Benefits And Hazards Of Acetone?

You can use acetone safely indoors if you treat it with the respect it deserves. Here's how I do it:

I use a square shotglass, of a size that keeps the coin from fitting flush, so the acetone can act on both sides equally. Remember, I'm working with Morgans, so differing-size coins might require different containers. Coin in first, then pour acetone in to fill the container. I cover it with another glass container which makes a seal, keeping fumes from escaping into the atmosphere. That's both for safety and conservation - acetone is so volatile that a shotglass full evaporates completely in a couple hours. I use it in the laundry area, a place that's fairly cool and doesn't have much temperature swing.

You can essentially leave silver in acetone for ever - it does not react with silver. I have left coins in acetone for a week and more. You are going to want to change it, though, depending on how cruddy the coin was to begin with. For cruddier coins, leave it in the first bath for up to a day, and then refresh the acetone, swishing the coin around in the old batch before removing it to keep the old crud from clinging to the coin when removing.

I haven't run into anything that acetone is capable of removing, that required more than a couple days and three baths. If it isn't gone by then, it isn't organic.

Acetone does not affect toning.

Last thing, and I mean this: Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

Is acetone harmful to copper?

A pat on the back to you old boys, you have given Ralph the information he needs to safely do a little cleaning and in a safe manner. Couldn't have done better myself, even if I had tried.

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Originally posted by OldDan

A pat on the back to you old boys, you have given Ralph the information he needs to safely do a little cleaning and in a safe manner. Couldn't have done better myself, even if I had tried.

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Opinions come and go on the subject of cleaning. What remains is the coins - they will outlast you and I, and our role is as temporary caretakers of them. In my opinion, preservation must sometimes include arresting processes which lead to the deterioration of the coin, contrary to the current prevailing wisdom that doing much of anything to a coin adversely affects its' value.

Well, it ain't gonna be worth much in 100 years if it's black from tarnish or ground down from dirt.

I do not advocate doing anything to a coin which is not required for long-term preservation. Significant examples include crusy Busties, Battle Creek Morgans, and colored gold - coins like that are significant for how they differ from "perfect," and should not be messed with if/until the long-term survival of the coin is at stake.

Furthermore, the best way to ensure that coins do not get messed up is to disseminate the proper information, whenever possible. People will inevitably read about cleaning, and want to try it. You can't put the cat back in the bag.

Now if anybody wants to end up in hospital
try Nitric Acid without following the rules
This professional coinseller tells you when and how to use it

Method
Wear protective goggles, and work in a well ventilated space, with a supply of cold water. Ensure there is a handy supply of sodium bicarbonate (bicarbonate of soda). Place the coin in a shallow glass dish or saucer. Carefully pour some concentrated strong acid (nitric is probably best) onto the coin.

http://www.taxfreegold.co.uk/redspo...ldcoins.html

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Originally posted by Guido

How do you dispose of any left over used acetone? Or, if it evaorates, how do you clean the glass without contaminating anything?

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Pour it out somewhere solid, like on the sidewalk. It'll evaporate in seconds, leaving nothing behind. By the time you get the class back in the house, it'll be dry. Clean it with soap and water, and you're golden.

I will also show results of a 1959 Lincoln Cent (that I just took out of a BU roll) that most of the coins are red but some have something that maked the fields look like they are dirty and the rest of the coin is bright red. here is the coin I will soak in acetone and I really dont expect to see any difference but will show the results either way
Before

and now the same 1959 Lincoln Cent after some MS-70 being used on it
After MS70



As you can see neither acetone nor ms70 seem to do much with this coin, but both seem to be safe to use because it didn't change the color at all on the coin. Well that is my experiment so please try on an inexpensive coin before trying on your prized possession coins because I guess results may vary