Acetone is usually the primary ingredient in nail polish remover.
I agree with several other posts saying that trying to put acetone in your lock while it is still installed in the car will almost certainly cause more costly damage then having a professional remove and clean or replace the cylinder with a new one.
I have never seen fingernail polish remover that is 100% acetone. Acetone is very volatile and a strong solvent that strips oils and moisture out of your skin like crazy. Full strength would not be a wise thing thing to use on your hands. It’s not like it will burn your skin off but I use latex gloves to handle it.
There is some good advice here about how to deal with the lock. Aside from that, I am not even sure that acetone is a solvent for superglue; instructions never mention it when telling you what to do if you glue your fingers together. Plus it may not be superglue to begin with. Superglue is best for surfaces that fit together tightly and won’t act as a gap filler.
I got this stuff from one of those beauty supply shops, for about two bucks for four ounces. It DOES strip off oils. I have to moisturize after using it.
^That is the product I was talking about, I was told about it by a lock smith who said it was how he dealt with glued locks. I have no personal experience.
Material sheet link above says the active ingredients are acetone and propylene carbonate, the other ingredient is also a solvent but i don’t know much about it/
Hazardous Components (Specify Chemical Identity: Common Name(s) OSHA PEL ACGIH TLV Other
Limits Recommended % Optional)
Acetone 67-64-1 50-70%
Propylene carbonate 108-32-7 30-50%
Preparation
Propylene carbonate is a byproduct of the synthesis of polypropylene carbonate from propylene oxide and carbon dioxide. It can be manufactured from the same feedstocks, using different reaction conditions. It can be also prepared from, e.g., urea and propylene glycol over zinc-iron double oxide catalyst.
Make sure to protect the paint near the lock, acetone will remove and or discolor the paint.
The other issue is that if you do manage to dislodge the superglue, it will just end up seeping elsewhere and may cause problems. So you will ideally have to remove the lock and throughly clean the superglue out.
California allows its sale, and this is one of the worst “nanny” states as far as protecting citizens from themselves goes. I’d be amazed if Washington were worse.
Yes it is, if it’s an acetone-based polish remover. Some nail polish removers are essentially 95-100% pure acetone. You need to read the label.
It’s going to take quite awhile to dissolve the glue with acetone, and that’s assume you can get into all the nooks and crannies. Much as I hate to say it, replacing the lock might actually be more effective and less time. But it is your choice. You are certainly welcome to try to do it with a solvent.
It is - I use superglue a lot at work and for minor sticking it will soften it enough to get your fingers apart and remove light films of the stuff from your skin. It’s not the best solvent, but it does work.
Yes, it will fill gaps. It’s not usually used that way because it’s brittle in such application and there are problems with curing, but it certainly could fill up the interior of a car door lock.
Do not squirt acetone or any other solvents into your door locks! You doors are not made of metal, they are made of a composit material. Solvents are likely to disolve these materials and you are going to end up with bigger problems than a bad lock.
Just replace the lock. Please tell me that someone stopped you before you squirted acetone into the lock.