12 replies to this topic

[Mark Crowley]

I purchased some Weldwood Contact Cement and a gallon of standard Kleenstrip lacquer thinner (not the green kind) and proceeded to thin a small amount of cement with the thinner. The cement would not mix with the thinner. I added more lacquer thinner and the cement just moved around like a lava lamp. Shake it up and it would break up into smaller pieces and then come back together in one clump.  After four hours it never dissolved.

 

The MSDS for the Weldwood Contact Cement states it is primarily 30-60% toulene and 7-13% MEK.

 

The Kleenstrip MSDS lists: Acetone <50.0 %, Light aliphatic solvent naphtha (petroleum) <=35.0%, Toluene <=31.5 %, Methanol 

<=35.0 %.

 

The lacquer thinner also wouldn't thin some 3M black weatherstrip adhesive. It acted the same way as the contact cement. The thinner works fine for dipping the donut to mount on the hub as it does re-soften dried cement and makes it slick.

 

What do you use to thin contact cement? Toulene? Xylene? MEK? Acetone? Better lacquer thinner?

 

Thanks,

 

Mrk

[James Wendel]

I use MEK to thin both 3M weatherstrip adhesive & contact cement. In fact I bought a new quart yesterday at True Value.

 

In years past, lacquer thinner used to cut contact cement. Something changed.

[John Streisguth]

Yeah, apparently some new air quality regulations have caused the make up of lacquer thinner to be modified.

[Mark Crowley]

I have done a fair amount of DIY plastic laminate bonding in the past and the only thing I used to thin and clean was lacquer thinner.  With clean air rules the manufacturers must be cutting the amount of volatile compounds in their products.  I was surprised that HD sold a gallon for $12 and change.  Now I am not surprised that this lacquer thinner cost less than a gallon of VM&P Naptha.

[Steve Ogilvie]

MEK

[Robert BG]

I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark here because I had a similar issue.My problem was caused by them adding more methanol to reduce VOC's or something the government mandated.

[Mark Wampler]

I use Weldwood straight out of the can on my tire mounts.  I have an older can, almost empty of lacquer thinner that I use to dip the doughnuts for mounting.  I’ll probably end up getting a new can of acetone next time.  Its cheaper than lacquer thinner at least at Wal-Mart.  BTW I’ve used Weldwood exclusively for the last 4 years with not problems.

[Mark Crowley]

I soaked a group of old hubs without tires in the Kleenstrip lacquer thinner last night and after about 5 minutes I noticed little chunks of rubber in the thinner.  Also the glue easily wiped off the hubs.  This less potent type of lacquer thinner may even be better for dipping the tire prior to sliding on the hub.  It softens the glue but doesn't break it down.

Maybe it would also be "gentler" on the compound in the donuts??? 

Mrk

[Mark Wampler]

Trial and error I think.  I soak used up tires in acetone as opposed to lacquer thinner, but the acetone does the job faster.  In prepping to mount a doughnut, dipping the doughnut for a second or two is meant to only soften the glue temporarily in order to slip it on the hub.  It should not be able to strip or weaken the glue in a matter of a few seconds.  I think that thinning weldwood is a mistake from the beginning.  Thinning compromises its adhesive properties.

[Fast Freddie]

Try using the weather strip adhesive in the spray can it works much better.  I usually put a line of similar  type wheels on a long piece of piano wire and give them a thin coat of adhesive then spray a good amount into a clean soup can, it doesn't need thinning, an I use that to coat the tire bores.  Much less mess and less hassle and it works great.    

[JerseyJohn]

Mek

[James Wendel]

Sorry, John, but the "Man of a Few Words" award already went to Steve Ogilvie, post #5

[Coal Train]

Turpentine