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Is methylated spirit suitable for cleaning? Advice please?
Is methylated sperit ok to clean a van befor applying vinyl? nor sure what is best to use.
Cheers
D
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47 Replies
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I have used it, but you have to be soooo careful that it doesnt take a layer of paint off. If the vehicle has had any body work done, I’ve found the meths will take off paint which has not been sealed with laquer. Even isopropyl alcohol, which is recommended on here has dulled a laquered finish on a truck I did. (Think I rubbed too hard) 😳
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oh dear , not good Lorraine, opps 😳
where can i get isopropyl alcohol i wonder… chemest sell it?
D
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I’ve used Methylhydrate before in a pinch. It’s like a camping fuel. Sounds similar to what you mentioned. Its risky and you have to wipe it on and off really fast (dont be smoking around it!) and it did dull the finish a little. Thank goodness the lettering covered it up. Too risky for me, so I dont use it.
Isopropyl alcohol will work but find that it can leave a residue if you havent cleaned it with windex before using it. Isopropyl you can buy at the local pharmacy or drug store. (well here you can).
I now use Rapid Prep. Not sure you can get it over there but if you contact Roger Bailey at http://www.rapidtac.com. He’ll be glad to send you some samples.
Happy Cleaning!
Stevo
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i use isopropanol on just about everything never had any problems always try a bit out of sight the roof etc just a quick wipe should remove wax etc
auto glym intensive tar remover is great on glue residue etc
i have a steamer which is great for softening vinyl for removing
i think i read a thread about meths on a white van leaving a blue tint?
beware of freshly painted stuff its amazing what painters(not all of them) 😉 will cover with a bit of paint i ask customers to give vehicle a good wash with hot soapy water, just washing up liquid nothing with added waxes etc nothing worse than a dirty van to start, even if its just put through the car wash put something on your quote about charging for cleaning we have all been hit with this problem i quoted on what i was told was a white van it turned up already sign written 😮 but it was white
cost me about 4 hours work
like most things preparation is the key
anyway im’e ramling on
best of luck
Derek heron -
Rapid prep for me too, leaves a nice squeaky clean surface and the lettering sticks lovely
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Jayne where do you get yours from? Is there anyone in the UK sends out samples?
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I get mine from All Print supplies, tel: 01753 696977, they will probably send you a small sample bottle of rapid tac and rapid prep
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Thanks Jayne, just phoned them, the chap I spoke to wasn’t sure if the samples were ‘free’, as the stuffs quite expensive to buy! He’s almost put me off already!!!!!!
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thanx peoples 😀
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Panel wipe with the lint free cloths that you can buy from the same place you get panelwipe from
Used but automotive paint sprayers to remove any silicone before paint spraying and does a good job The lint free cloths are great too dont leve any fibre behind.
Think I got mine from Partco or you could get it from Dingbro etc etc.
Goop
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I’m with Goop, Panel wipe, you can get it in quick and slow evaporation, good for hot and cold weather!
Nick
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We use 3m Surface Cleaner from Cox Plastics
Kev
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Used meths for 20 years and never had a problem but will tell you tomorrow……… doing a van that was resprayed 3 weeks ago, should have finished outgassing by now.
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We have a product here called vinyl prep which is Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). Ideal for this sort of work. Wax and grease remover is good too, but always polish it of with windex or similar. Graphic artmart in OZ sell a product called QuickStic in a concentrate. It is an excellent cleaner and lubricant for anyone that applies wet.
Been using it for years now, tried others, but nothing comes close to this stuff. I even have as my windscreen washer fluid.
Would only use metho to clean a vehicle down as a last resort.
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hi del, i,ve used meths for 18 years, not had many probs its the cheapest around. the only problem is new paintwork that has been painted using cellulose paint, this leaves a dull patch, newer paintwork (ie 2pack paints) be carefull, you cant fit vinyls straight away as the paint is still curing.
nearly all jobs, degrease using fairy liquid, then meths if you need it. -
cool 😀
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I use meth and in four years I’ve only had one problem with paint. You need to be careful though
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We have used meths for last 9 years, no problems ever. use it for cleaning everything.
Have noticed one thing though, usually buy it in 5 galls plastic drums but health & safety now say can only be sold in 1 gall tin cans so have bought 4 galls recently & noticed it doesn’t smell like meths, it smells 10 times worse but it’s same colour!!!
L J
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Not had any problems with meths either
My family think I have a problem *drink*
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lol@John (drink1)
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Sorry I am a bit confused, what is meth?
I use isopropanol because I saw some postings about it, so far (thats not really far) have had no problems, is this the same?
JJ
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Methelayted Spirit think thats how you spell it.
Goop
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HI JJ
Meths:, Metholated spirits, its purple in colour and is used to fuel old slyle lanterns, you can get drunk on it (apparently) and if you dip your finger in it you can set lite to your finger without burning it!!!! (dont try it at home kids). -
ive used meths for 15 years now… works brilliant all round.
there are some down sides to it that you have to watch. like has been said, fresh painted vans, the meths can bit into the paintwork and leave a dull ugly patch. always do a little tester first, “if” its just been painted. to be honest, fresh paint, your better washing down with paper towel and water. better safe than sorry…
freezing cold weather. this “does” happen… in the cold, last thing you want is soaking paper towel on your hand if fitting outside. so what did a couple of uour guys do. splashed the van with meths then wiped. the meths reacted to the cold and left a huge purple blotch almost instantly!
