Storing and using acteone

[JackOfDiamonds]

I do a lot of machining and brazing. Before brazing I need to get the steel perfectly clean. I mainly use two solvents...Dichloroethylene (Brakleen) and acetone.

I like using DCE because it cleans very well, and it's non-flammable, and obviously this is a good thing in the same shop that I am making sparks and using torches. But DCE is a little bit toxic and especially so if it's heated up, when it releases extra-toxic gaseous chlorine compounds. So before brazing I need to use something else, which I prefer acetone. Acetone has very low toxicity but it's extremely flammable.

The problem I have is what type of container to store the acetone in. I store the jug far away in a cabinet, but I need a couple ounces nearby at point of use. Acetone dissolves most plastics except polypropylene, and it evaporates fast so the container has to be sealed. I would like a container resistant to sparks, maybe even metal, but acetone dissolves rubber seals and gaskets, so I don't think an oil can will work. I tried labeled polypropylene laboratory squeeze bottles, like we use in the lab, but they are flawed because temperature fluctuations cause the acetone to gradually pump out of the container. Things like peanut butter jars and baby bottles don't have a spout, so I end up sloshing too much acetone out when I really need a tiny bit. I think I am going to try something like a ketchup squeeze bottle next, but I hate containers that have little red caps because the little caps get lost and you can't use them 1-handed. The old 3-in1 oil bottles, or tap magic bottles with the little cap on a leash would be just about perfect, but I don't know how to refill them with acetone.

Does nobody else have this problem with how to safely store and use small amounts of flammable solvents?

 

[zmotorsports]

I have a 16 oz. squeeze bottle with angled nozzle that I keep my acetone in. It is labeled as acetone and within easy reach on my shelf as I also use it for wiping down material as well as TIG rods when welding. Simply squeeze a small amount on a paper towel and draw the rod through it then wipe the parent material being welded.

 

[tncatadjuster]

I have a pump tank that I put a metal coffee can over the top until needed. Place rag over screen and pump twice and the rag is perfect for wiping.

 

[abachman]

Acetone is a frequent solvent in most chemistry labs. We kept the in-use acetone in a squeeze bottle with a small hole in the top. Otherwise, acetone will weep out the spout on its own. You just place your finger over the small hole (Perhaps 1/8" diameter) when you want to squeeze some out. You can purchase squeeze bottles with the hole already in them from scientific supply companies.

 

[rlitman]

I use acetone for a bunch of things, and have it in three containers.
1) The rectangular steel gallon I buy it in. A gallon lasts me 5 years or so.
2) A quart sized stainless bottle I have that has a polyethylene cap and silicone seal.
3) A Justrite 8oz dispensing bottle like this:


The pump container mentioned above is ideal if you want to moisten a rag with acetone (or paint thinner, or whatever flammable solvent you have in mind). I have a small metal pump container too, though I use it with naphtha. The seal on my pump container is pretty good, but I do lose solvent from it to evaporation over time.

This smaller bottle I linked is designed to be tipped, and then you gently pull on the brass collar to drip out solvent. I can easily wet a rag, or even moisten a q-tip (I do that a lot) without losing a drip from it.

 

[neophyte]

Companies like ProtectoSeal, Eagle, and Justrite, make safety cans for storage dispensing, and safe disposal of flammable liquids and waste.
The cans aren’t always cheap, but if you know what you’re looking for you can sometimes find a deal on Ebay.

As for the flammable fumes,
Maybe make a fine mesh wire cage with no large openings to keep over the bottle if you’re worried about flames getting back to the bottle.
It worked for miners lamps.

 

[Roju1985]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076PT3BD9/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You tuber I follow recommended these for acetone and they are awesome. The cap is attached so you don't lose it and I haven't noticed any lost to evaporation.

 

[rlitman]

Acetone is a frequent solvent in most chemistry labs. We kept the in-use acetone in a squeeze bottle with a small hole in the top. Otherwise, acetone will weep out the spout on its own. You just place your finger over the small hole (Perhaps 1/8" diameter) when you want to squeeze some out. You can purchase squeeze bottles with the hole already in them from scientific supply companies.

When I worked in a chem lab, we purchased acetone in 5 gallon drums which we transferred to a grounded 5 gallon dispensing container that we used to fill the squirt bottles. It works, but you lose acetone to evaporation, and a squirt bottle will end up empty in a month or two because of that.

We were using them in organic chemistry labs, so nobody noticed the solvent smell anyway.

