Concentration of acetone for cleaning finds?

[StevieJ]

Evening all,
I’ve switched to using acetone to clean copper alloy finds. It’s working pretty well but I was cleaning a George ii half penny yesterday and lost some of the detail. Perhaps it wasn’t salvable but I was wondering what concentration other members tend to use. I’ve been using it neat but noticed in some of you seem to be using diluted solutions. Does anyone recommend diluting and if so, what dilution would you use, and does it depend on the find? Many thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers
Stevie

[Rank81]

I tend to use use the cheap nail polish remover and that's worked well so far. Not sure what strength that is off top of my head though

[StevieJ]

I tend to use use the cheap nail polish remover and that's worked well so far. Not sure what strength that is off top of my head though

Thanks again Rank81. Can I ask, do you tend to soak in the items in the acetone solution or use a brush to apply and remove dirt at the same time? I’ve so far been doing the latter.

[Rank81]

I tend to use on those items thst need that extra bit of TLC or or are that bit special etc whete I'm happy to spend a bit of time . So with that I tend to use cotton buds dipped in the acetone.

[ratty]

I tend to use use the cheap nail polish remover and that's worked well so far. Not sure what strength that is off top of my head though

Beware of nail polish remover they have a oil content, they are also a ridicules price.
Diluting it is pointless as when used neat it will pull the water out of the artefact.
Acetone is used as the solvent for Paraloid B-72 which is use to conserve objects, I use a 5% solution which leaves a barely visible film which can be removed if required.
One litre of acetone an on line store, not fleabay the other one.£7.00 inc delivery.
https://www.preservationequipment.com/C ... -P422-9250

[Rank81]

Beware of nail polish remover they have a oil content, they are also a ridicules price.
Diluting it is pointless as when used neat it will pull the water out of the artefact.
Acetone is used as the solvent for Paraloid B-72 which is use to conserve objects, I use a 5% solution which leaves a barely visible film which can be removed if required.
One litre of acetone an on line store, not fleabay the other one.£7.00 inc delivery.
https://www.preservationequipment.com/C ... -P422-9250

I use paraloid after cleaning, but sometimes I find it gives a very shinny shinny finish to certain objects, even when using the 5% . The 10% recomended by PAS i find not so great, but with an object such a broken hammered it does help hold it together.
Anything with signs of bronze disease I also dry out first as directed by the FLO before using paraloid, as even though this creates a seal of sorts, the bronze disease will continue