# Using finger nail polish remover as lighter fluid in a pinch..bad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168 "2008-06-17T00:20:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/1 "2008-06-17T00:20:00Z")
Ok so we had a BBQ this weekend and we did not have any lighter fluid. Since match light charcoal isnt i had to figure something out. I didnt want to use my Zippo fluid so I found some finger nail polish remover instead. Figuring it was mostly alcohol I decided to use that. Well long story short people freaked out because of the “fumes” saying it was toxic and all that…Is it? Did I knock my family and friends a few IQ points lower? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/2 "2008-06-17T00:22:12Z")
IIRC, fingernail polish remover is not alcohol but acetone, [which is poisonous if ingested](http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/002480.htm). YMMV, of course, but I think I’d have gone a different route. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/3 "2008-06-17T00:23:55Z")
True true. But its not like i was cooking with the stuff. I just needed to get the charcoal going. It burned for a good 20 minutes before anything was put on. Long enough for everything to burn off. right…? Do i get a darwin award? ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/4 "2008-06-17T00:27:13Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] right..? Do i get a darwin award? [/QUOTE] You only get a darwin award if you end up DEAD as an immediate consequence of your actions. You are still alive–witness this thread-- so you do not receive a darwin award, but you should still resist the temptation to use finger nail polish remover as a substitute for lighter fluid in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/5 "2008-06-17T00:33:24Z")
Should’ve just used gasoline. I mean, it’s all going to burn away anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/6 "2008-06-17T00:35:44Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] Should’ve just used gasoline. I mean, it’s all going to burn away anyway. [/QUOTE] Really, really, really, spectacularly bad advice. Do not ever do this. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/7 "2008-06-17T00:42:11Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] IIRC, fingernail polish remover is not alcohol but acetone, [which is poisonous if ingested](http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/002480.htm). YMMV, of course, but I think I’d have gone a different route. [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t start charcoal with fingernail polish remover, either, but “poisonous if ingested” isn’t the key point, given that normal charcoal starter is, too. It’s petroleum distillates - essentially a mix of naptha and kerosene. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/8 "2008-06-17T00:45:25Z")
Get one of these. [http://www.grillstuff.com/weber-rapidfire-chimney-starter.html?productid=273&gclid=CMnFkdOg-pMCFQOjFQodmEXPVQ](http://www.grillstuff.com/weber-rapidfire-chimney-starter.html?productid=273&gclid=CMnFkdOg-pMCFQOjFQodmEXPVQ) You’ll never need lighter fluid again. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/9 "2008-06-17T00:46:16Z")
[QUOTE=yabob] I wouldn’t start charcoal with fingernail polish remover, either, but “poisonous if ingested” isn’t the key point, given that normal charcoal starter is, too. It’s petroleum distillates - essentially a mix of naptha and kerosene. [/QUOTE] Granted; I was only trying to correct the OP’s misapprehension about fingernail polish remover. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/10 "2008-06-17T00:57:42Z")
[Liquid oxygen works well.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjPxDOEdsX8)😃 ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/11 "2008-06-17T01:03:08Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Really, really, really, spectacularly bad advice. Do not ever do this. Ever. [/QUOTE] I should’ve used a smilie (smiley?). :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/12 "2008-06-17T01:19:28Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] I should’ve used a smilie (smiley?). :smack: [/QUOTE] I just watched the Quizno’s commercial where the girl stuffs a $5 bill into her mouth and chews it up. Down in the corner, they were apparently forced to put “Dramatization. Do Not Attempt.” 'Nuff said? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/13 "2008-06-17T02:03:43Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Really, really, really, spectacularly bad advice. Do not ever do this. Ever. [/QUOTE] It seemed to work well for [this guy](http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,552824,00.html). Thank you \*\*EddyTeddyFreddy \*\*for linking to the article over in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/14 "2008-06-17T02:18:33Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] (snip) we did not have any lighter fluid. (snip) I didnt want to use my Zippo fluid (snip) [/QUOTE] Um, isn’t ‘Zippo fluid’ lighter fluid? If I saw you had fluid for a cigarette lighter but elected to use nail polish remover on your charcoal grill instead, I’d eat elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/15 "2008-06-17T02:41:12Z")
[QUOTE=postcards] Um, isn’t ‘Zippo fluid’ lighter fluid? If I saw you had fluid for a cigarette lighter but elected to use nail polish remover on your charcoal grill instead, I’d eat elsewhere. [/QUOTE] It’s not really the same thing at all. ‘Charcoal lighter fluid’ is a liquid one sprays onto charcoal so it will light. Zippo fluid is something one uses to fill one’s lighter. When it comes to burning stuff, don’t mix and match. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/16 "2008-06-17T04:12:21Z")
Charcoal lighter fluid, Zippo fluid, and a host of other branded products are essentially VM&P Naptha. I use VM&P as a replacement for bug & tar remover, because it’s the same thing, at a lower cost. (VM&P=varnish maker’s & painter’s) Other products should not be used for charcoal grilles, although that LOX video is wicked cool! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/17 "2008-06-17T04:19:53Z")
[QUOTE=Eureka] You only get a darwin award if you end up DEAD as an immediate consequence of your actions. [/QUOTE] [pedantic] Darwin awards are granted so long as you are rendered infertile (which death often accomplishes to be certain.) ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/18 "2008-06-17T04:43:06Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] IIRC, fingernail polish remover is not alcohol but acetone, [which is poisonous if ingested](http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/002480.htm). YMMV, of course, but I think I’d have gone a different route. [/QUOTE] Acetone isn’t “that” poisonous if ingested. Some people in fact drink it instead of alcohol. Btw, the problem with using zippo fluid is that it burns too damn quick. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/19 "2008-06-17T06:36:30Z")
[QUOTE=Alex\_Dubinsky] Acetone isn’t “that” poisonous if ingested. Some people in fact drink it instead of alcohol. [/QUOTE] I’d be intereseted in a cite on that claim. According to the NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards: Acetone- 250ppm TWA; 2500ppm IDLH As such, I would NOT ingest it. Ethyl Alcohol is not listed in that text. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2008, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168/20 "2008-06-17T07:10:14Z")
Hmm… my only cite seems to be a bum I ran into once. There’s also this: [Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071022163323AAFBOC5) but it doesn’t bolster my case. It seems, tho, that the body produces acetone itself when there’s not enough sugar and it has to burn protein. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-finger-nail-polish-remover-as-lighter-fluid-in-a-pinch-bad/453168.md?page=2)