“no way will you remove it”anyway, we now buy in big drums of industrial meths, its “clear” and comes with a tap. we just top up our own bottles from it when needed.
the big drum costs about £36+vat
recently i have switched to isopropanol. its clear too & does the exact same job but costs only £28 per drum. -
18 years on methylated spirit (that’s how you spell it!) and no problems. We do exercise a little care on used vans but never a worry on factory paint.
Robert, where do you get your drums of meths from and what size are they? I suspect that we are paying too much.
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i get it local john, and funny enough i was asking the guy if he could distribute these drums to uksg members if needed. short answer was no!
the reason was the transporting of highly flammable liquid. has to have all sorts of health and safety regulations on the carriers.
that said, ill ask him on Friday as he is due to deliver a drum then. I’m sure he will have contacts down south.
he has given me the clear indutrial meths until now, so if wanting to stay with that i guess you now have the option. -
Rob,
I have tried all our builders merchants where i used to get 5 gall drums but all they sell now is 1 litre.
So phoned from suppliers label on old empty drum & ordered from them, 4 x 1gal tin in a box.is it builders merch that you get it from?
L J -
hi john, no its one of these companies that supply all the car/van valeting places, restaurants for cleaning fluids, etc etc i also buy a very strong acid for cleaning alluminium. its brill lasts for years… cleans up things like old panatrim and the like in a few wipes. need good rubber gloves to apply though. 😉
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right thanks Rob, next question whats the ally cleaner called please? sounds interesting.
L J -
ill have to check the label at work mate, & get back to you… i havent a clue. but out of all the stuff i have used this does the best job by far.
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Wish I had known your supplier Rob, I have just ordered IPA 25l for £50 I hope your drum is not 200l! The company also do the ali cleaner it is called Bright.
Safechem Ltd 01914108668
Cheers
Dave
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I bought the Isopropyl Alcohol in a 20 kg can for Euro 56,- (= 38,- GBP).
They told me that they will have to inform some kind of organization here in Holland because it is also used for the production of drugs like XTC … and as you probably know we are the biggest producer in the world (am not proud of that).JJ
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quote DaveBruce:Wish I had known your supplier Rob, I have just ordered IPA 25l for £50 I hope your drum is not 200l! The company also do the ali cleaner it is called Bright.
Safechem Ltd 01914108668
Cheers
Dave
at “a guess” dave ide say the drums i buy are no less than 25 letres for £36 and isoprop lower again, as above.
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meant to post this sooner, heres a picture of the industrial meths i get, well more the size i am trying to show in comparison to the isoprop 5 litre bottle.
Attachments:
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http://www.carwashchemicals.co.uk/
we get from T R Bonnyman …….[isoprop]
Cheers
Andrew
[best place to buy water bottles [spray]
2 sizes, plain, transparent, good nozzle-trigger, good price] -
Just ran out of IPA, I saw an advert in one the magazines, but can’t find it again :banghead:
Where’s the best place then to buy IPA??
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I buy mine from a local(ish) Chemical Supply Company Dave not a trade supplier. Have a search for chemical supply companies in your area as well as trade suppliers.
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Found this company via e-bay, although cheaper on their website…
http://www.lucemillpackaging.co.uk/inde … =isopropyl
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I have always preferred Methyl alcohol over IPA as the methyl alcohol (Methanol) doesn’t leave as much residue. It is a bit hotter so you need to be careful. Wax and grease remover is pretty easy on finishes but you need to wipe it off with a dry cloth before it dries as it tends to leave a residue as well.
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This is where i get mine http://www.shinyhardware.co.uk/prods/sh … ?pid=24281
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I just used the last IPA my wife got for me 2 days ago. I went looking for more yesterday. I started at a commercial paint place , then a decorating place, Halford’s, an auto supply house, and finally found a liter of it at Maplin for 15 pounds.
This seems really strange to me. Back in the states IPA and methanol flow like water.
Speaking of water, The same thing is true for distilled water. You have to order it in at a chemist, in the states it flows like …well…water. -
shiny hardware about 10.00 for 5 litres I believe
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Shiny hardware prices very good.
I usually buy at a paint merchant. Get 50litre (99%) container for about £80. Does me for about a year using it quite liberally.
Decant into a 1.5l pressure plant mister – works a treat.
Shiny’s stuff is probably purer by 0.9% – but makes no difference for what we’re using it for .
Dave
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quote Chris Windebank:shiny hardware about 10.00 for 5 litres I believe
That is some cheap IPA. What strength is it?
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SHL 5 Litre (5000ml) High quality pure Isopropanol 99.9%
http://www.shinyhardware.co.uk/prods/sh … ?pid=25151
Sorry its gone up a pound since I last brought, now 11.05 plus vat
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As Chris says shiny hardware :thumbup2:
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Thanks for the tip. That is a really great price on IPA.
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