A quick list please of what solvents to use and NOT to use for specific purposes.

I know denatured alcohol for general clean up and for use in alcohol burners.

When would I use 91% rubbing alcohol?

What others?

Thanks.

Dan

Rubbing alcohol makes a reasonably safe solvent for most general clean up chores including fresh epoxy. There are only a few rod building clean up chores that it won't do.

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Dan,
Alcohol does a good job for most general cleaning.
However, there are times that one of the following may be necessary.

1. Lacer thinner - for thinning some one part finishes.
2. Xylene - for removing very hard to remove or partially cured epoxy.
3. Acetone - to take care of any thing that the above three things don't solve.

Caution - Xylene and Acetone - in particular are very very hazardous to breath the vapors. Do use these solvents only in well vented areas, and preferably with good re breather respirators.

Take care
Roger

In addition, Xylene and Acetone can remove things you don't want removed, like rod finishes so if you choose to use do so with caution and care.

Thanks.

I'll add Xylene and Acetone to the shopping list for those "only as needed" events.

Dan

I've never used, or needed, anything other than DA.

When it comes to clean up a little denatured 91% mixed with equal amounts of water and a few drop of liquid soap will clean up any epoxy. I only use Acetone, just a couple of drops to a one oz. mix of flex coat. Some builders who have used epoxies over a extended period of time, can have gotten certain types of skin irritation this is after extended use. Some have had to go to a Dermatologist for treatment. I recommend using gloves

Good Wraps Bob

Acetone should be a last resort only.......I have been told it can be harmfull to thinner walled blanks

Acetone and some thinners are so hot they will melt fiber glass and graphites, So dampen a rag and wipe down your blank. Then put the rages out side in a air tight can. Even if you let the rags air dry they can explode. A few years ago a mechanic friend of mine got grease all over his new work cloths. So his loving wife put the cloths in Kerosene let soak then took the cloths out side and rinsed them with a garden hose. Then washed them and put them it the dryer a half hour later the dryer blew the garage up. So be careful disposing of any rags that have been used in solvent

Good Wraps Bob

Thanks guys for the additional solvent information and the safe handling and disposal suggestions.

Dan

Personally, I wouldn't have acetone or Xylene in the hhouse. In over 20 years of building, I have never seen anything that couldn't be handled with Denatured alcohol and/or elbow grease/heat

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Nothing here but denatured alcohol and isopropyl alcohol.