Interior Upholstery

[scottfromiowa]

Nail polish remover is acetone. I've used acetone bare handed many times for small projects. It will dry the skin.

 

(I have no personal experience but from what I understand from our experienced "pot washers" who worked over the open vats all day long you might not want to be breathing acetone if you're hung over. Said to be an unpleasant combo.)

Pull up and read MSDS for Acetone. Do not get in eyes or on skin. Use in a ventilated area. Not nail polish. May contain Acetone, but NOT Acetone. Be careful working with this stuff...

[scottfromiowa]

Very flammable too...

[scottfromiowa]

Acetone "boils" between 130-135F. It evaporates quite rapidly at room temperature so the chilling effect of the heat of evaporation is unavoidable. But acetone is pretty innocuous. It is naturally occurring in the body. Years ago, we used large vats of acetone to clean ss mixing pots used to mix "cultured" marble, (thermoset polyester). The acetone is not penetrating your gloves, you're feeling the energy grab as the solvent evaporates. MEK on the other hand should not be breathed.

This is NOT GOOD ADVISE!!! Acetone is NOT innocuous. Be careful. Type MSDS in google search and read/follow it.

[isaacpr7]

Pull up and read MSDS for Acetone. Do not get in eyes or on skin. Use in a ventilated area. Not nail polish. May contain Acetone, but NOT Acetone. Be careful working with this stuff...

Scott,

WOW!!!  Reading that MSDS was an eye opener. Thanks for the info and yet another lesson. I could have hurt myself due to my ignorance. I will follow the MSDS recommendations while handeling this material.

 

http://physics.utsa.edu/memslab/MSDS/Acetone.pdf

[Marauder]

Just to add some commentary since I happen to be a chemist by education. Acetone in the grand scheme of chemicals is a pussy cat. Many of the solvents commonly found in items we use are really nasty. And as Scott pointed out, it is important to read through the Material Safety Data Sheets to understand the risks. And more importantly how to protect yourself.

Sent using Tapatalk

[Bob_Belville]

Scott, I think you must be thinking about something else:

 

Wikipedia:

"Familiar household uses of acetone are as the active ingredient in nail polish remover and as paint thinner.

Acetone is produced and disposed of in the human body through normal metabolic processes. It is normally present in blood and urine. People with diabetes produce it in larger amounts. Reproductive toxicity tests show that it has low potential to cause reproductive problems. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children have higher levels of acetone.^[10]Ketogenic diets that increase acetone in the body are used to reduce epileptic attacks in infants and children who suffer from recalcitrant refractory epilepsy.

[Bob_Belville]

Medical and cosmetic uses

Acetone is used in a variety of general medical and cosmetic applications and is also listed as a component in food additives and food packaging. Dermatologists use acetone with alcohol for acne treatments to peel dry skin.

Acetone is commonly used in chemical peeling. Common agents used today for chemical peels are salicylic acid, glycolic acid, 30% salicylic acid in ethanol, and trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Prior to chemexfoliation, the skin is cleaned and excess fat removed in a process called defatting. Acetone, Septisol, or a combination of these agents is commonly used in this process.^{[citation needed]}

Domestic and other niche uses

Acetone is often the primary component in cleaning agents such as nail polish remover. It is commonly mixed with Aqua, Glycerin, Lanolin Oil, Methylparaben and BHT for this use. Acetone is a component of superglue remover and easily removes residues from glass and porcelain. Make-up artists use acetone to remove skin adhesive from the netting of wigs and moustaches by immersing the item in an acetone bath, then removing the softened glue residue with a stiff brush.

[Bob_Belville]

Compare the MSDS for Isopropyl Alcohol. (rubbing alcohol) 

 

Couldn't find an MSDS for mother's milk but suspect is it hazardous to OSHA.

[scottfromiowa]

Just to add some commentary since I happen to be a chemist by education. Acetone in the grand scheme of chemicals is a pussy cat. Many of the solvents commonly found in items we use are really nasty. And as Scott pointed out, it is important to read through the Material Safety Data Sheets to understand the risks. And more importantly how to protect yourself.Sent using Tapatalk

Compared to MEK, TRICHLOROETHANE, I agree. Still not benign.

[scottfromiowa]

$&@& it. Bath in it. What me worry?

[Bob_Belville]

No one suggested drinking it.

 

I used to buy acetone 20 drums, 1100 gallons at a time. We had open vats for cleaning ss pots by hand. OSHA visited us regularly. The "pot washer" wore gloves because he had his hands in the acetone all day long.

