" MEK Substitute "?!

I don't plan to open the MEK until weather permits either decanting the MEK outside or with open windows for cross ventilation.

I did visit the local American Science and Surplus store

http://www.sciplus.com/

and purchased a couple of small glass bottles and rubber stoppers to hold small amounts of MEK.

Did you see if it will work too?

Just stopped by a local Lowes .......no more MEK ; just MEK Substitute

Sprue-ce Goose

Can PVC/ABS  plumber glue be considered "gap filling"  for model building purposes ?  

( only half joking.......I know it needs to seal against water leakage by filling voids between threads........... )

It's about 50% MEK & melts stuff like MEK, but it doesn't evaporate anywhere nearly as quick as MEK. It's used on threadless pipes & fittings (Solvent Weld Waste is what it's called here (UK)).

Milairjunkie

The adhesive used by plumbers for joining PVC/ABS waste pipes can be used as well, although it's much thicker than MEK (it's more like a thick fluid / gel). It's useless for capillary work or applicators like the TNF, but it is cheap.

Regards the hazards of MEK & some of the other chemicals mentioned - I know more than a few mechanics (automotive) who have had their hands completely wrecked over the years by continual exposure to fuels & cleaners, in particular the ones who regularly used the quick "brake cleaner hand cleaning method". Quite a few of these guys have useless stumpy fingers by the time they are heading for retrial & I know one that had most of his knuckles replaced............. 

Can PVC/ABS  plumber glue be considered "gap filling"  for model building purposes ?  

( only half joking.......I know it needs to seal against water leakage by filling voids between threads........... )

mitsdude

 

Sprue-ce Goose:

 

 

 

Out of curiosity, what part of the USA are you located?

I have been checking availability on-line at the Lowes website  and - so far- only my local store in Illinois is actually showing a price of $5.50 for MEK

Other stores in other states, such as Florida, Wisconsin,Virginia, Ohio,

are showing a price for MEK Substitute- but no price listed for MEK while the local Illinois store I bought from shows a price for MEK and does not list an MEK Substitute.

Not every Illinois store has it............and sale prices also vary as some are charging $6.99 per gallon.

Many Illinois stores list only MEK Substitute.

You may want to check other stores in your area on-line for MEK prices.

The store you visited may yet discount the chemical for clearance.

It appears the store manager has a say in how much he wants to charge for items that are being dropped from stock.

 

 

Canyon, Texas

Quart was $10. gallon was $22.

 I know one of the managers and he hadn't heard anything about it being discontinued.

I have three quarts of the stuff, 2 unopened. They should be enough for a lifetime as long as I only use it for gluing and making putty.

All I know is that MEK is being dropped from sale to consumers in northern Illinois stores.

Those stores are selling "MEK Substitute" in place of MEK.

The adhesive used by plumbers for joining PVC/ABS waste pipes can be used as well, although it's much thicker than MEK (it's more like a thick fluid / gel). It's useless for capillary work or applicators like the TNF, but it is cheap.

Regards the hazards of MEK & some of the other chemicals mentioned - I know more than a few mechanics (automotive) who have had their hands completely wrecked over the years by continual exposure to fuels & cleaners, in particular the ones who regularly used the quick "brake cleaner hand cleaning method". Quite a few of these guys have useless stumpy fingers by the time they are heading for retrial & I know one that had most of his knuckles replaced............. 

Sprue-ce Goose

 

Out of curiosity, what part of the USA are you located?

I have been checking availability on-line at the Lowes website  and - so far- only my local store in Illinois is actually showing a price of $5.50 for MEK

Other stores in other states, such as Florida, Wisconsin,Virginia, Ohio,

are showing a price for MEK Substitute- but no price listed for MEK while the local Illinois store I bought from shows a price for MEK and does not list an MEK Substitute.

Not every Illinois store has it............and sale prices also vary as some are charging $6.99 per gallon.

Many Illinois stores list only MEK Substitute.

You may want to check other stores in your area on-line for MEK prices.

The store you visited may yet discount the chemical for clearance.

