Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Acetone for wood finishing

Acetone is quite common solvent and widely used in the finishing industry. Chemically this material is the member of ketones group (the hydrocarbon that contain O group). As a solvent acetone has a high solubility for many types of coating, pigments, paints and resins. Acetone is usually added in small amount in the mix of the thinner for paints to improve the solubility of the thinner. Most of finishing materials; coating, paints, pigments and stains can be dissolved by acetone.
Acetone is volatile materials; its evaporation rate number 4,5. It means that his evaporation rate is about 4,5 times compare with the buthyl acetate.( see our previous post, the properties of common solvent in the finishing industry )
The acetone in the thinner can also be used to raise the evaporation rate of the thinner. Acetone can be added to the lacquer thinner to accelerate the drying time of the mixed. In the specific cases it can be added in some amount in the top coat, sealer or paint mixed. Some acetone in the sealer or top coat can be used to solve the bubble, blistering and pinhole problem. However, the acetone in the mixture of paint thinner is limited in small amount. Too much acetone in the paint will disrupt flow and cause rough and even uneven surface layer. The paint that is dry too fast also potentially causing the adhesion problems. Acetone also dissolves each other with water; the acetone in the coating especially in big amount will tend to absorb moisture from the air and causes the blushing problem.

acetone to wahs off the finishing layer

The other use of the Acetone is as a washing thinner. With its high solubility, acetone is a good solvent for washing and cleaning the finishing equipment. In the finishing industry the acetone is used to clean the spray gun, pressure tank, pump, agitator after being used.. It is also used to clean the also small appliances such as cup, spoon, and other tools used after they being used. It also can be used to clean the grease and rust for the other woodworking machines.
Acetone is also in ideal solvent to wash the resolvable finishing layer. If we want to refinish the finishing layer since of many reasons, we can use acetone with very good result. Acetone can solve the NC coating, varnish, shellac, water based coating and the thermoplastic material. It also work to solve the PU, AC or even UV coating that has not fully dries.
Acetone is also widely used for testing the strength of coating layer. If we want to test the solvent resistance of the coating layer, the acetone as the standard solvent used. The finishing layer is tested by wetted with acetone or lightly rub with a cloth dampened with acetone to check its resistance to the solvent.

The storage and handling of acetone.

With so many functions, acetone is important solvent in the finishing industry. Acetone need to be available in the finishing workshop, finishing industry and furniture factories that do the process of finishing. However, the storage and handling acetone should be carefully done. Acetone is a flammable material and more dangerous because it is very volatile. Acetone in the open container will soon evaporate and the fumes will fill up the air. The room that is filled with acetone fume would be very dangerous because it has a high risk for fire. Any small spark in this room will causes fire and ended with big fire disaster.
The acetone storage should always be managed carefully. It should be stored in a closed can, pail or drums. The material should be placed in the room with good air circulation. Avoid fire and all sources of ignition in the room. The electricity connections and panels should always be placed in closed box to avoid a fire from the electricity sparking
Provide ground network in the room. Every time we do handling to the material then we must first ground the cans, drums or pails to avoid sparks from the static electricity. Avoid the impact or friction between metals in the room because it can generate the sparks from static electricity generated.

1 comment for "Acetone for wood finishing"

  1. I think I have never seen such blogs ever before that has complete things with all details which I want. So kindly update this ever for us.
    click here to learn more

    ReplyDelete