Smoothing ABS with acetone vapor

[g. wygonik]

I know it has been mentioned a few times deep in threads, but figured I'd pass this on as a top-level topic since there is a new video of using a Presto deep fryer / steamer as a cheap acetone vapor container for smoothing ABS:

http://solidoodletips.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/presto-part-finisher/

And be sure to check out the link he points to as his inspiration for some great results: http://www.soliforum.com/topic/448/diy-smoothing-station-ii/

I just wish I could get that nice translucent ABS in 3mm :-\

Cheers,
g.

[charlestx]

Isn't acetone highly flammable? I would be scared to use it with a
heat source like a deep fryer.

[g. wygonik]

That is discussed in the forum post -- yes, it is flammable, and caution must be used. However, as one person said -- it's a deep fryer, OIL can ignite in the thing if not careful.

One gentleman did some rather dubious tests by pouring acetone on the hot inner bowl, as well as on the electronics, and it didn't ignite. Hardly scientific and most dangerous, but used responsibly it seems this is a good option to get a nice finish. I would still do it outside, wearing a respirator.

g.

[Jeremy Green]

It might be a little safer (but not much) to use a cheap rice cooker with a steamer basket.  I think they tend to be around 300 watts instead of 1500 watts.

They tend to have a hole in the lid though.  You could cover it with some kapton though.

-Jeremy

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[RocketSled]

By itself, none of these heating elements get hot enough to cause Acetone vapor to ignite.  It's sparks and other ignition sources you need to worry about.  Autoignition of Acetone occurs at about 870ºF.   That's higher than Gasoline, Kerosene, and even plain old Pine (wood).  I couldn't find a reference for cooking oil, but fuel oil temperatures are in the 500ºF range, and I would expect cooking oils to be similar (since you can burn fryolater oil in a diesel engine without modification).

It might stink and rot your brain if you breath it, but short of an external ignition source it looks like Acetone is at lot less likely to burst in to flames than cooking oil. 

Of course, the vapor pressure is a lot lower (it evaporates quicker) so it's going to disperse as a gas quicker than oil will when heated.  That's worth considering.  You may not have an ignition source where you're heating the Acetone, but the vapors are going to diffuse in to the surrounding area much quicker and to a higher degree.

[PropellerScience]

We have a neat de-fluxer here at work that uses vapor. Unfortunately
the fumes are so horrible that I stay far away from it. Acetone is
candy compared to that stuff in the de-fluxer. I think I need to step
outside now for a breath of fresh air (and it's 60 degrees outside!)