Replies

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Feb 11, 2004 06:26am | #1

    Tom,

   If it's solvent based, they appropriate thinner is toluol (aka toluene)

   Jon

1. 
   HeavyDuty | Feb 11, 2004 07:43am | #2

   Hi Jon,

   Yes, solvent based. The other day I had to do a little glue up but couldn't find any contact cement thinner so instead of running to the store I saw some lacquer thinner around and it worked fine. Do you know the chemical name of lacquer thinner? They smell pretty well the same.

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Feb 12, 2004 02:41am | #3

   "Do you know the chemical name of lacquer thinner? They smell pretty well the same."

   Tom,

   Actually, lacquer thinners as a group can be blends of a wide variety of VOC's (acetone, toluol, Xylol, etc., etc.).  Depending on what you are comparing, they can smell very different.  What most people buy for a lacquer thinner is the relatively low cost stuff sold in hardware stores and big boxes.

   It is good for cleaning and light thinning for brushing, but that's about it.  Most of the major mfr's make thinners specifically tailored to certain types of lacquers and environmental conditions. They differ quite a bit from the common, so called "wash thinners."

   FWIW, I personally would never thin a lacquer for spraying with a wash thinner.  It pretty much guarantees lousy results, relative to the right stuff.

   Jon

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Feb 12, 2004 02:56am | #5

   Jon, most lacguer thinners do not contain any toluene, but may contain very small amounts of exylene. Both are aliphatic solvents that are considerably slower than the acetone and methyl ethly ketone (MEK)  that make up the majority of the lacguer thinners. Tolune is slower than exylene and leaves a very slight residue, a definite no, no in lacquers that have a low tolerance for any waxy films. Exylene and toluene are both benzene ring structure, with the exylene being lower molecular weight and therefore cleaner.

   Dave

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Feb 12, 2004 08:55am | #7

   "most lacguer thinners do not contain any toluene,"

   Dave,

   Pulled up the MSDS for the "wash thinner" we use at work, PPG DTL10.  Probably one of the more commonly used in industrial situations. This is what it contains:

   ISOHEXANE

   1-METHOXY-2-PROPYL ACETATE

   TOLUENE

   N-HEXANE

   NAPHTHA

   ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

   ACETONE

   3-METHYLPENTANE

   http://www.ppg.com/cr-refinish/phase1/frmSafety.asp?link=msdsresults

   If you're curious.

   Jon

   EDIT: Also pulled up the MSDS for the one I use when flow-out is an issue when laying down an acrylic lacquer: DTL105

   ETHYL BENZENE

   1-METHOXY-2-PROPYL ACETATE

   TOLUENE

   DIMETHYL GLUTARATE

   XYLENE

   ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

   ACETONE

   Edited 2/12/2004 1:18:56 AM ET by WorkshopJon

   Edited 2/12/2004 1:21:01 AM ET by WorkshopJon

2. 
   DaveRicheson | Feb 12, 2004 01:35pm | #8

   My apologies Jon.

   I was working from memory, and should know better. We used a lot of acetone and MEK as thinners in lacquer formulation and manufacturing when I worked as a lab tech. for a coatings manufacturer.

   Dave

3. 
   HeavyDuty | Feb 13, 2004 05:36am | #10

   See you'd been sniffing too much of that stuff :)

4. 
   WorkshopJon | Feb 13, 2004 05:39am | #11

   "My apologies Jon."

   Dave,

   Accepted.

   I've also given out more than my share of "not quite right but close" info on the forum. That's the nature of these [forums]. You get what you pay for.

   Jon

2. 
   junkhound | Feb 12, 2004 02:50am | #4

   The correct thinner is MEK, methl ethyl ketone.

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Feb 12, 2004 03:04am | #6

   Junkhound,

   Maybe some do???? But traditionally the solvent of choice has been toluol. see pics. In any event, MKE should also work, as it has similar solvent properties, just a slower evaporation rate.

   Jon

3. 
   jhausch | Feb 12, 2004 02:41pm | #9

   Always used Naptha to clean up overspray in my cousin's laminate cabinet shop.  I thought that could also be used as a thinner. . .I am pretty sure that Naptha is the carrier /  sovent in contact adhesive. 

   Question is, why thin it?  I know it SEEMS like it is too thick when applying with rollers or brushes, but technique and patience usually yields a smooth coat.  Spraying is best, but might require special equipment?

1. 
   HeavyDuty | Feb 13, 2004 05:45am | #12

   Oh, Jim, the can I had had been sitting around for some time, it was just too thick. Didn't want to take a trip to the store for a little glue up. And besides, I found some lacquer thinner around. From reading what everybody have posted so far, it seems that there is a variety of organic solvents that may do the job.

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Feb 13, 2004 05:46am | #13

   "Question is, why thin it?"

   Jim,

   With a new can you shouldn't have to.  BUT a can that has been sitting around a year or .....five, and that appears a little thick, then look at the label, if it lists toluol or toluene on the ingredients, by all means throw a little in to thin it out.

   Jon