[ARC5] MEK, benzene, acetone for Q dope.

[Jim Sinclair]

All,
As I indicated in my message, most all MSDS sheets look scary and MEK is on the safe side. Many much worse things are sold in hardware stores, Toluol, paint thinner, acrylic glues etc. MEK has very low toxicity and the more important concern would be flammability. Gasoline is worse in toxicity, flammability and long term effects. The point being that one should not be paranoid about MEK, just take some simple precautions and don't go swigging from the container. MEK is a good solvent to have around the house for various projects.
As a side observation, MEK with a little polystyrene dissolved as a gelling agent is a good first approximation of gelled gasoline commonly called napalm.
MSDS's can get a bit ridiculous. In the lab we had to put yellow caution labels on sodium chloride, table salt, since it could cause irritation if it got in your eyes. The only chemical that could get a green non hazardous label was water, but we had discussions about volume limits and drowning..
Did not mean to create a storm.
Jim

Sent from my iPad

> On Mar 10, 2014, at 1:07 PM, Peter Gottlieb <hpnpilot at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I support your freedom to make that choice for yourself, but encourage due diligence for others so they can make their own informed decisions. 
> 
> 
> Peter
> 
>> On Mar 10, 2014, at 10:53 AM, "Geoff" <geoffrey at jeremy.mv.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Some folks are also afraid of their shadow and others live in a knee knocking world of "what if". They also dont contribute much of use to human advancement.
>> 
>> I seriously doubt that some casual, meaning seldom and with good ventilation, exposure has resulted in a competently documented case of injury.
>> 
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Gottlieb" <hpnpilot at gmail.com>
>> To: <jfor at quikus.com>
>> Cc: "ARC-5 List" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2014 12:44 PM
>> Subject: Re: [ARC5] MEK, benzene, acetone for Q dope.
>> 
>> 
>>> You're a medical expert now?  Look up the effects, including liver damage.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Peter
>>> 
>>>> On Mar 10, 2014, at 9:28 AM, "J. Forster" <jfor at quikus.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Well, if what you say is true, where are the acres of dead plumbers? PVC
>>>> cement and cleaner is mostly MEK. They slosh it on rags to clean joints.
>>>> 
>>>> Or the hospitals full of boat and car body builders. MEK is used to thin
>>>> epoxy in large quantities.
>>>> 
>>>> -John
>>>> 
>>>> ================
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> You cannot say for certain no harm will come from casual exposure. It is
>>>>> simply not known, and there is tremendous variation among different
>>>>> people.
>