stabilizing a reverse painted tablet

[Jeff Monti]

Malkin
Lacquer thinner does not usually contain MethyEthylKeytone. Some might but the majority available through retail outlets no not. Most lacquer thinner does contain Naphtha, Methonal, Acetone, and Toluene. To these standard ingredients different manufactures add any number of other solvents although the basic 4 usually make up at least 90% of the mix.
MEK is not a mix but a single chemical and is a highly caustic solvent that is very effective on a wide range of materials. It is in fact a much more powerful solvent than lacquer thinner. If you acquire any be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when using it.

Regards,
Jeff

Contrastare la disinformazione, un posto in un momento.

[Thyme]

Originally Posted by Jeff Monti

Malkin
Lacquer thinner does not usually contain MethyEthylKeytone. Some might but the majority available through retail outlets no not. Most lacquer thinner does contain Naphtha, Methonal, Acetone, and Toluene. To these standard ingredients different manufactures add any number of other solvents although the basic 4 usually make up at least 90% of the mix.
MEK is not a mix but a single chemical and is a highly caustic solvent that is very effective on a wide range of materials. It is in fact a much more powerful solvent than lacquer thinner. If you acquire any be sure to wear gloves and eye protection when using it.

Regards,
Jeff

Contrastare la disinformazione, un posto in un momento.

The blend can vary, but typically it does include MEK:

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=16009004

Also:

http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Building/Archive60.pl/noframes/read/63213

Traditionally, it usually did. My guess is that the more modern variants might not.

[Jeff Monti]

The EPA has gone back and forth on MEK. They put it on the HAPs list (hazardous air pollutants) then when most of the manufactures had removed it from their formulas they took it off the HAPs list (2005). I suspect that because it is so widely used in so many industries that some economic pressure was applied to get it removed. I know that you are thinking “our government would never allow something that was bad for the environment to go on just so they could make a few bucks” but I think it does happen on occasion.
It is a powerful general purpose solvent but if you are going to use it you should read up on the safety procedures. Its vapors are harmful, it is a strong skin irritant, and if you get it in your eye it will burn and if not treated correctly can blind you. That being said it sounds like it would be well suited for use in the Pettenkoffer Process. If you could find a place to buy it.

Thyme,
The MSDS you referenced for Parks lacquer thinner was effective 1997-05-01. It is out of date. Like most others they removed the MEK from their formulation and even after it was removed from the HAPs list never added it back in.

Regards,
Jeff

Non è possibile salvarli tutti.

[adrian]

Originally Posted by Thyme

(Unfortunately, some here are disdainful of Krylon sprays, so it was encouraging to find an independent article endorsing their usefulness.)

I can understand that - it seems especially inappropriate on an 18th or 19th century clock, whereas a sixties pinball isn't so bad .. even though a replacement may be equally difficult to find.

An interesting part is the use of saran wrap to hold the paint down whilst not sticking to it yourself. I see some articles here refer to wax paper, which I suspect is a better choice for ease of removal, but harder to see what you're doing.

For what it's worth, this product seems to be a particular combination of solvent and varnish that works. Just any old sealant (or, unfortunately, another formulation from the same company) may be less good.

I'm very interested in the fuming approach myself - I like the idea of getting the paint to stick back down without adding a varnish, which I'd prefer to add only after the paint is all repaired.

[Thyme]

That being said it sounds like it would be well suited for use in the Pettenkoffer Process. If you could find a place to buy it.

From what we read here, using MEK alone was not always effective.

As for buying it, I don't know where you are located, but it is readily available in NY.

The MSDS you referenced for Parks lacquer thinner was effective 1997-05-01. It is out of date. Like most others they removed the MEK from their formulation and even after it was removed from the HAPs list never added it back in.

They may have if the hazardous status was repealed. Again, lacquer thinner has no rigid definition of formula, and it varies widely according to the manufacturer.

[Steven Thornberry]

Originally Posted by Thyme

Interesting technique. I've used Krylon acrylic on dials to halt and reverse minor flaking successfully. But I use the UV resistant matte type, because it is invisible after application. As he said, (and as I've found) multiple coats can be added if you don't prefer to use the triple thick version. (Unfortunately, some here are disdainful of Krylon sprays, so it was encouraging to find an independent article endorsing their usefulness.)

I'll add my endorsement. I've used Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear flat on dials with good results. I've never used more than two coats.