Acetone and storage in small apartment

[mindtab]

I just bought Klean Strip acetone. I live in a small studio apartment, so am kindda weary about where to store this small can. My first try here, with 1 coin in a small pill bottle.
Put on gloves, and a surgery mask, and eyeglasses. Put the bottle in the metal sink and poured a bit inside. This is definitely time consuming. I can't even think doing this with a whole bunch of coins. It would take my whole day. LOL. Let alone, am sitting here looking yonder at the acetone can just a few feet over (in the kitchen area), on the floor, under a chair. Brrrrrr!
I was thinking of putting it in the bathroom, by the side of the toilet; but there is no window or real ventilation in there. And of course, it can get steamy when taking a shower.
Where am sitting in the "living" area, I can't, since I smoke.
So what to do now?

Should I store some in a glass jar, and give the can to someone who can store it in their garage?
What do you all think?
Thank you

[willbrooks]

Should I store some in a glass jar, and give the can to someone who can store it in their garage?
What do you all think?
Thank you

Yes, do that. I wouldn't keep it in a studio apt. You are wise to ask.

[mindtab]

Thanks willbrooks. So, if I get rid of the can, can I keep a small amount in a small glass jar? Or should I worry that it would leak vapors, although a small amount?

[Maineman750]

Thanks willbrooks. So, if I get rid of the can, can I keep a small amount in a small glass jar? Or should I worry that it would leak vapors, although a small amount?

I wouldn't worry so much about it.....it's nail polish remover...found in millions of households.....keep the lid tight and keep it away from open flame sources just like you would any flammable.

[mindtab]

Maineman, after reading the directions and everything I started to get 'scared' about it, considering the small space am in. I guess once I get used to it, I'll be ok. Unlike am going to be using it much, maybe only on coins to be kept but definitely need something to remove the grease/dirt.

[willbrooks]

wow. just wow.

[mindtab]

wow. just wow.

willbrooks, what do the two 'wow's mean in their context?

[makecents]

To each their own I suppose but I live in a 750 square foot area and keep it inside. We have no children and would not if we did. Common sense and what Roger (Maineman750) said, keep it sealed tight and at good temperatures, of which it give you on the label. I use a glass shot glass to soak my coins in with aluminum foil as a lid, tightly compressed around the top to keep the vapors in and also keeping it from evaporating.

[mindtab]

To each their own I suppose but I live in a 750 square foot area and keep it inside. We have no children and would not if we did. Common sense and what Roger (Maineman750) said, keep it sealed tight and at good temperatures, of which it give you on the label. I use a glass shot glass to soak my coins in with aluminum foil as a lid, tightly compressed around the top to keep the vapors in and also keeping it from evaporating.

The shot-glass sounds like a good idea. I have a tiny glass ashtray I could use.
I was worried about the whole can, as in the instructions saying 'Extreme prolonged high temperatures...can make the can swell and leak...'
In the next months, I may be gone for up to a week at a time. I can leave the air conditioner on, as long as it keeps going.
Just wanted to make. Sorry, didn't mean for the discussion to get prolonged.


I've never used acetone, not even nail polish remover.
Now, I have used turpentine and other things, but at that time, they were in a workshop, and well ventilated.


Thank you for everyone's responses.

[makecents]

The shot-glass sounds like a good idea. I have a tiny glass ashtray I could use.
I was worried about the whole can, as in the instructions saying 'Extreme prolonged high temperatures...can make the can swell and leak...'
In the next months, I may be gone for up to a week at a time. I can leave the air conditioner on, as long as it keeps going.
Just wanted to make. Sorry, didn't mean for the discussion to get prolonged.


I've never used acetone, not even nail polish remover.
Now, I have used turpentine and other things, but at that time, they were in a workshop, and well ventilated.


Thank you for everyone's responses.

Not sure about an ashtray...… The shot glass allows you to get an nice clean seal. If you are not comfortable, I would not suggest you keeping it inside. Maybe Will was right.

[GrumpyEd]

When you say pill bottle, it should not be plastic. You want to use glass or metal.

