I bought a tube of Goop, but I can’t find any toulene or zylene short of a gallon size, to thin it. Anyone have ideas?
Thanks,
Bruce
Bruce…
Most of the crafts stores, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc., typically have it in smaller cans, as it is used by artists who paint in oils, and who do not need large quantities of it. My local ACE hardware has them both in smaller containers. Just check with every place that carries paints and artists supplies.
Cheers!
Frank
i do not know if either of these solvents will work, but model airplane paint solvent or finger nail polish remover might do the trick. both are available in small quantities
will acetone work? it is often available in pint quantities at Home Depot and Lowes
Here’s a gallon of xylene at the Home Depot.
Paint stores or hardware stores usually have the smaller sizes.
Please note that he is looking for it in LESS than gallon quantities. Acetone works to a certain extent, as it is a minor solvent, less than 10% as I recall; whereas, toluene and xylene are both solvents present in 35% or greater amounts, again based on recollection from a MSDS sheet on GOOP, making them primary solvents. The Big Box stores, at least in my area, no longer carry either in anything less than gallon cans. Not too long ago I could get it from them in quart cans.
Just another reason why I support my local hardware store, even though I may pay a few pennies more!
I use a gallon every 2 years, I make alot of flies needing glue !!!
So far I’ve been to Lowe’s, Home Depot, A. C. Moore and Hobby Lobby and I can’t find toulene. I found Xylene at Home Depot, but only in a gallon can. The only place I have left to look is Michael’s Craft Store. Is it called “Toulene” or does it come under another name in the art department?
I say again paint stores …like Sherwin-Williams…etc.
My 1 quart can says Toluol [toluene].
I’ll try Sherwin Williams tomorrow.
Just an example but some of the paint stores like them will have it.
The names are: toluene (the chemical name) or Toluol (the Trade name), and xylene (chem. name) or Xylol. More than likely they will go by their Trade names. I am surprised that you did not find it in the art section of Michaels. My ‘friendly neighborhood’ ACE hardware had both in quart cans last weekend. I bet yours will also have it.
Regards
I have quart cans of Xylene, Mineral Spirits and Lacquer Thinner, a cocktails of MEK and other chemicals, distributed by Klean Strip Brand. The Klean Strip website says their products are available at most ACE, Walmart, Home Depot & Lowes stores.
I bought a quart can of Xylol at Sherwin Willaims just now. It was almost $10.
No body said it was cheap. Be careful with it there are over 18,000 btu per lb. there, about 85% of the value for propane.
Will it hurt if I get it on my skin, fingers, etc?
As a solvent both of them will strip the oils from your hands. Should you have a sensitivity to them, you’ll get some irritation and a bit of redness. If you use it a lot, you’ll dry your skin to the point where you get cracking and flaking. Be aware that rubber gloves will slow the exposure, but will become saturated themselves and you will still be exposed. So change your gloves frequently if you do have a sensitivity.
Also, there will be some benzene present in toluene or xylene. Benzene has been shown to cause cancer and interfere with reproduction in males. The OSHA permissible exposure level for benzene is 1 ppm on a time weighted average. (Acetone for example has a 1000 ppm PEL, xylene 100 ppm and toluene 200 ppm) You should work in a well ventilated area and not store the containers in your living area.
The flammability concerns probably trump any exposure concerns for these. You should be fine if you are careful with them.
Sometimes Dug stores carry toluene or xylene in smaller quantities, Try Walgreens or Rite-Aid.
this is an excellent opportunity for me to expose my ignorance. how much solvent to thin goop and then what does one use the thinned goop for?
all depends on how thin you want it, i add a 50/50 mix to a 2 oz. bottle and go from there till I get the right consistancey I want. wing cases for nymphs, covering latex caddis larva, real thin for raffia wings( check my website), head cement, all kinds of stuff that wants to stay flexable…