It appears the store manager has a say in how much he wants to charge for items that are being dropped from stock.

Canyon, Texas

Quart was $10. gallon was $22.

 I know one of the managers and he hadn't heard anything about it being discontinued.

I have three quarts of the stuff, 2 unopened. They should be enough for a lifetime as long as I only use it for gluing and making putty.

mitsdude

My Lowes still has MEK but it wasn't discounted.

Out of curiosity, what part of the USA are you located?

I have been checking availability on-line at the Lowes website  and - so far- only my local store in Illinois is actually showing a price of $5.50 for MEK

Other stores in other states, such as Florida, Wisconsin,Virginia, Ohio,

are showing a price for MEK Substitute- but no price listed for MEK while the local Illinois store I bought from shows a price for MEK and does not list an MEK Substitute.

Not every Illinois store has it............and sale prices also vary as some are charging $6.99 per gallon.

Many Illinois stores list only MEK Substitute.

You may want to check other stores in your area on-line for MEK prices.

The store you visited may yet discount the chemical for clearance.

It appears the store manager has a say in how much he wants to charge for items that are being dropped from stock.

mitsdude

 

My Lowes still has MEK but it wasn't discounted.

 

Odd,

the store I visited discounted it on clearance to $5.50 per gallon.

Never occurred to me to ask if it was just for that store or the entire Lowes system.

Nonetheless, thank you for the tip regarding Lowes having it in stock.

Sprue-ce Goose

While at Loews buying up their discontinued  MEK , I purchased a 3M respirator rated for MEK and heavy rubber gloves.

I already own goggles and a face shield .

Won't be working with it till spring as I need to set up a paint booth for ventilation, make assembly jigs, buy 4 view plans , make armor plate hull patterns for cutting sheet plastic.

Much obliged about the info.

I will be reviewing chemical data sheets and FSM archives for MEK safety suggestions.

My Lowes still has MEK but it wasn't discounted.

Must be lunch time.

Suddenly I'm hungry for a GRL burger.................

Thanks for the info, tankbuilder.

Small amounts of  MEK will be decanted to a small, narrow necked screw-top  glass jar for use on my bench.

i don't know yet how much I will use straight MEK vs. liquid glue packaged in the small bottles.

i will need to experiment on scrap sprue to determine suitability before applying to a kit part.

I think you should be able to find it at HOBBY LOBBY .I have laminated with it, turned odd amounts into filler putty by dropping chopped sprue in it ad infinitum .I think you wouldlike it as the odor factor is slight .As for safety glasses , well , I work a lot of brass for a client and I don,t want to have to deal with chips in the eyes which have contacts on them .The gloves are another matter now . I do use the gloves that my doctor recommended for me and they are great -No finger marks on stuff ! The TESTORS glue bottle is kinda tall so put a 1/25 scale truck tire around it to prevent spills . And don,t use that MEK anything .I hed some left from a fiberglass job and knocked it over , Before I realised it I had a ruined GEARING hull ! Spare hulls aren,t an easy thing to accumulate!! Well , good luck and catchya later----tankerbuilder .

Hercmech

Back in the day we used to wash our hands with MEK, Toulene, PD-680 and any other stuff that could cut the crud. No wonder I glow in the dark.

If you haven't grown three heads by now, then Hans must be right.

Back in the day we used to wash our hands with MEK, Toulene, PD-680 and any other stuff that could cut the crud. No wonder I glow in the dark.

Hans von Hammer

 

 

As far as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when using MEK, I believe that ther MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet) lists splash goggles, chemical resistant gloves, splash apron, and respirator with and organic filter.  I would definitely recommend such precautions when using MEK in large quantities.  If you are using MEK for modeling purposes, please be certain to wear eye protection (a smart move any time we are at the bench) as MEK can do serious damage if it gets in your eyes.  If you keep your working quantity of MEK in a small bottle with a narrow neck, vapors will not be much of an issue and you can decide for your self if you need a respirator.

 

Ah, Nuts...

The stuff ain't THAT toxic, fer cryin' out loud...  It's freakin' glue, not a Mustard Gas...

