Alcohol question.

"Doggo" asks....

What about a nice proof coin that's had either a rub with a cloth or the
slider slid across it? Aren't those scratches?

I can only repeat that the offending surface must be scientifically as hard or
harder than, the surface receiving the scratch.

I suppose if the rag had grit in it, even the smallest particle, it could
"scratch" the metal surface of the coin.

If you're one of those guys that uses a chamois to dry your car, you know how
important it is to never lay it down anywhere where it could pick up the
smallest grit. That's because it's job is intimate with your cars cleaned
surface and as such, can do great harm if it allows crap to hitchike into your
finish.

As far as plastic sliders go, I probably should have backed off the last
statement or reinforced the above disclaimer. I know that I've seen the scratch
effect of sliders and on more than a few occassions, duplicated it with the
edge of my fingernail on the same coin surface. I "know" my fingernails don't
approach a coin hardness, despite the metal of choice.

And if I sound like Mr. Wizard in my emphatic ranting tone, it's because it
really IS that simple, but people always want to F with it.

Like that romantic and reassuring olive oil is good for coins thing. No basis
in reality whatsoever, it just managed to capture that magic momentum, kinda
like any movie with Charlies Angels in the title, must be the next mega box
office hit. Just shoot me now......but first show me all three of them
absolutely naked in a bathtub with a 5 gallon can of olive oil, with Demi close
by, barking out nasty commands.

"That's" got me and my $9.00 out the door and running......

If naked coins could do what other naked does, we'd all be generating a flurry
of Periodic Posts as fast as the keyboards could be replaced under our fingers.
Hmmmm..........

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.
--=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=--

Jim wrote:

"Isopropyl or Isopropanol (IPA) is typically what's used for, now read slowly,
"""degreasing and/or drying or dehydrating"""."


True. Here's a tip given to me by Mike Marotta's mom. When using a
glass/mirror cleaner like Windex (for all you Greek Wedding fans out there...)
cut the cleaner by half by adding an equal amount of IPA to it. Spray. Wipe.
It does a great job.

Don't do this to your coins, though.

;-)




Anka Z
Co-president of the once thriving, but now defunct, Tommy John Fan Club.
Go, Lake County Captains!

"Dale Hallmark" dalehall.Notthis adds.....

I have cleaned a proof coin with no scratches on it with acetone and a 1/2
inch $35 sable hair artist brush and seen scratches in the fields afterwards. I
have no real explanation.

No gold star for you Dale, you weren't reading. The reason for that is this
simple. You "didn't" clean the coin. You removed whatever the acetone could
remove, but that which was not organic solvent soluble, like simple everyday
environmental surface gooks, crud and developing tarnish, were still on the
surface of the coin. When the sable brush was hauled out, the brush bristles
simply smooshed those cruds hither and yon. It is the plow troughs in that crud
that you are seeing.

Had you soaked the coin in any soap or detergent first, you would have removed
those organisms that alcohol and acetone "can't" and won't ever remove, despite
what 3,908 posters to RCC yesterday, today and tomorrow and the anecdotes they
rode in on, will say.

HTH......I'm here between beers, to serve annoy and posture for all Google
posterity and maybe a caustic mention or 5 in someones demented little web
pages and no mention whatsoever in the next awkward Periodic Post re cleaning
coins.

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.
--=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=--

(Ankaaz) passes along....

True. Here's a tip given to me by Mike Marotta's mom. When using a
glass/mirror cleaner like Windex (for all you Greek Wedding fans out there...)
cut the cleaner by half by adding an equal amount of IPA to it. Spray. Wipe.
It does a great job.

I would imagine that beats vinegars drying talents 10 to 1, but might caution
against letting it pool on (oil) painted wooden surfaces too long. It might
soften them and the next pass with the rag would be a chalky smear on your rag.

Don't do this to your coins, though.

Nice try, but I'll bet you even money this minute, we'll see a post show up
asking about the Windex coin cleaining thing. It's the dynamics of Usenet.

If only Hazel were still with us. She could put us all straight, like Heloise
never could.......:8^)

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.
--=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=--

"Jim" wrote in message
...
"Dale Hallmark" dalehall.Notthis adds.....

I have cleaned a proof coin with no scratches on it with acetone and a
1/2
inch $35 sable hair artist brush and seen scratches in the fields
afterwards. I
have no real explanation.

No gold star for you Dale, you weren't reading. The reason for that is
this
simple. You "didn't" clean the coin. You removed whatever the acetone
could
remove, but that which was not organic solvent soluble, like simple
everyday
environmental surface gooks, crud and developing tarnish, were still on
the
surface of the coin. When the sable brush was hauled out, the brush
bristles
simply smooshed those cruds hither and yon. It is the plow troughs in that
crud
that you are seeing.

Had you soaked the coin in any soap or detergent first, you would have
removed
those organisms that alcohol and acetone "can't" and won't ever remove,
despite
what 3,908 posters to RCC yesterday, today and tomorrow and the anecdotes
they
rode in on, will say.

HTH......I'm here between beers, to serve annoy and posture for all Google
posterity and maybe a caustic mention or 5 in someones demented little web
pages and no mention whatsoever in the next awkward Periodic Post re
cleaning
coins.

makes sense

Dale

Wheeler remarks....

Well..... I heard that you can use glass/mirror cleaner cut with equal amounts
of IPA, vinegar and olive oil to clean coins... Any truth to this? ;-)

Only when mixed with 3 parts Black Angus cow poop from the foothills of the
Ozarks......

Happy 4th Wheeler! Or certainly what's left of the weekend.

Always here for my fellow syngraphist or oenophile.
--=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=----=*=--

Jim wrote:

"If only Hazel were still with us."


You ARE old.

;-)




Anka Z
Co-president of the once thriving, but now defunct, Tommy John Fan Club.
Go, Lake County Captains!

Doggo wrote:

I've always used denatured alcohol to clean VCRs, so I was wondering if it
would be better to use that than isopropyl alcohol for coins. Uncle Sam
told me denatured alcohol was the purest alcohol to use for cleaning and ya
gotta believe the Government. ideas?

Ed
'not for drinking'

ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is the only thing I use on coins and sensitive electronic equipment.

JAM

Which Hazel?

Coin Saver wrote:
From: Jim
If only Hazel were still with us.


Hazel Burke (Shirley Booth) or Witch Hazel (the skin lotion *hamamelin*)?

=side note=
Hazel Burke worked for the Baxters.
=other side note=
the leaves of the witch hazel plant are sometimes used in black magic to
resolve a dillemma or a paradox ...

8-U
Coin Saver

--
Buzz Huse, MCSE+I, MCSE Iter Sine Fine (Journey Without End)

"These opinions/comments are entirely my own and no one else's."

"Pure" alcohol is "anhydrous", meaning no water content, unlike isopropyl,
which is usually 70% alcohol and 30% water.
"Doggo" wrote in message
...
I've always used denatured alcohol to clean VCRs, so I was wondering if it
would be better to use that than isopropyl alcohol for coins. Uncle Sam
told me denatured alcohol was the purest alcohol to use for cleaning and
ya
gotta believe the Government. ideas?

Ed
'not for drinking'