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If I do not have actual Barge thinner, can I use acetone, or mineral spirits to thin it?

 

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Posted (edited)

https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/85867-contact-adhesives/

The MSDS for the Barge "universal" thinner says it is Methyl ethyl ketone..
So.."Mineral spirits" which is denatured alcohol..probably isn't going to work..

Acetone should should work, test some first..( the Barge website lists many products, you don't say which you have )
take all the usual precautions re flame , flash points, handling , eye protection etc..the vapours of acetone are bad for you..you do this at your own risk etc etc..

Btw..Methyl Ethyl Ketone is also know as Butanone

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanone

Read the wikipedia page..you may have some around but under another name ..look at what you have..then look up the MSDS..look for ( use the "find" control usually under "edit" in your pdf reader and type Methyl Ethyl Ketone..hit enter, if any solvent that you have is actually Butanone or Methyl Ethyl Ketone, it will find where it mentions it in the MSDS for what you have..

HTH :)

Edited by mikesc

"Don't you know that women are the only works of Art" .. ( Don Henley and "some French painter in a field" )

  • CFM
Posted
45 minutes ago, AA3JW said:

If I do not have actual Barge thinner, can I use acetone, or mineral spirits to thin it?

 

I found this on the web never used it.  http://www.kleanstrip.com/product/m.e.k.-substitute

Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms.

“I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!

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Posted

The correct solvent for regular Barge contact cement is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK). You can purchase this in quart cans and larger at various hardware stores. A google search will turn them up for you. Note that this is the correct solvent only for Barge, no others, as they all use different stuff. 

Tony V
Rifle River Leather
Ogemaw Knifeworks


There are two individuals inside every artisan...the poet and the craftsman.
One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman.

Posted (edited)

That MEK substitute ( Kleanstrip ) is ( according to it's MSDS ) Ethyl acetate..yes it would work for washing down and prepping polyester, melting or "welding" some plastics etc..

But, as a thinner for anything that is normally thinned with Butanone, not so good, it might well have a tendency to go somewhat "stringy"..depends what is in the "adhesive / glue / cement"..Acetone is better if you have no Butanone / MEK ..But Acetone will evaporate faster than Butanone..

I'm always amazed at what you can just walk in and buy in large ( ish ) quantities in the USA without having to sign a "poisons register" or otherwise leave a trace of who buys large amounts of things that can be mixed to go bang spectacularly..or as accelerants, or as solvents for things that can get you into trouble..France is similar.. :)

Btw..Think of your local fire service..if you are keeping things that can go bang, or are dangerous around, let them know where you store the stuff*....that way..if you have a fire, they are forewarned, it can keep them from being injured or worse..

* I count ammunition as something to let them ( the fire service ) know about in case of a fire too..But not everyone does..

Edited by mikesc

"Don't you know that women are the only works of Art" .. ( Don Henley and "some French painter in a field" )

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Posted

How did you end up with Barge cement but not the Barge thinner?

JLS  "Observation is 9/10 of the law."

IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.

5 leather patterns

Posted (edited)


How did you end up with Barge cement but not the Barge thinner?




Boat Drinks ? :)

Edited by mikesc

"Don't you know that women are the only works of Art" .. ( Don Henley and "some French painter in a field" )

  • Members
Posted

DUH? Sometimes I really do have Write-Only-Memory.

1 hour ago, JLSleather said:

How did you end up with Barge cement but not the Barge thinner?

 

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Posted

Thanks to all.  I will check my local ace for some MEK. I have used it a lot over the years.  25 years in the military, we used it for almost everything.

 

Posted

Just for clarification, @mikesc

Mineral Turpentine, or White Spirit, like denatured alcohol is also a solvent. However it is a different chemical mix of hydrocarbons and is distilled from petroleum, giving it slightly different chemical properties, and a less sustainable starting point. The primary use of MineralTurpentine is as a Paint Thinner.Aug 23, 2015
 

I'm not paying 80 bucks for a belt!!! It's a strip of leather. How hard could it be? 4 years and 3 grand later.... I have a belt I can finally live with.

Stitching is like gravy, it's only great if you make it every day.

From Texas but in Bossier City, Louisiana.

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