We are a tenant on an AFB.  The AF has pretty much discontinued it's use but, since our TMs call for it with no suitable sub, we stock it but have to follow their rules.  It gets pretty stupid....

At the bench, I don't have vapor problems and have started wearing eye protection pretty much all of the time I am working with chemicals and pointy things after a couple of close calls

OMCUSNR

The respirator will be good for other stuff too...

Expect so, always a chance of a spill.

A few years ago, a small tin of Dykem Layout Dye was knocked to the floor of my workshop..

Whew!

Could have used a  mask during clean up / room venting.

Very smelly stuff.

The respirator will be good for other stuff too...

Hans von Hammer

Hans, the containers could be linked together and the the connections sealed and I'd still manage to spill something.

Cheaper than a quarter or half-mask and filters too...

Hans von Hammer

 

 

I bought the gloves and respirator mask for decanting the stuff.

 

Tsk, tsk....

*Sigh*...

You haven't watched me handling / transferring liquids.

I bought the gloves and respirator mask for decanting the stuff.

Tsk, tsk....

*Sigh*...

OMCUSNR

We use MEK in small quantities.  PPE consists of nitrile gloves.  No respirators used.

 

Reid

Thanks !

We use MEK in small quantities.  PPE consists of nitrile gloves.  No respirators used.

Reid

Hans von Hammer

 

 

As far as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when using MEK, I believe that ther MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet) lists splash goggles, chemical resistant gloves, splash apron, and respirator with and organic filter.  I would definitely recommend such precautions when using MEK in large quantities.  If you are using MEK for modeling purposes, please be certain to wear eye protection (a smart move any time we are at the bench) as MEK can do serious damage if it gets in your eyes.  If you keep your working quantity of MEK in a small bottle with a narrow neck, vapors will not be much of an issue and you can decide for your self if you need a respirator.

 

Ah, Nuts...

The stuff ain't THAT toxic, fer cryin' out loud...  It's freakin' glue, not a Mustard Gas...

Hans:

No worries.

Consider it a legal "Disclaimer"

I bought the gloves and respirator mask for decanting the stuff.

Unfortunately, I always manage to spill liquids during such operations.

As far as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when using MEK, I believe that ther MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet) lists splash goggles, chemical resistant gloves, splash apron, and respirator with and organic filter.  I would definitely recommend such precautions when using MEK in large quantities.  If you are using MEK for modeling purposes, please be certain to wear eye protection (a smart move any time we are at the bench) as MEK can do serious damage if it gets in your eyes.  If you keep your working quantity of MEK in a small bottle with a narrow neck, vapors will not be much of an issue and you can decide for your self if you need a respirator.

Ah, Nuts...

The stuff ain't THAT toxic, fer cryin' out loud...  It's freakin' glue, not a Mustard Gas...

Screaminhelo

You may try using acetone.  It takes longer to cure than MEK and that could be a problem for laminates but it did a great job of slowing down MEK for use as a general purpose cement.

As far as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) when using MEK, I believe that ther MSDS (Material Data Safety Sheet) lists splash goggles, chemical resistant gloves, splash apron, and respirator with and organic filter.  I would definitely recommend such precautions when using MEK in large quantities.  If you are using MEK for modeling purposes, please be certain to wear eye protection (a smart move any time we are at the bench) as MEK can do serious damage if it gets in your eyes.  If you keep your working quantity of MEK in a small bottle with a narrow neck, vapors will not be much of an issue and you can decide for your self if you need a respirator.  As for gloves, I don't use them at the bench since the method of application keeps the chemical off of my skin anyway.

 

While at Loews buying up their discontinued  MEK , I purchased a 3M respirator rated for MEK and heavy rubber gloves.

I already own goggles and a face shield .

Won't be working with it till spring as I need to set up a paint booth for ventilation, make assembly jigs, buy 4 view plans , make armor plate hull patterns for cutting sheet plastic.

Much obliged about the info.

I will be reviewing chemical data sheets and FSM archives for MEK safety suggestions.