Acetone - How To Use For Model Building

[maxman]

I'm looking for some basic information on how to use acetone for model building.

I recently purchased a 3D printed kit which recommends using acetone for assembly.  The material is stated to be ABS.

Is the acetone applied similar to liquid plastic cement?

Will the Plastruct-type liquid adhesives that claim to bond ABS work as well as the acetone?

How about nail polish remover?  I think some of these contain acetone.

I am already aware of the "bad" properties of acetone, so no need to go there!

Thanks

Dick

[DrW]

While I have no experience with acetone for model building, chemically both compounds are very simiar. Plastruct-type liquid adhesives are methylethylketone, while acetone is dimethylketone. Acetone will evaporate a bit quicker.

JW

[mrrdad]

I use acetone frequently, but not for modeling. It evaporates very quickly and is hard on the skin. It is also very thin to work with.

 

Ed

[BuchananBucks]

Most of the true solvents I've tried are just too smelly and uber flammable, so I stick to Plastruct or Testor solvents or CA. I have used contact cement as well, but only for bracing, not for bonding walls together.

Dan

[dstarr]

I buy acetone in quart cans at  the paint department.  I would pour it into an empty plastic welder bottle, the kind with a brush in the cap.  I might label the bottle as containing acetone, especially if you have other simular bottles with other stuff in them.  I would apply it the same way as I apply plastic welder.  Dunno how other stuff will work on the 3D printed material.  I think I would follow the maker's instructions.  Nail polish remover is mostly acetone but it has some skin softener oils and other stuff in it.  I would stick with straight acetone.

[mbinsewi]

I agree with David.  I've never used acetone as a "welder", but I would follow the assembly instructions.

I use MEK for styrene.

Mike.

[nwsisu]

I am not familiar with kits, but when I joined together the sections of my 3D printed bridge (my own design), I tried different methods. One that seemed to work well, was dipping a q-tip in acetone, and then run the q-tip along the joints. But you need to experiment first, so you don't ruin your kit.

You can also make "acetone abs glue". I did that and it also works well. Just google acetone abs glue for the recipe.

[gregc]

maxman

Will the Plastruct-type liquid adhesives that claim to bond ABS work as well as the acetone?

on the scale of various solvents used for stripping paint, i think acetone is closer to mineral spirits and turpentine than methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) which is what Plastruct adhesive is and toluene.

MEK is a solvent that temporarily disolves the surface of styrene, allowing two pieces to join when the solvent evaporates and the material hardens.

i have a can a acetone handy for removing paint.

[G Paine]

maxman

How about nail polish remover?

Nail polish remover usually has acetone, but also has oil and some other stuff. Better to go to the hardware store and buy 100% acetone. 

[maxman]

nwsisu

Just google acetone abs glue for the recipe.

Thanks.  Did Google.  Lots of interesting stuff.