Originally Posted by
Prashun Patel
We use acetone in my industry as a cleaning agent and as a solvent for the analysis of organic compounds.
Acetone contains no oil. It may be derived from petroleum, but the final, reacted product does not contain any oil - and by oil I mean any hydrocarbon that won't readily evaporate and will remain on the wood, making the finish hard to bond to the wood.
Acetone is extremely volatile (this makes it flammable, and bad to breathe, but also evaporative). It is often used to dissolve surface oil and dirt so it can be easily wiped off. It is unique in that it is a very good solvent for both "oils" and "water based products", and evaporates quick and completely at room temperatures. These things make it great for removing dirt and impurities, but damaging to your body and finishes.
Mineral spirits and acetone are both organic (carbon-based) substances. Mineral spirits are a mixture of light-weight hydrocarbons, distilled from petroleum. Acetone is a specific molecule (C3H6O), most commonly chemically derived from natural gas. As Prashun notes, acetone is an excellent solvent for preparing glue joints with oily woods because it evaporates quickly, leaving no residue.
-- Jim
Use the right tool for the job.