IPA vs acetone for cleaning things?

JonJ678

JonJ678

JonJ678

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I mainly have the ihs in mind, but probably mosfets as well. I've always used isopropyl in the past but I'm having surprising amounts of trouble finding any, however I can get as much acetone as I can drink from the nearest pharmacist.

Is acetone going to do anything surprising? I don't think I can clean acrylic with either, and probably can't clean POM. It might eat fan housings as well thinking about it. Anything I should be wary of?

p.s. I won't actually drink it, nor should the reader
 
Acetone melts certain plastics such as ABS, and can dull the surface of acrylic fairly quickly. It can also leave a residue. I have used it without complaint personally.

I can get IPA. Email me via my trust!
 
Isopropyl cracks acrylic, dulling the surface instead is a step in the right direction but probably best avoided.

Surprised it leaves a residue, was that with chemically pure acetone or with carefully chosen nail varnish remover?
 
What exactly would you like to clean?
Acetone and IPA have similar characteristics.
Both are good on glass and very bad on plastic.
If it is for thermal paste, Akaska tim clean takes some beating.
 
You can get a 1ltr of IPA for £6.4 delivered from a certain auction site. Stick to IPA if there's any chance of getting it near thermoplastics like polystyrene or debonding adhesives. Acetone is more aggressive and drys faster leaving residue quicker.
 
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we always used ipa in the workshops- cheap, effective, evaporates quickly and leaves no harmful residue.

Used to have great fun with opened airfix paints and the plastic 'moulds' in a sealed tin. Gooey.
 
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