Mineral Spirits Uses

[kmmcrafts]

Recently there have been a few topics about soaking the 3M-77 spray glue nozzles in Mineral Spirits. What other things you all use this for? I don't use or maybe should say never use the stuff and don't keep it around for anything because well... I don't use it, LOL.. I'm assuming you all use the stuff for something besides buying it just to soak nozzles, LOL

That's not entirely true, I have bought it once and mixed up my own 50/50 Boiled Lindseed Oil with Mineral Spirits.. but that was the only time in my life that I have used it.

I've seen mention of soaking the pattern to release it from the wood for those that place the pattern directly onto the wood and soaking the spray nozzles.. 

[Jim McDonald]

I use a little from time to time cleaning oil based finish messes. 

But, I don't use that much.

[Dave Monk]

I stain my backers so I use it to clean up my hands,

 

[ben2008]

I keep a can of it around and every once in a while  I use it, but very rarely. Mostly I use it for Intarsia. if I have to remake a small piece. I usually just spray the back of the pattern and attach it directly to the wood. I will use the mineral spirits to remove the pattern and clean up the glue from the small piece of wood. Only takes a couple of minutes. Other than that, never use the stuff.

Edited June 13, 2021 by ben2008

[OCtoolguy]

I use it to soak my brushes in. I buy the cheap brushes and use them over and over. Where I live the government says we're not allowed to have it so I use it very sparingly. I live in fear of being found out.

Edited June 13, 2021 by octoolguy

[FrankEV]

Rather than buying brush cleaner I use MS for that purpose.  It is also an appropriate oil base paint thiner (art paint or house paint).

Yes I clean my hands with it also.  In the past I did NOT wear latex gloves when finishing but I do now and my use of MS for hand cleaning has gone way down.

I will ocasionally spray the spray adheasive inside if it is raining, being careful to use a drop cloth or paper, but overspray can get on things...the MS will remove it.

It will even clean up greesy tools when working on machinery of any kind.

I buy it by the half gallon and it lasts a long time.  You can get it in small (quart I think) cans also.  I find it handy to keep around. 

 

Edited June 13, 2021 by FrankEV

[dgman]

I live in Ventura County in Southern California. It is readily available at any hardware store here. I use it for my 50/50 mix of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. I use this mix in place of Danish oil or any other oil finish. The boiled linseed oil brings out the natural grain and color of hardwoods. The M/S thins the oil to allow the oil to easily flow around the piece and into cutouts, and allows the oil to dry overnight. Then apply a topcoat. 
I also use M/S to remove stubborn patterns. I keep it in a plastic spray bottle and spray onto the pattern. It takes a few minutes, but the pattern will lift right off. I used to soak adhesive nozzles in a small jar filled with M/S but now, I just wipe the nozzle off with my finger after every use.                                                                                                                                                 
if any cast iron top needs cleaning, I’ll wipe it down with M/S, then if needed, I’ll sand it with a fine grit sandpaper with my R/O sander and some M/S. I also use it to remove labels off of anything.      
A couple of years ago it disappeared from the shelves here. But it came back. I keep a couple of gallons in my shop in case it happens again.

 

[Rockytime]

2 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I use it to soak my brushes in. I buy the cheap brushes and use them over and over. Where I live the government says we're not allowed to have it so I use it very sparingly. I live in fear of being found out.

What's it worth to you not to report you?

[TAIrving]

4 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I use it to soak my brushes in. I buy the cheap brushes and use them over and over. Where I live the government says we're not allowed to have it so I use it very sparingly. I live in fear of being found out.

You must feel truly blessed to have a government that cares.  We can get MS over the counter here.  We just can't seem to keep 3M spray adhesives on the shelves.  

[new2woodwrk]

I use MS not only to soak my spray nozzles, but also to clean my fingers when spraying glue and for cleaning up glue on pretty much anything

It's one of the few liquids that dissolves glue without leaving a stain

I've also used it to take apart glued joints in cabinets, drawers etc so I can reuse/repurpose the wood

 

 

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, dgman said:

I live in Ventura County in Southern California. It is readily available at any hardware store here. I use it for my 50/50 mix of boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits. I use this mix in place of Danish oil or any other oil finish. The boiled linseed oil brings out the natural grain and color of hardwoods. The M/S thins the oil to allow the oil to easily flow around the piece and into cutouts, and allows the oil to dry overnight. Then apply a topcoat. 
I also use M/S to remove stubborn patterns. I keep it in a plastic spray bottle and spray onto the pattern. It takes a few minutes, but the pattern will lift right off. I used to soak adhesive nozzles in a small jar filled with M/S but now, I just wipe the nozzle off with my finger after every use.                                                                                                                                                 
if any cast iron top needs cleaning, I’ll wipe it down with M/S, then if needed, I’ll sand it with a fine grit sandpaper with my R/O sander and some M/S. I also use it to remove labels off of anything.      
A couple of years ago it disappeared from the shelves here. But it came back. I keep a couple of gallons in my shop in case it happens again.

 

For some reason the AQMD here in Orange County doesn't think we can handle it. I mean, all we have here by the ocean is 24/7 breeze to keep the air clean. I don't get it. But, what do I know?

 

[WolfmoonCT]

Oderless MS have two formulas..  one has to be CARB compliant.  I've read it's not as good as the non CARB vesion of the same stuff...   I've heard of people using it to remove their pattern applied directly to a project.  I've wondered how much residue it leaves, and how long do you have to let the wood dry before you can try to apply a finish. I use painters tape on the wood with the pattern glued to that. Yes I have to spend a little time picking pattern pieces out ( I never do those super intricate portraits) but I can apply a finish right away.  No waiting.