Acetone evaporates fast then it's in the air, in a closed area you don't want it to build up so I would use a glass jar with a lid for soaking and only use a little. Don't smoke when using it or soon after.

Most coins don't need acetone, it only helps with some things. As you learn more, you'll see that it isn't needed often.

I often make a little dish out of tin foil, put my coin in it, add acetone, soak a short time (not let it all evaporate) then toss the foil, dump the acetone and I do it outside.

[VAB2013]

Okay... confession time! I hope I'm not sorry one day that I chose to do this but at first I used the acetone from the hardware store. I didn't like the container, it was hard to pour from, it made a mess, etc. So I did some reading and what I found is technically there's no such thing as an absolute 100% pure chemical, there's always some traces of impurities in any chemical. The term 100% is for purities of 99.5 to 99.9%. Then I researched 100% Acetone fingernail polish remover and it is made up of acetone and denatonium benzoate which is one of the most bitter substances known where just a few parts per million will make something taste so bitter that children and pets will not be able to swallow it. Since I was familiar with soaking my fake nails in pure acetone at the nail salon years ago... I have been using the fingernail version of 100% acetone ever since. I would think that the amount of denatonium benzoate would be so small that it shouldn't matter. I keep the bottle on my desk... I pour some in a small glass sauce cup, plop the penny in, cover it with another sauce cup of the same size (keeps it from evaporating) and the smell doesn't bother me just reminds me of the nail salon. Most of the time after I take the coin out I just let whatever acetone is left evaporate and then wash the dish. Now... I hope I don't find out that I've really messed up and my Lincolns are going to rot away!

[GrumpyEd]

Viv,

I doubt it matters much. The impurities aren't good but I think if you rinse the coins well when done maybe in alcohol then water or (some might say de-ionized or distilled) but I think any water is ok. They are probably fine. In theory, pure acetone is safer.

If you have an ultra rare coin then pay experts to conserve it if it matters a lot to you.

I have soaked coins in normal nail polish remover and acetone and neither seems to cause a big problem, when done I rinsed in alcohol then tap water. Never had a problem with grading or problems but I do see that unc copper may change slightly in color which is why I only do it if the coin really needs it.

It's also interesting about gloves and masks and eye protection. Decades ago I was a car painter. I would wash my hands and arms in acetone or reducer or lacquer thinner. I saw no issue from it. Decades later working at a big company, they told us to use gloves, eye protection, masks, gowns, a vented hood and endless PPE to use a drop of any solvent. (personal protection equipment). I guess it is absorbed or passes through your skin easily and not good for your insides, it is probably best to avoid it but it's not like you are doomed if you get some on your skin. If that was true all car painters and girls that used nail polish in the good old days would be dead today.

[VAB2013]

Thank you Ed! I haven't really worried too much about it because it's not like I have anything all that valuable anyway but when I have looked back at stuff I found in 2013-2014 it still looks fine! I haven't soaked the CLAM at all in anything and wondered if maybe I should just to get surface oils off (for that I would use the hardware store acetone) I think the bitter stuff is added because it is sold to remove artificial fingernails and hard to get off nail polishes like glittery ones and since it doesn't have all of the same warnings as the metal cans do (maybe it's not quite as strong?) and maybe there's some kind of law that requires the bitter additive if it's typically used in a household.

[mindtab]

I noticed that on the 3 coins I tried acetone, it changed the color darker on the ones I didn't wash off first; probably whatever it interacted with (film, glue, etc).


The way I 'clean' coins--I carefully use a toothpick to remove any gunk on the coin and in the crevices. Then I wash the coin; I may use a soft toothbrush on the edge to get between the lettering; Dawn soap only on the ones that have gluey material on them. Rinse, pat dry.
(here is the stage where I would use acetone if needed)


Then I put them in this small ultrasonic cleaner with distilled water for 1-2min. The ultrasonic doesn't shake or bounce them at all; they barely slightly vibrate with the water, in a basket. Take them out, pat them dry and let them air out on another piece of papertowel.
I may use verdi-care on some.