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 Replies: 23 / Views: 1,679 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6449 Posts |
Since we have many old hands at coin collecting on this forum, I thought it's a good time for a technique question. What is your pure acetone container when cleaning coins? What tool or technique do you use when extracting the coin?
I have a little glass jar with a tapered neck and a big cork. My removal tool is plain wood chopsticks from a takeout joint.
I am gradually less enthusiastic about the little jar. The cork sometimes sheds particles into the acetone. It does make a nice tight seal, though. Also, the jar will not admit anything bigger than a quarter. When I do bigger coins, I use a glass spaghetti jar, but the acetone fumes will rapidly degrade the plastic lid seal. Lately, I have been putting a sheet of aluminum foil between the lid and jar, but I am not sure that makes a tight seal, and I don't want to be perpetually leaking acetone fumes into my basement. Also, it takes a lot of pure acetone to put a quarter inch or half inch on the bottom of the jar, compared to the size of the coins.
Open to new containers, grabbers, techniques for conservation. Enlighten me! =)
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
24878 Posts |
Brand, here is the set-up I use. It's a ~ 2 oz shot glass (remnant from the days that I drank alcohol) covered with a glass Petri plate. Acetone will slowly evaporate from it - ~ 2 days if I leave it there unattended. But I don't soak coins that long, and dispose of the used acetone after use. It's in my bathroom, so disposal is no problem. I fill the shot glass over the sink and then place it on a bamboo cutting board from Dollar Tree. The cutting board is essential because there will be drips and spills, and acetone will eat up your cabinet surface.  The shot glass is squarish but nicely rounded. Coins will stand on edge so that both sides get good exposure to the acetone without flipping it. A US silver dollar does not quite fit - it goes in but about 5 mm of the coin is above the edge of the glass. The nice thing is that you don't use large volumes of acetone. I use a nylon toothbrush for lowering the coins in and taking them out. In some cases of filthy cheap circulated coins they'll get a light brushing to help get chunks off.   Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2520 Posts |
got a little wide mouth glass jar I use, got some cheap bamboo tongs from Amazon and took a Dremel to them and shaped the ends so they weren't so thick. |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
I use a small glass bowl for the soak and my fingers for removal. Yeah, I know, but I grab by the edge and hold over the bowl so I can pour fresh acetone over each side. I just have to remember to moisturize my hands at night.  |
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Valued Member
Italy
284 Posts |
See the pic below. I got some petri dishes with lids off of Amazon (glass). I place as many coins as I can on top of something (plastic for distilled water, glass for acetone) to allow the liquid on both sides. For removal I use kitchen tongs made with cooking grade nylon. Perfectly ok with acetone and its plastic so a bit gentler than metal ones.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5661 Posts |
I use a small porcelain dish, and I just cover it with a small plate if it needs to soak for more than a few minutes. Fingers for removal, more reliable than tongs.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
9149 Posts |
I use a mason jar ( 2 1/2" h x 2 1/2" w) with the mason jar lid that came with it, I put enough in it to cover the coins 1/2" or less . I have used this for over 10 years now and still going strong. For wiping the acetone I use a q tip.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6988 Posts |
Was clean baby food jars but the seal in the lid would breakdown ( after a few months) And I feel leach into the acetone. So I switched to glass Snapple bottles, lid seal holds up longer. Then I found a wide mouth jar ( 2" high and 1.5" in diameter ) that was used by a mj dispensary for sales (found at work) the seal has been holding up for over a year now. I can soak 3 nickels at a time or 4 cents, only a single quarter or HD. I also pick them out with my fingers or if they're circulated cent or nickels I made a custom scooper out of small gauge copper wire.
Edited by Greasy Fingers
11/20/2025 10:36 pm
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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Fingers for removal, more reliable than tongs. Quote:
I also pick them out with my fingers You guys get it!  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6449 Posts |
Quite the array of containers and extractors! I am a little surprised at how many of you guys use your fingers to extract coins. How do you avoid getting little partial fingerprints near the edge?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6498 Posts |
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How do you avoid getting little partial fingerprints near the edge? Pretty sure fingerprints, come from the oil in your skin. Acetone takes care of that. Put your fingers in some, you'll see. |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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Pretty sure fingerprints, come from the oil in your skin. Acetone takes care of that. Put your fingers in some, you'll see. This, plus, handling by the edge helps. I really dislike tongs, gloves, anything that gets in the way. I am a klutz. I do not want to add anything to help that along. Also, did I mention that I moisturize? Dermal exposure to acetone makes it mandatory.  |
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Valued Member
Italy
284 Posts |
I feel it would be beneficial to remind the future readers that handling bare hands or with tools is also a matter of frequency with acetone. Doing it once in a while it's not an issue but repeated exposure might be harmful! Plus, always allow for good ventilation (or just use it outdoors)! Stay safe! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4587 Posts |
Throw a couple of glass marbles in the bottom of the glass dish, shot glass, whatever, so you don't have the coin happen to land flat to the bottom or side. Makes it much easier to fish out with bare fingers or nitrile gloves.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
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Plus, always allow for good ventilation (or just use it outdoors)! To answer the inevitable question... Back patio.  |
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Moderator
United States
187446 Posts |
Quote:
Throw a couple of glass marbles in the bottom of the glass dish, shot glass, whatever, so you don't have the coin happen to land flat to the bottom or side. Makes it much easier to fish out with bare fingers or nitrile gloves. Not a bad idea. |
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Replies: 23 / Views: 1,679 |
Posted 11/20/2025 2:34 pm
