Fingernail polish?

[Ty_Bower]

Does fingernail polish have any value as a high voltage insulator?

[Eli Duttman]

It has some insulating value. Nail polish is lacquer, which is not too different from the varnish on magnet wire. Build up the insulating layer with thin coats. Allow sufficient time between coats, for solvent evaporation.

Another use for the stuff is in consolidating old, crumbling, cloth wire covering. Yes, flexibility goes down, but the wire stays insulated.

[wrenchone]

For a little more money than nail polish, you can get corona dope from one of the usual suppliers. Admittedly there you don't have much choice in color, though... Glyptal is also useful, which is alkyd resin with some iron oxide filler added. That stuff is a sort of brick red like some primers (most likely because they have the iron oxide filler as well).

[pjanda1]

I've used it in situations where I needed to paint on something that would provide a little insulation. And, there were a couple of hundred volts involved. I didn't experience any troubles, but I wouldn't trust my life to it. Mine is red, which isn't a bad idea if you want to avoid touching it.

Paul
Wild Burro Audio Labs - DIY Full Range Speakers

[Steven-H]

There is such a thing as liquid electrical tape yanno...

[aardvarkash10]

Originally Posted by Ty_Bower

Does fingernail polish have any value as a high voltage insulator?

Dunno Ty - every time the wife finds a speck of it on me in a colour she doesn't have, the sparks start flying....

[brianco]

It is also somewhat inflammable!

[godfrey]

I've seen it recommended for touching up on ESL panels where there's corona discharge.

[Cal Weldon]

As aardvark says, it works extremely well insulating me from my wife if the colour is not familiar.

[DigitalJunkie]

I've used it a couple times,it seems to work fairly well.