 

[captaindiode]

Here is a small bottle. Menda makes many styles:
https://www.jensentools.com/menda-3...unnbLZ-Ybf_A1vj0290ZcQFIELieOsYhoCX8MQAvD_BwE

 

[bp460]

I re-purpose contact lens solution bottles and use them for acetone and alcohol. Depending on the brand, they can be clear or white with a cap that has a very small opening with an attached flip top cover. The whole cap can be pried off with a screwdriver and then snapped back into place after refilling. Just be sure to clearly label them, especially if there are other contact lens users in your household. In addition, I use bottles with red caps for acetone and white caps for alcohol.

-Brad

 

[Negen]

I stole this from my wife.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[redmondjp]

Some older all-metal pump oil cans, with a flexible metal spout, do not have any rubber parts in them - there may be a rubber gasket on the screw-on top but that can be changed out for a cork one.

This also works well for storing and dispensing the 50/50 ATF-acetone rust penetrant.

 

[alcorelli]

I have a pump tank that I put a metal coffee can over the top until needed. Place rag over screen and pump twice and the rag is perfect for wiping.

Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[zmotorsports]

Here is a small bottle. Menda makes many styles:
https://www.jensentools.com/menda-3...unnbLZ-Ybf_A1vj0290ZcQFIELieOsYhoCX8MQAvD_BwE

I like that one. May have to check into something like that.

Thanks.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I use acetone for a bunch of things, and have it in three containers.
1) The rectangular steel gallon I buy it in. A gallon lasts me 5 years or so.
2) A quart sized stainless bottle I have that has a polyethylene cap and silicone seal.
3) A Justrite 8oz dispensing bottle like this:


The pump container mentioned above is ideal if you want to moisten a rag with acetone (or paint thinner, or whatever flammable solvent you have in mind). I have a small metal pump container too, though I use it with naphtha. The seal on my pump container is pretty good, but I do lose solvent from it to evaporation over time.

This smaller bottle I linked is designed to be tipped, and then you gently pull on the brass collar to drip out solvent. I can easily wet a rag, or even moisten a q-tip (I do that a lot) without losing a drip from it.

Is that dispensing container valve all brass, no seals? I like that. My sureshot did not hold up. On the justrite site, it just says "flammables"

 

[rlitman]

Is that dispensing container valve all brass, no seals? I like that. My sureshot did not hold up. On the justrite site, it just says "flammables"

No, it's not all metal, but mine hasn't has any problems. I'm guessing the seals are viton.

 

[GraySkies]

The chlorine compounds emitted by standard brake cleaner when burned are extremely toxic, so it's good that you are concerned.

There is a non-chlorinated version of brake cleaner, though, that you can buy off the shelf at most places that sell it. If you get the non-chlorinated version, no other cleaning is needed before heating.

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

Yes, but the non-chlorinated is both extremely flammable AND pressurized. One time I knocked a can of WD40 off the workbench and it just happened to hit something sharp and sprayed a giant cloud-bomb of WD-40 mist all over. Luckily there were no sparks or flames that time, but after that I keep spray cans far away from the torch area.

 

[Rinspeed]

I switched to Acrysol several years ago and never looked back, give it a shot, it's an awesome solvent that does many chores very well.




https://www.skygeek.com/kent-automotive-p20005-acrysol-body-solvent-quart-can.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_content=kent-automotive-p20005-acrysol-body-solvent-quart-can&utm_campaign=froogle&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqLGtguvi7QIVCuazCh3cVgkLEAQYASABEgIN0fD_BwE

 

[bas157]

something like this?
https://www.berlinpackaging.com/32-oz-steel-cone-top-cans-metal-delta-cap-1905t05
or
https://www.berlinpackaging.com/cans/

 

[svtride]

I have a slightly larger version of this Justrite brass topped container for acetone. IMO, the best way to dispense small amounts of acetone onto a rag. No leaks, no evaporation, spill proof. Worth the peace of mind.

 

[metaldad]

just picked up a plews applicator pump can.
steel, innards are steel.
there is a brush option for the nozzle.
this might work for you.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HWDETY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rlitman]

I have a slightly larger version of this Justrite brass topped container for acetone. IMO, the best way to dispense small amounts of acetone onto a rag. No leaks, no evaporation, spill proof. Worth the peace of mind.

No evaporation is right! I left mine unused once for three years, and it was still half full when i picked it up after that. Lost nothing. My pump can can’t do that by any means.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

No evaporation is right! I left mine unused once for three years, and it was still half full when i picked it up after that. Lost nothing. My pump can can’t do that by any means.

I just ordered the quart size on you fellas accolades. It was hard to hit purchase on a $40 bottle!

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

I'm thinking the same thing. The smaller one is fine with me but I've never spent $30 on an empty container before. I need to think about it like safety equipment like a fire extinguisher which, now that I think about it, needs upgraded too...

 

[AmericanMechanic]

I've used one of these for years with good results so far. $12/doz. I use them in a climate controlled space and sparks are not a common concern.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008IS1802