acetone,where & when

What size nails Mike ? 6D , 8D ......... ?  

If you paint your nails then you have a lifetime supply of remover.

Acetone is a good solvent for cleaning almost anything polymer based (as stated, it has little immediate effect on cured resin, but I would not soak a resin part in it.) It is the active ingredient in nail polish remover It is very aggressive to styrene. It has a very high vapor pressure and is extremely flammable.

Acetone is considered to be of low toxicity. However, it is extremely dangerous to the eyes. Always wear adequate eye protection when using. High vapor concentrations may cause drowsiness, irritation, nausea, vomiting, and if prolonged can result in serious injury or death. It dries the skin and mucous membranes, and may cause or aggravate dermatitis.

Acetone attacks lipids, fats, and oils, and for that reason is not always a good solvent for enamels and oil based paints, sometimes making them gummy, sticky, and even more difficult to remove. Test first!

Acetone is moderately miscible with water. However, it is sudden and complete death to acrylic and other aqueous paint systems.

As others have stated, it can be used as a general purpose cleanter and thinner in various applications. It is the best debonder for cyanoacrylate glues.

Because of its high vapor pressure, it is not a good solvent cement. 

I sometimes use acetone to clean photoetch frets before painting, if them seem oily in any way. What I more often use it for is to remove the paint from a photoetch fret if it came out of the spray can too blobby, or if I held the can too close to the fret and globbed up the details with too much paint (much more likely)/

You can thin epoxy with it or you could use it to soften balsa for bending it (dries faster than using water)

 Michael

It can also be used to clean airbrush parts.  A short soak usually removes all paint.  Be careful with this stuff as it is very toxic.

 

Mike

Acetone can be used to thin putties, that's the only thing I use it for.

Acetone is a key ingredient in superglue debonder. Acetone may be used as a thinner for some paints (experiment a bit) I've used acetone to clean PE prior to painting and to remove paint from PE when I messed up the spray. Chuck the brass into a jar of acetone. Acetone will affect styrene, but has no affects on resin. Acetone is flamamble, so practice good industrial hygene with it. Keep excess fumes from ignition sources,etc.