Plex/acetone mixure?

[Paul Downes]

All right you guys. I tried to mix up some plexiglass/acetone for a stabalizing solution and and the results look rather dubious. I broke up some plex and filled a quart jar with this and acetone and the results after a day was a slightly milky fluid on top of a solid layer of plexiglass goo in the bottom. I tried shaking the jar and a milky looking melted cheesey looking snot was all that would separate from the relatively clear goo on the bottom. Any ideas?

 

[thetalbott4]

With milky looking melted cheesey looking snot and relatively clear goo along with the slightly milky fluid...I'd suggest antibiotics.[]

 

[btboone]

Paul, try stirring the mixture loosely and setting it to cure. If it works, you may have discovered the secret to fancy looking acrylic blanks.

 

[Dario]

First off, I am new to plexi-acetone stabilizing too...but mine came off clear. the thick melted plexi took a few days before finally mixing with the acetone completely. Agitating/mixing the jar by shaking it regularly seems to help.

Re: the cheesy goo you referred to...are you sure the jar, plexi and acetone were "clean" to begin with? Is it posible that the jar cover was lined inside with something that acetone melted and got mixed with your solution?

I know too many questions, but just trying to figure out what caused the "anomaly"

 

[brokenbit]

Had the same thing happen to me.
Did you get your actone at home depot! Plix will go into a white ball
Its different tahn what you get at Lowe's


Bernie

 

[dfurlano]

I bet there are various types of plexiglass including ones with a clear coat of silicone to help with scratching or fogging.

 

[Paul Downes]

I don't remember where I bought the acetone. I didn't know there was different grades. Maybe watered down like cheap whiskey? I did shake it up and it seemed to go into solution more. I went ahead and threw in a couple of blanks. Maybe when i get around to it I'll draw a vacuum on the jar and see what happens. Sort of reminds me of that old limeick. "Lincoln, Lincoln I been thinkin' whats that stuff that youv'e been drinkin'. Looks like water tastes like wine, oh my gosh it's turpintine!

If there's silicone in the mix it might prevent the plastic from penetrating the wood[]

 

[davidrei]

I got some plexi at Lowes, one was called Lucite, the other was called something like Lucite-super-duper (don't remember the real name). The regular Lucite disolved clear while the super strong version disolved cloudy as you described. I don't know if the cloudy stuff will make much difference after using it, it MAY dry clear, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

 

[mwechtal]

Originally posted by davidrei
<br />I got some plexi at Lowes, one was called Lucite, the other was called something like Lucite-super-duper (don't remember the real name). The regular Lucite disolved clear while the super strong version disolved cloudy as you described. I don't know if the cloudy stuff will make much difference after using it, it MAY dry clear, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

We may be talking about Plexiglass which is acrylic, and Lexan which is polycarbonate. This is a SWAG, but I think Lexan is less soluble, and I have no idea if it would work for stabilizing. Maybe that's what Paul is trying to dissolve.

Mike