Using acetone

[applejackbunny]

I just went through my G1 collection to inspect each pony for rogue marks that could be gently removed by using acetone on a cotton bud. These were most often just random specks of paint for which acetone works perfectly, and I've used it before and heard on here many times that others have used it successfully (being careful, of course, to avoid any painted areas on the pony such as the eyes and symbol). I've literally never had any issues with it at all.

However, there were three ponies today that did NOT respond well to the acetone  These were Sweet Pocket, her UK counterpart Singing Pocket and Snowdrop (the German Flower pony). In each case there were a couple of dirty marks or a fleck of paint where I went straight in with the acetone cotton bud to remove (having previously treated dozens of other ponies similarly), when, to my horror, their actual body colour came off as well!  I could instantly see the purple and yellow of the dye on the cotton bud, and on the pony there was left behind a small pale spot that had been stripped of its dye 

Now, I realise there are many seasoned pony ppl on here who may be throwing up their arms in horror at what I've done (tbh the damage isn't bad - you'd have to be really scrutinising the pony in pure daylight to see it - I caught it immediately and stopped), but I genuinely didn't know the dye/colour (or whatever) could come off a pony's body in that way! And I've literally never heard anything like that being discussed on here...

I thought I'd better tell everyone what happened in case anyone else is planning to use acetone on these particular ponies. My advice is please DON'T!

I had to make myself a nice cup of tea and watch an episode of Line Of Duty in order to get over it  UK folks will understand.

[gabumon]

ah. sorry to hear.  I think we’ve all had those “whoops” moments. (like when I cut off Quarterbacks mane instead of trying to detangle)

thanks for sharing

[applejackbunny]

Yeah, I just wanted to alert ppl to the fact that acetone can be damaging to certain ponies. I was unaware of that fact. I'd love to know if anyone else has ever had that happen to them (specifically with the acetone)...

Sorry about your Q'back Gabumon 

[HollowZero]

This is interesting. We're these ponies from later in the line?

[applejackbunny]

This is interesting. We're these ponies from later in the line?

I believe so, yes. Do you have a theory?

[BlackCurtains]

My Snowdrop was full of rust when I got her and I used acetone, among other things, to clean her and didn't have this happen. I've never had it happen.

Do you have pictures?

edit: If it was just yellow, I'd assume it was nicotine. I'm not sure what purple could be though.

[applejackbunny]

My Snowdrop was full of rust when I got her and I used acetone, among other things, to clean her and didn't have this happen. I've never had it happen.

Do you have pictures?

edit: If it was just yellow, I'd assume it was nicotine. I'm not sure what purple could be though.

Unfortunately, I don't have pics (or at least I'm not set up to load them onto here).

It was definitely the pony's actual colour coming off and not an external substance. They had already been thoroughly cleaned prior to that and Snowdrop didn't smell of smoke or anything. They were both clean.

You could clearly see it was the actual dye coming off of the pony's body and staining the cotton bud either purple or yellow and there was a coresponding area of almost white left behind on the pony... 

It has never happened to me in 20 years of pony collecting so I was very shocked. That's why I'm sharing. I don't know why it didn't happen with yours...

Out of dozens and dozens of ponies it has only ever happened with these two (three if you count the UK version of Sweet Pocket).

Post Merge: May 16, 2021, 11:21:41 AM

Maybe I should add that I was using 100% pure acetone. Is that the issue, do you think?? Should it be more dilute?

[BlackCurtains]

I use 100% pure acetone too. Hmm. Interesting. Maybe something happened to them prior that made the plastic leech easily.

[applejackbunny]

I use 100% pure acetone too. Hmm. Interesting. Maybe something happened to them prior that made the plastic leech easily.

I hadn't considered that. It's certainly possible, I suppose... It is very odd as I had thought that a pony's colour was very stable (no pun intended!  ).

[BlackCurtains]

Weird things can happen. I have 5 Big Brothers who I'm pretty sure were heavily smoke damaged from a fire. Their plastic is so weird. It has swirls and dark lines in it. I bought them as bait but so far haven't used any of them (probably had 'em for 10 years now).

[applejackbunny]

Weird things can happen. I have 5 Big Brothers who I'm pretty sure were heavily smoke damaged from a fire. Their plastic is so weird. It has swirls and dark lines in it. I bought them as bait but so far haven't used any of them (probably had 'em for 10 years now).

Oh wow!  Poor things... Hope you manage to resurrect them at some point 

[SunPony]

Wow, that is such a bizarre thing to happen.    I've never encountered it myself.  I also use 100% acetone, but admittedly more of my experience is with using it on G3s.  Hmm.  I think in future I'll just check on a hoof first before using it on a non-bait pony... thanks for the warning.

[Artemesia's Garden]

Ditto, thank you for the warning. I use acetone sometimes then I wash it off afterwards with a little soap and water. I usually tryt soap and water, baby oil or magic eraser first.

P.s. I'm about to have a cup of tea and watch Line of Duty!!

[applejackbunny]

Wow, that is such a bizarre thing to happen.    I've never encountered it myself.  I also use 100% acetone, but admittedly more of my experience is with using it on G3s.  Hmm.  I think in future I'll just check on a hoof first before using it on a non-bait pony... thanks for the warning.

That is an excellent idea, Sun - I wish I'd done that, but then hindsight is a wonderful thing! 

Post Merge: May 17, 2021, 09:22:35 AM

Ditto, thank you for the warning. I use acetone sometimes then I wash it off afterwards with a little soap and water. I usually tryt soap and water, baby oil or magic eraser first.

P.s. I'm about to have a cup of tea and watch Line of Duty!!

You're most welcome - anything to stop what happened to me form happening to anyone else!

Yes, I wash all my ponies with soap and water first and then use the acetone for any stubborn marks or flecks of paint etc. I'll certainly be more careful in future and test it on the underside of a hoof first 

Hope you enjoyed Line of Duty! Which series are you on?

[mlp4me]

Purple is so very unstable. It would have only been a matter of time that the color would probably have completely leeched out. You just sped it up a bit... I've had red dye completely rub off with just water and kleenex on TE Bright Eyes and Baby Rainribbon. Yup, TE Bright Eyes, who did not look reddish at all prior to cleaning.