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I read about the possibility of silicone contamination on another thread, now I am wondering . i have been using a piece of furniture grade foam , the yellowish stuff that is used for cushions, as sort of a non slip matt , and to protect the underside of my work. could this type of foam be a source of contamination ? thanks Jody

If it's non-slip that tells you it's not likely a problem with the foam itself. However, if you've set anything on it that was contaminated i.e. a guitar you're repairing that someone used Pledge furniture polish on, then the foam could have picked that up. Some metal cutting fluids can cause problems too.

Jody,

Yes, it could be.

But your foam isn't likely to have silicone. The source of contamination could be a plasiticiser which keeps the material flexible, Those agents are present in just about everything made of plastic and can be about as destructive as silicone as far as getting a finish to stick. We hear about how leaving your guitar leaning against a naugahyde couch can cause lacquer to blister. That's the plasticizer migrating into the finish from the naugahyde.



If you're in a Wal-mart or dollar store, run your fingers across something cheap made out of foam (like a non-skid bathtub mat) or plastic. Sometimes they feel slick or greasy. That's a release agent, used to make it easy to release from a mold during manufacture and are likely to to come from those non-skid bathtub mats.

Some finishes are less affected, but it's best to be safe and avoid foams and plastics for padding.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

o.k. thanks Sheldon and Pat , will a naptha "bath" remove any residual contaminates?? thanks jody

I have good luck with a product called Polycracker for removing silicone.

Sounds like something you spray around your house if youve got a problem with Parrots.

http://www.repaintsupply.com/pd_polycracker.cfm

acryli-clean DX330 from ppg will work.