51 replies to this topic

[Potassium chlorate]

Be careful gas masks can hide large build ups of solvent which can create explosive atmospheres and runnaway reactions. Obviously a full face mask with a good dust filter is essential, but think long and hard about adding a solvent filter (I use them in certain situations).

Well, I guess I could stand the fumes of ethyl acetate. It's really expensive in Sweden though, while acetone is pretty cheap.

I don't use any gas mask when working with alcohol, though.

[Arthur Brown]

Having seen a real solvent fire flashover in a real lab I don't want to see another. We still don't know what started it but about 100ml of acetone was being used for a solvent extraction by the usual technician in the usual way in the usual place, this time it flashed over. No-one was hurt but everything on the bench was scorched, and if any of that had been flammable...not nice thought.

UK H&S rules specify clearly that PPE is only the last line of defence against a hazard, so the hazard must be removed or reduced then the exposure time should be reduced, then consider PPE to further minimise the hazard.

[Deano 1]

I've been a fibreglass laminator for 25+ years so acetone has been a part of my everyday life for the same, as it is used as a tool cleaner. I can tell you a story or two, but I won't, because it would just scare the f*#k out of some of you with a slightly feminine side. The point is,,,,, common sense. If you treat acetone the same as your whistle mix or your flash powders you will be fine ( static sparks do ignite acetone ), and acetone as a solvent is perfectly harmless to the human body ( just don't drink too much ) , infact your body produces its own acetone. A little tip, if you have a company that uses fibreglass on your local industrial estate, they will sell you acetone as cheap as chips, just tell them you want it to thin down hammerite paint and clean your brushes. ( theres another tip ).

[digger]

The point is,,,,, common sense.

Easy to say with 25 years experience. Not everyone here has that, better to be aware of the risks. I work as a chemical engineer designing refineries. The big accidents that kill people are 99 times out 100 because people underestimate the risk "It will be ok"...... boom.

Yep acetone is cheap less than £1 per liter usually.

Edited by digger, 29 June 2010 - 10:37 PM.

[digger]

I don't use any gas mask when working with alcohol, though.

We have a refinery in Sweden, I used to visit it quite often (not so much these days). I have to the Swedes are a pretty friendly bunch. Talking about the alcohol bit, do many people distill their own moonshine out in the sticks (a few people did let on about their still's last time I was there)?

[Potassium chlorate]

We have a refinery in Sweden, I used to visit it quite often (not so much these days). I have to the Swedes are a pretty friendly bunch. Talking about the alcohol bit, do many people distill their own moonshine out in the sticks (a few people did let on about their still's last time I was there)?

Yup, Swedes are usually friendly. Maybe a bit shy but friendly.

Haha, yes, moonshine is pretty common here, though after we became a EU member, you can take in pretty much legally from Denmark and Germany, which is a great option for those who live in southern Sweden.

[shellbreak]

I made up the stars in my new kit the other day and test lit a few on the concrete floor.....the 8 colours are excellent though the blue is a little pale.
Making the stars acetone bound was very easy and they were dry in a couple of hours..
Like Deano said 'a great bit of kit'.
Would reccomend the seller and his product and will buy again....2 kg of 8 different coloured stars for around 36 quid including the postage not bad I reccon for the price. If I had had to buy all the chems seperately it would have cost me a lot more.