Acetone will indeed dissolve the laquer. It will also dissolve most current chip materials I would not use it for this purpose. You are left with a tough choice; leave it alone, or use something abrasive and end up with the surface of the chip disturbed. You will not be able to get the laquer out of the depressions in the mold, in any case. I would leave them alone if they were mine. Maybe laquer the other side, so they look the same? <g>

One thing you might try. If this is not laquer but shellac, you might be able to dissolve it with alcohol. Alcohol in small amounts won't hurt the chip material. Try some isopropyl alcohol (rubbing type) on a Q-tip and see if it softens the material. If so, go at it. If not, you haven't lost anything. You still probably won't get it out of the recesses in the mold though.

DonL