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Showing results for tags 'thinner'.
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First off, there is a difference between a thinner and a solvent. A solvent dissolves things. A thinner thins things DUH (reduces the solids and alters the viscosity). What makes thins even more confusing is they way they name things. Lacquer thinner both dissolves and thins (because it contains both solvents, co-solvents, and thinners). Paint Thinner thins varnishes, but dissolves waxes. But anyway, (chemistry lesson) 1. Distillates generally of petroleum. Common ones are mineral spirits and naphtha. Less commonly used ones are kerosene, xylene (xylol), toluene (tolulol), benzene (a carcinogen), and benzine, and even turpentine (a distillate of pine sap). These have different evaporation rates, oiliness, and smells. These generally thin (oil-based) varnishes and are in some lacquer thinners. Xylene will soften cured water-borne finishes. Most of these will dissolve waxes, oils, and some adhesives. d-Limonene is a distillate of citrus rinds; it's found in some cleaners/polishes/degreasers/adhesive removers. 2. Alcohols and Ketones. Alcohols include ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl. "Denatured alcohol" is ethanol (grain alcohol - everclear booze) with enough methanol (wood alcohol) added to make it poisonous to drink (and so it does not need to be taxed as booze). Chemically, a ketone is an oxidized alcohol. Common ones are acetone and MEK. Alcohol is a solvent for shellac and alcohols and ketones are often part of lacquer thinners. 3. Glycol Ethers are a large class of chemicals and are in water-borne finishes. Two major classes are ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. They soften and make sticky the large resin molecules. As the glycol ethers evaporate the resin molecules bond together. Cellosolve is a trademark for a glycol ether.
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If you've got a "dirty" solvent, one used to clean brushes or spray guns, how do you get rid of it? First option is to re-use it. If you are using a paint thinner to clean brushes, just put a cap on it and let the solids settle out. I use a "toucan" system. Can 2 (that I mark as jar II) is the dirty jar, and the first rinse of the brush. Jar I is the cleaner jar and used for the second rinse. When jar II gets so full of solids, it's not effective, I let it settle and pour off the clear to jar I. Then I mark jar I to jar II (just add an I) and it becomes the first rinse jar. Then I get a clean jar and fill with fresh paint thinner and it becomes jar I. Similar process to clean spray guns used for lacquer or shellac. Except the gunk does not settle out to the bottom, so proceed to next step after a number of uses. Second is to discard it. Local laws vary a lot here, so check to see what is legal and illegal. If your community has a hazardous waste collection day, that's a good choice. You can put the solvent/thinner/gunk in a jar and let the volatiles evaporate away. Put it somewhere where it will be protected from weather, away from kids and animals, but gets some fresh air. It can help to add in a bunch of sawdust to increase the surface area. Once turned to a solid, you can dispose of in the trash. You can use this technique to discard old, expired, or unused finishes, too. If you have a spray gun, you might spray the solvent to let it evaporate away. Really no different than spraying the finish and having the solvent flash off. Don't just pour down the drain. (short and simple this week -- I was away all last week)
