Official Luthiers Forum!

I am aware of the health issues associated with the use of xylene. My local Sherwin Williams dealer is recommending it to use in place of lacquer thinner. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has done, or is doing this. How are you using it, and how do the results differ from using regular thinner? Thanks, Bob

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

Bob-
My comments are only on the health aspect:
I used xylene from time to time in a lab setting years ago, but not recently. At that time we thought xylene was one of the safer solvents, but then again, we were using benzene all the time as well. (!) Times change- fortunately.
I think that lacquer thinners contain xylene? Anyway, I wouldn't worry about using xylene with the same precautions (mask, ventilation) that I'd use with lacquer thinner, and my quick research just now on the 'net seems to bear this out.

Cheers
John

Hi Bob! Haven't seen you in a while.

Your local Sherwin Williams dealer ought to know better. Toxic issues aside, xylene and toluene are in lacquer thinner as vehicles. They are not actually solvents for nitro lacquer. They are cheaper than the solvents and hardware store lacquer thinner has proportionally more of them than the good proprietary brands. Bad things happen when you have too much vehicle and not enough solvent in the mix--notably "cotton blush," which is the nitrocellulose going out of solution before the vehicle has evaporated. Going to pure xylene would invite this.

I use hardware store lacquer thinner for cleanup, but only thin lacquer for spraying with Behlens.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.