barry barry barry
Fine, KDC....don't use it, then
OK, fine...I cannot convince you...apparently you think I'm not in my right mind, or am mistaken, or whatever.
I am really surprised at you.
I use to love to r ead your responses as i felt they were most informative,
Now I read this one to KDC and your reply and how you tried to jump me on the recovering the egg chair You need to chill pal!!!
No one here is your enemy or out to get you.. just nice people from around the world making statements that
won't solve the conflict in Iraq, or any thing else for that matter, no need to get pissed off about t he many wonderful uses of lighter fluid or weighing in
on redoing a chair,
I hope every thing is o.k. with you!!!
your friend lrf
solvent opinions
Avoiding technical terms, lighter fluid is mostly 'vm&p naphtha' - a solvent of weak potency ideal as a starting point for removing residual adhesive - or almost anything that is resinous and semi-sticky. Formica is completely impervious to naphtha as are most previous coatings. Oil finishes on wood (Watco-type), can be easily renewed if their appearance is altered.
Acetone, MEK and lacquer thinners are much 'higher power' solvents but ones that are easily controlled because they evaporate so quickly. I like 'ketones' but I'm careful of their use around plastics - especially acrylics - that might be crazed by them.
There's many other kinds of organic solvents. Another good one is Xylol - medium solvency and a slower evaporation rate make it useful for stuff too stubborn for naphtha. Intermediate power stuff requiring an intermediate level of attention to the finishes you want to preserve.
Very old masking tape residue can be difficult. Just be patient and keep at it. Use solvents in combination with non-scratching wood or plastic tools to scrape off softened residue. Repeat as needed.
A lifetime of working with organic solvents has made me weary of the overstatement of their hazards. Yeah yeah, work in a ventilated area... but come on, how much ventilation do you need for 1/4 fl.oz. of solvent on a rag? And, yup, these materials are flammable.
I fear not the air quality or flammability hazards associated with the infinitesimally small use of organic solvents for household projects. A worker in a paint plant has profoundly different health and safety concerns than we do.
Here's some common organic solvents available anywhere listed in increasing (general) order of solvency:
- Alcohol
- Lighter fluid or mineral spirits
- Xylol or toulene
- Acetone, MEK, Lacquer thinners
Strategy is simple: Pick the solvent(s) that softens the goo you want to remove but does nothing to the underlying substrate. Until you get some experience always start low on the list and don't forget that soap and water can be effective as well.
Solvent-wise, you probably don't need anything more in your paint locker. Sure, there's other useful materials (glycol ethers and halogenated solvents come to mind) - but the need for them is specialized.
There is no need to fear the household use of organic solvents. Use respect - not fear. This assumes that folks will always employ common sense in all activities - not just this one. But, I'm fully aware that common sense can't be universally counted on.
At one of the paint companies I worked for we received a certain type of complaint letter from time to time. Typically this letter complained that our label had failed to caution the consumer that some particular (most often preposterous) use of the paint wasn't smart. Over time, this type of letter became known by a house name.
We called them: 'Do not paint your dog' letters.
This way to the Egress, Citizens!
Sorry if I got a big rough
Sorry if I went a bit off the deep end, but i have an issue when I provide a reasonable suggestion and it's dismissed. It would've been nicer to say 'Gosh, thanks for the tip, but I use this instead.'
I didn't get that....instead the poster went on about how dangerous lighter fluid is and it was as if he didn't believe me.
I felt like i was being 'diss'ed'!
Anyhow, I will continue to post a suggestion, if I have one, or an opinion, if it's an open discussion.
If someone does the same thing, I will try not to take it personally.
OKeh?
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