What solvents are people using in their garage?

[rcx132]

I always used brake cleaner for most cleaning, bought in 5 litre containers.
Then someone gave me a bottle of IPA saying that it is the most gentle.
Then I bought 5 l of acetone after reading it's best for degreasing before welding.

Whats the advantage of various solvents? Which one to use for what?

 

[8ob]

Southern Comfort, no matter how hard a cleaning job you just need a few swigs of this and all seems easy

Brake cleaner for general degreasing and cheap gun wash when you run out of brake cleaner

Bob

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have aerosol brake cleaner, and IPS and acetone for general 'rubbing'.

 

[anto44]

I use brake cleaner in the 5l cans and aerosols, aerosol electrical cleaner and aerosol carburettor cleaner, I use these for general purpose stuff. I have acetone for cleaning stuff for tiging.

 

[MattF]

Kerosene for degreasing, white spirit for final cleaning. Have also bought a few tins of that Baufix paint thinner/solvent which Lidl sell to try recently too. Seems to be quite an aggressive cleaner/solvent, but haven't tried it for degreasing yet as it evaporates quite quickly. Plus, it stinks to high heaven, (in a pleasant enough way mind), but probably not advisable in enclosed spaces for prolonged periods.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Have also bought a few tins of that Baufix paint thinner/solvent which Lidl sell

Great stuff, had some weird smearing on my windscreen, had tried allsorts with no luck, could not believe how stubborn it was,the Lidl stuff had it crystal clear in seconds.

 

[armalites]

Brake cleaner for me, couldn't manage without. I have 3 solvent proof pump sprayers with it in. I buy the 5L cans for about £7 by getting them 8-10 at a time.

It get used for everything.

 

[Maker]

I use G101 diluted about 1:20 in my ultrasound tank but anything particularly manky goes in a lab beaker full of paraffin, old petrol, neat G101 or Tardis. Things too big to go in the tank usually get a scrub with a paraffin soaked rag but I'm nearly out of that and I'll probably get acetone or IPA when it's all gone.

I've found lighter fluid (naphtha) softens and removes paint quite well, I use it for cleaning spray paint tips, its relatively expensive but more readily available than DCM (Get it from poundshops).

 

[MattF]

I'd stick with paraffin or kerosene Maker. IPA isn't an aggressive solvent, and both IPA & acetone flash quickly and are highly combustible. Heating oil is the cheapest way to get kerosene.

 

[optima21]

speaking of acetone, one of its uses is for removing superglue (if you didn't already know)

 

[Screwdriver]

One of my favourite shed chems is Toluene. An incredibly solvent chemical which works on certain types of silicones and plastics where nothing else will.

It is important to follow all safety guidelines, even with relatively benign substances like acetone, there are risks.

 

[barracuda816]

I also use toulene. very effective.

 

[rikrobson]

I use parrafin, brake cleaner and lidl paint thinner. Not usually mixed together but that gives me a thought..........

 

[pedrobedro]

One of my favourite shed chems is Toluene. An incredibly solvent chemical which works on certain types of silicones and plastics where nothing else will.

It is important to follow all safety guidelines, even with relatively benign substances like acetone, there are risks.

Place I used to work stopped having anything with Toluene because of the harmful side effects, even in concentrations below 100ppm. I use brake cleaner and gunwash so I suppose they are no better for you.

 

[rcx132]

I use G101 diluted about 1:20 in my ultrasound tank but anything particularly manky goes in a lab beaker full of paraffin, old petrol, neat G101 or Tardis.

I just looked up G101, is it that good? And 20:1 ? That makes it super cheap.

 

[GW8IZR]

G101 here in 35l 'keg's - its the business. I always keep a bit in a bottle on the bench for use on a rag.

Windows / glass, neat ammonia. Not bad in a little bottle half buried in the ground to keep cats off the veg patch as well.

Electrical - IPA, perfect for PCB rework

Brake cleaner for obvious uses but as a GP cleaner I reckon it evaporates too quick.

general cleaning and fire lighting I have a can containing petrol / diesel / kerro etc , whatever has been recovered from mis fuelled cars etc.

 

[Seadog]

Acetone, IPA, toluene and xylene in my arsenal.

 

[God mode restorations]

I use brake cleaner for final cleaning of metal parts... but for heavy grease oil ECT I use gunk. Jizer. But for serious heavy oil grime and grease I use leotac bitumen cleaner. Really good stuff...after parts are cleaned they go in to a large tub and covered in duck oil....this stops them rusting...

 

[Popcorn]

I use standard thinners, 5 gallons for twenty quid.
Only ever drunk IPA

 

[brightspark]

[

I use standard thinners, 5 gallons for twenty quid.
Only ever drunk IPA

u have been robbed its only 15 quid at ruffoth autojumble