 

So I have no problem advising someone to use it as a solvent to clean up epoxy or polyester. Is it widely used in industries working with these polymers. It is cheap and safer than any other solvent that does a decent job.

 

It might not be literally harmless, sue me. BTW, I cut up habanero chilies w/o gloves so consider the source. 

[SkyPilot]

I used to prep aircraft surfaces with MEK using just a rag and bare hands. The boss never told me the stuff was nasty. I'm still waiting for my liver to fall out. He is just about dead of old age no point suing

 

I still use acetone it is nice but I'm updated now on MSDS usage. It's hopefully never too late

[jetdriven]

Isopropyl alcohol cleans up up cured epoxy pretty good.

[Bob_Belville]

Please read MSDSs carefully. While the information is important and useful they have been through about as many CYA lawyers as chemists or doctors. Almost everything in our environment is a suspected carcinogen.  

[carusoam]

Nice thing about MSDSs... They are accessible and easy to read.

Do not rely on your nose to tell if something is dangerous or not. Carbon monoxide is pretty dangerous and completely odorless.

Do not rely on the customs of people at work. Rely on yourself. Be smart.

I have cleaned process equipment with MEK. No protection. It was tradition. Nobody else in the plant was using protection. Funny thing... One day, the plant burned down...

"Somebody" should have known better....

Certainly a Mooney pilot knows better, today!

Best regards,

-a-

[Bob_Belville]

Nice thing about MSDSs... They are accessible and easy to read.

Do not rely on your nose to tell if something is dangerous or not. Carbon monoxide is pretty dangerous and completely odorless.

Do not rely on the customs of people at work. Rely on yourself. Be smart.

I have cleaned process equipment with MEK. No protection. It was tradition. Nobody else in the plant was using protection. Funny thing... One day, the plant burned down...

"Somebody" should have known better....

Certainly a Mooney pilot knows better, today!

Best regards,

-a-

Interesting post. You seem to be implying that the plant burned down because workers did not wear gloves and respirators when working with MEK? No one here claims that MEK should be breathed or handled recklessly. And no one claims that either of these solvents are not flammable. Neither is true. I did suggest the risks with acetone are much more like rubbing alcohol (or mineral spirits) than MEK. I stand by that.  

 

Mooney pilots may be smarter than the average Joe, or not, but a chemical engineering degree is certainly not a prerequisite to swinging a Johnson Bar or reading an approach plate so Issac asked for advice about solvents and on MS, ask and you will receive. Some of the advice it is worth what you pay for. It's amusing how often I hear some one carry on about some terrible health hazard, artificial sweeteners, hormones in beef cattle, between puffs on their Lucky Strikes.

 

This reminds me a little of the pontification that goes on here when the discussion of jacking a Mooney with the tail held down comes up.

[fantom]

 

This reminds me a little of the pontification that goes on here when the discussion of jacking a Mooney with the tail held down comes up.

 

Still that old jacking issue, Bob??? LOL. There are MUCH better flying examples, or taxi ones, for that matter.

 

We pontificate about everything!

[Marauder]

That's why I love spending my lunch hour here. Much more fun than hanging by one arm off of a tree. You guys crack me up.

[fantom]

That's why I love spending my lunch hour here. Much more fun than hanging by one arm off of a tree. You guys crack me up.

 You can do both!

 

[Marauder]

 You can do both!  

  But it challenges my bipedalism! And oh, you're link is broken but I think I get the idea.

[fantom]

  But it challenges my bipedalism! And oh, you're link is broken but I think I get the idea.

 

[carusoam]

Dp...

[carusoam]

I went on a bit regarding changes in society...

The plant that didn't follow good manufacturing practices or safety practices, lit itself on fire...

Everyone knows the issues with smoking.

Now everyone knows where to find the best way to handle challenging solvents.

Use them or don't. Just use them properly because you know how.

Pontificate if you like.

I didn't mention the chemical engineering degrees did I?

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

Is that BD Cooper, now, Chris?  I must have missed a branch somewhere in your evolutionary tree. 

 

Jim

Not an tree branch thing. Just hiding for all these years as a Chimp. 

[M20D6607U]

What are you using for insulation behind the panels.  Also what do you recommend for inside the firewall in front of the pedals. Speaking of pedals, the boots are a bear to get at, I see they are held down with a plate that's held down with tiny screws to the floor and bulkhead. Any tricks to replace this and who supplies them. Thanks for the help on my M20D ©. Great source of Mooney Love here!

Ron