[OCtoolguy]

37 minutes ago, WolfmoonCT said:

Oderless MS have two formulas..  one has to be CARB compliant.  I've read it's not as good as the non CARB vesion of the same stuff...   I've heard of people using it to remove their pattern applied directly to a project.  I've wondered how much residue it leaves, and how long do you have to let the wood dry before you can try to apply a finish. I use painters tape on the wood with the pattern glued to that. Yes I have to spend a little time picking pattern pieces out ( I never do those super intricate portraits) but I can apply a finish right away.  No waiting.

Here they replaced MS with something called "turpatine". Sort of like turpentine but smellier. The MS has hardly any odor so they decided we should use the smelly stuff so we would be more aware. I'm sorry but I'm sick & tired of someone telling me how to live my life. When I get to 100, I don't want to be laying in a hospital dying of nothing. Let me alone!

[Bill WIlson]

I generally always keep a gallon can of MS in the shop.  I have a spray bottle with MS in it that I use for releasing patterns and general adhesive clean up.  I also use it for cleaning brushes/body parts etc after painting or being in the same zip code as an open can of roof patch or tube of grease.

Maybe you've heard of the product called Goo Gone.  I believe it's simply MS with some other additives thrown in to make it smell a little bit better.  I think it may be a little less combustible than MS also.  A 2oz bottle of Goo Gone is about $5 on Amazon.  A gallon of pure mineral spirits is about $14 at Lowes.  

[Norm Fengstad]

On 6/13/2021 at 1:44 PM, octoolguy said:

I use it to soak my brushes in. I buy the cheap brushes and use them over and over. Where I live the government says we're not allowed to have it so I use it very sparingly. I live in fear of being found out.

I promise not to tell anyone if you promise not to tell on me as I use it for cleanups, pattern release, soaking the M 77 nozzle and sometimes to start a fire in the fire place

[barb.j.enders]

5 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

I generally always keep a gallon can of MS in the shop.  I have a spray bottle with MS in it that I use for releasing patterns and general adhesive clean up.  I also use it for cleaning brushes/body parts etc after painting or being in the same zip code as an open can of roof patch or tube of grease.

Maybe you've heard of the product called Goo Gone.  I believe it's simply MS with some other additives thrown in to make it smell a little bit better.  I think it may be a little less combustible than MS also.  A 2oz bottle of Goo Gone is about $5 on Amazon.  A gallon of pure mineral spirits is about $14 at Lowes.  

I love Goo Gone and have used it on many things but never wood.  Now I know what to soak my nozzles in and other stuff!! THANKS!!

[ike]

I use it to remove patterns  and cleaning up in the shop. It takes so little to remove the patterns . It doesn't take any time at all all advance is gone after a hour of drying

a gallon last about 18 months, but every time I buy it the price has gone up.

IKE

[OCtoolguy]

On 6/18/2021 at 4:45 AM, ike said:

I use it to remove patterns  and cleaning up in the shop. It takes so little to remove the patterns . It doesn't take any time at all all advance is gone after a hour of drying

a gallon last about 18 months, but every time I buy it the price has gone up.

IKE

At least you can buy it. I looked for it again yesterday at H/D but still no go. What is strange is that M/S has very little odor and what we have to buy in it's place stinks to high Heaven. And it seems that it's only in  Orange County. I may have to venture up into L.A.county but you take your life in your hands when you do. Danger!

[Rockytime]

2 hours ago, octoolguy said:

At least you can buy it. I looked for it again yesterday at H/D but still no go. What is strange is that M/S has very little odor and what we have to buy in it's place stinks to high Heaven. And it seems that it's only in  Orange County. I may have to venture up into L.A.county but you take your life in your hands when you do. Danger!

Someone on the Village said KleenStrip is the same thing as mineral spirits. So that is what I buy. I hope I have the name and spelling correct. Someone may jump in and correct me if I have that wrong.

[OCtoolguy]

1 hour ago, Rockytime said:

Someone on the Village said KleenStrip is the same thing as mineral spirits. So that is what I buy. I hope I have the name and spelling correct. Someone may jump in and correct me if I have that wrong.

I think that is just a brand name Les. Not  sure but that's what I have now and I bought it before they outlawed it. Kleenstrip mineral spirits. I bought a quart of it way back and have sort of treasured it ever since. I really don't use that much of it.

 

[tomsteve]

On 6/14/2021 at 10:00 PM, octoolguy said:

Here they replaced MS with something called "turpatine". Sort of like turpentine but smellier. The MS has hardly any odor so they decided we should use the smelly stuff so we would be more aware. I'm sorry but I'm sick & tired of someone telling me how to live my life. When I get to 100, I don't want to be laying in a hospital dying of nothing. Let me alone!

i noticed on the home depot website that  HD put a prop 65 warning on deck screws even.

 

i use MS as a pre stain conditioner on pine,poplar, and some other woods that have a tendency to blotch when i am using an oil based stain.

[John B]

Here in OZ, I believe it is called Turps (Mineral Turpentine for those who have the time)
I always have a litre or two available as it can be used to thin and clean up oil based paints and clean the brushes. Also use it to thin linseed oils for the 1st couple of coats when applying to outside projects and tool handles etc. Also used to thin oil for use on sharpening stones and to clean up dirty or oily tools and remove stickers etc.
I also use it to make my own wax 1/3 turps-1/3 linseed oil-1/3 bee's wax

Edited July 5, 2021 by John B