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I've got my circulated 90% in wrappers, and an assortment of tubes...some of the tubes fit the denomination perfect with no rattles, some leave a lot to be desired. Which tubes have you had best luck with as far as a ideal fit?

I like the square coinsafe tubes.

I love coinsafe tubes over the round clear ones with the screw on top.

Same as above, coinsafe. Anyone know a member that sells?

+1

I have more than one of the hard plastic ones that is petrified and the coins are trapped. It has to be broken to remove them.

I have a roll of BU 62 dimes in one of these and I don't think they can be removed without damaging them...Boiling water?

It's actually a subject for a new thread. How do I safely remove coins from a petrified tube?

Thogey wrote:+1

I have more than one of the hard plastic ones that is petrified and the coins are trapped. It has to be broken to remove them.

I have a roll of BU 62 dimes in one of these and I don't think they can be removed without damaging them...Boiling water?

It's actually a subject for a new thread. How do I safely remove coins from a petrified tube?

Boiling water won't get hot enough, but oil would work. You'll need somewhere between 275-325F to soften the lid.

Personally, I'd just grab a heat gun and some gloves. If you get melted plastic stuck to the coins, lacquer thinner will dissolve the acrylic.

Engineer wrote:

Thogey wrote:+1

I have more than one of the hard plastic ones that is petrified and the coins are trapped. It has to be broken to remove them.

I have a roll of BU 62 dimes in one of these and I don't think they can be removed without damaging them...Boiling water?

It's actually a subject for a new thread. How do I safely remove coins from a petrified tube?

Boiling water won't get hot enough, but oil would work. You'll need somewhere between 275-325F to soften the lid.

Personally, I'd just grab a heat gun and some gloves. If you get melted plastic stuck to the coins, lacquer thinner will dissolve the acrylic.

I really don't se this process happening. Maybe just drop the roll in acetone?

Thogey wrote:

Engineer wrote:

Thogey wrote:+1

I have more than one of the hard plastic ones that is petrified and the coins are trapped. It has to be broken to remove them.

I have a roll of BU 62 dimes in one of these and I don't think they can be removed without damaging them...Boiling water?

It's actually a subject for a new thread. How do I safely remove coins from a petrified tube?

Boiling water won't get hot enough, but oil would work. You'll need somewhere between 275-325F to soften the lid.

Personally, I'd just grab a heat gun and some gloves. If you get melted plastic stuck to the coins, lacquer thinner will dissolve the acrylic.

I really don't se this process happening. Maybe just drop the roll in acetone?

If you can handle using a heat gun to remove old paint, you can get the cap off that tube. All you need to do is get it warm enough to soften the cap without completely melting/burning the plastic. The lacquer thinner is only needed if you really fluff things up.

If you're too worried about torching the plastic, use some leather gloves and dunk the cap in a 300 degree fry daddy.

Engineer wrote:

Thogey wrote:+1

I have more than one of the hard plastic ones that is petrified and the coins are trapped. It has to be broken to remove them.

I have a roll of BU 62 dimes in one of these and I don't think they can be removed without damaging them...Boiling water?

It's actually a subject for a new thread. How do I safely remove coins from a petrified tube?

Boiling water won't get hot enough, but oil would work. You'll need somewhere between 275-325F to soften the lid.

Personally, I'd just grab a heat gun and some gloves. If you get melted plastic stuck to the coins, lacquer thinner will dissolve the acrylic.

Why not just put it in the freezer overnight and whack it good?

Be sure and wear eye protection- some of those small hard plastic parts can be fairly sharp when they go flying.

johnbrickner wrote:Same as above, coinsafe. Anyone know a member that sells?

I buy from JP's corner.

I have a bunch of Whitman, Harris, & Anco, etc clear plastic tubes of dimes, quarters & halves. Should I be concerned about them sticking shut? I've had no problems from them so far for the last decade. I've recently switched to the square Numis tubes because the source for the round tubes dried up (and the square ones organize easier).

Thogey wrote:+1

I have more than one of the hard plastic ones that is petrified and the coins are trapped. It has to be broken to remove them.

I have a roll of BU 62 dimes in one of these and I don't think they can be removed without damaging them...Boiling water?

It's actually a subject for a new thread. How do I safely remove coins from a petrified tube?

Thogey,
Any idea how they became "petrified"? Humidity/moisture, heat/cold? I have a bunch of the clear plastic tubes and no problems so far but want to make sure I don't cause myself problems... Any insight as to what caused the "fossil-ization" of your tubes?

I don't know how it happened. The caps come off but the coins are stuck and the plastic is yellow.

I really don't want to use chemicals or strike them with a hammer.

Avoid the hard plastic ones for long term storage.

Hmmh, mine are clear. Maybe sunlight caused? (yellowed). None of mine were stuck, but I did accidentally drop a tube of halves once and the tube/lid shattered. The coins scattered but were unharmed. Just a thought...

Thogey wrote:I don't know how it happened. The caps come off but the coins are stuck and the plastic is yellow.

I really don't want to use chemicals or strike them with a hammer.

Avoid the hard plastic ones for long term storage.

Since its the tubes, you'd need a steady 340F to soften the acrylic. A commercial convection oven would do the trick, but I wouldn't trust a standard household oven.

Thogey wrote:I don't know how it happened. The caps come off but the coins are stuck and the plastic is yellow.

I really don't want to use chemicals or strike them with a hammer.

Avoid the hard plastic ones for long term storage.

Another idea: thermal shock

Score the tube up and down to create cleavage planes, then change the temperature really fast. Ice water to boiling water, or vice-versa.

Engineer wrote:

Thogey wrote:I don't know how it happened. The caps come off but the coins are stuck and the plastic is yellow.

I really don't want to use chemicals or strike them with a hammer.

Avoid the hard plastic ones for long term storage.

Another idea: thermal shock

Score the tube up and down to create cleavage planes, then change the temperature really fast. Ice water to boiling water, or vice-versa.

I've never tried with coins but I've seen folks turn a can of Dust Remover spray upside down and spray metal objects when all else fails and a saws-all isn't handy. The propellant acts like a freezing spray. Then they smack with a hammer. If you get the metal cold enough it will break or shatter when struck. I would imagine if sprayed on plastic and lightly tapped it would crack or break. U might want to proceed with caution and don't hold me responsible for outcome...

back to the original question.

Best coin tubes -

What is the best coin tube for wrapped rolls? Gov issue or self wrapped.

I like the coinsafe tubes, but they don't hold my mint rolled coins well. they stick out just enough where the lid does not snap back tight.

Anyone here store wrapped rolls in tubes?

FWIW- I decided to go with coin safes.

Has anyone else had problems with the older clear Whitman, Harris, or Anco, clear plastic tubes for dimes, quarters or halves? I have a lot of rolls (6+ dozen) for my 90% & 40%. I keep them in a cool, dry area and they rarely see any light.

Best coin tubes? Full coin tubes! Definitely the best. Beats empty ones any day.

Keep stacking! Pats rule!

silverflake wrote:Best coin tubes? Full coin tubes! Definitely the best. Beats empty ones any day.

Keep stacking! Pats rule!

Bravo...except the PATS comment