Thinner

Does anyone have a recommendation for an thinner other than Brodak's that can be used ONLY for cleaning brushes and spray equipment that have been used to apply Brodak dope and that is economical?
Thanks for your suggestions.

Go to your local auto paint supply store and get a gallon of their inexpensive lacquer thinner. This stuff should cost no more than five or six dollars and works fine for cleaning brushes, etc. I should add it is NOT good for thinning the dope. Certain better grades of lacquer thinner will work with thinning dope, but you will lose the good qualities of the Brodak dope (quick drying, lack of smell, lack of adhesion or even suffer melt down) if you use them to thin the Brodak product.

There is a product that most good house paint supply houses stock called "brush cleaner" that works wonders on both brushes and spray guns. This post served as a reminder that I'm out, so I'll cruise by and score some today and post the manufacturer later. It's fairly cheap (compared to Brodak / Sig / Dupont thinners, too.

See Ya

When you post the product, let us know the cost as well. Also, since you are already using it, your observations on how well it works (getting those little "flakes" out, etc.)

Thanks. An alert to new or alternate products that work is always helpful.

Len:

I got to the store today, and scampered home to post the findings (instead of, like, work).

The product is by STERLING (not the Ringmaster folks, this actually works) and is called BRUSH CLEANER. To get the correct stuff, a bit of reading is required: there is a latex cleaner, too. The Brush Cleaner that I use is in a red can and also says: "for cleaning lacquer or enamel" and "rinses clean".

I paid $14.83 today, taxes included.

It works great, and I am not tempted to use it as thinner (when I used cheap thinner, it ended up being painted on, and ruining finishes).

See Ya

Good Tip. Tell why you like it better (other than cost) over cheap lacquer thinner.

I have had good success with Acetone purchased by the gallon at Home Depot or Lowes. I always wear latex gloves and use in very good venilation -- I have heard this stuff can be very nasty to one's system!

UC --

Acetone dissolves plastics. It does a great job of bring a shiny finish back to plastics that have been sanded. But it is right dangerous around around the house because of that reason. I suppose you are right about the health hazards -- Particularly if you smoke while using it.

Automotive laquer thinner is as good a brush cleaner as you'll get for low cost. Brush cleaning solutions tend to do things slightly differently by allowing the paint to form an emulsion with water.

From an environmental point of view you are likely to use more laquer thinners to clean the brushes than brush cleaning solution as you will have to use the thinners as the cleaning and rinsing agent whereas you use the brush cleaner as the cleaning agent and water as the rinsing agent.

If you are really naughty you'll pour your dirty lacquer thinners down the drain. If you have a 'green' viewpoint you will save them in a spare can and take them to a recycling centre.

Using brushes that have been rinsed in water can lead to blooming on the next dope job unless the brush is thoroughly dried.