol, isopropanol, and water) will NOT leave any residue behind.
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Valued Member
United States
403 Posts |
It's a simple test. A drop of acetone on glass - or better, on a mirror. If there's no residue you're good. If there's a film, get acetone from another source. It's dangerous to assume; I've learned that lesson many times.
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
I think the point is to assume nothing and test the acetone before assuming it is pure. 
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
I'd rinse with distilled water. Acetone potentially has trace acids or organic solvents dissolved in it. You are not capable of determining if it is pure by casting it onto clean glass as the amounts of contaminants that could cause harm are too low to see. If you can see a film, the acetone is horribly contaminated and probably shouldn't be used at all. You should never use technical grade acetone (97%) for numismatic purposes. I run an analytical laboratory and would not let that crap into the facility even to fill wash bottles.
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Moderator
 United States
188770 Posts |
I would never rinse with distilled water. Fresh acetone only.
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Replies: 34 / Views: 5,377 |