The boat Iust bought, rubrails are in good physical condition but are badky scuffed and dirty. A lot of scrubbing with tile cleaner ( with bleach in it, i can tell by the damage to the rag), is yielding poor results. I plan to compound and wax the entire hull ( good thing im retired), is acetone good cleaner for hull and rubrails or is it damage?
Acetone a safe cleaner?
- Thread starter DAVA390
- Start date
Is it metal or rubber? If metal acetone is OK in my opinion. If rubber I would not use acetone as it will degrade the rubber, reduce its ability ro resist scuffs and shorten its life. for rubber, I would use the softest, non-abrasive cleaning materials like dish detergent, etc. Try these tips: 5 Ways to Clean Rubber - wikiHow
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I used to use acetone, for fenders and rub rail. I learned from a dock mate how much easier and better paint brush & roller cleaner is. Give it a try.
Is that a brand name ? What is the specific product you use ?
I have long used acetone for black rubber window seals when they are heavily oxidized and grey. If you put a small amount on a rag, and wipe... it eats the top surface and removes the oxidation of the rubber.
It evaporates quickly if used that way.
Notice i say "eats" ? If used too much it will damage the rubber (and other things).
Acetone is used during fibreglass and gelcoat repair, but if left in contact with gelcoat, it will dissolve it.
Best to use a milder cleaner and use acetone in extreme cases.
Acetone works fine, but it is a very strong solvent. I usually use lacquer thinner nowadays - not as aggressive and it's not as hard on your hide. Still, wear vinyl gloves.
Definitely ! Solvents are nasty for many reasons. MEK, Acetone, Laquer Thinner.. Brake Cleaner... It all gets absorbed into your skin and is very very nasty to varying degrees.. Wear gloves but beware that some solvents eat different gloves. Read the MSDS.
@sail sfbay Nice cleaning link except for Simple Green.
Simple Green or Ammonia is not allowed on my boat.
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Acetone is very flammable. I would test spot it first.
As others have said.
Dangerous around other boat materials.
Not my first choice.
Jim...
Simple Green or Ammonia is not allowed on my boat.
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Acetone is very flammable. I would test spot it first.
As others have said.
Dangerous around other boat materials.
Not my first choice.
Jim...
No, it is the description of a product. I got mine at ACE Hardware in the States, Home Hardware here in Canada, or Canadian Tire.
One uses it to clean paint brushes and paint rollers.
And stuff on the boat.
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For boat cleaning stuff and a link to Simple Green...
See my post #6 on this link.
Simple Green is not simple. It is EVIL!
Jim...
It will cause all of your hatches to craze badly. (Do not ask me how I know this to be true, it is still too painful after 20 years!)
Looks like the version sold in all those stores is made by Recochem, but sold under different names like "Solvable"
Solvable Professional Grade Brush & Roller Cleaner
Remove paint and varnish, degrease wet brushes and rollers, and clean fresh paint off of surfaces with Solvable Brush and Roller Cleaner
solvableworks.com
Edit: here is the MSDS:
Brush and Roller Cleaner
Chempliance Web Login
Mostly Stoddard Solvent/White Spirits with a small amount of Toulene and acetone and other nasties throw in.
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Have you noticed any deterioration of the vinyl fenders over the years ?
Paint brush cleaners smell like they're not too hospitable to anyone or anything.
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None whatsoever. They look clean and shiny, no wax needed. Been doing this for a decade or more. Still have fenders I bought in 03, 04 & 10.
Great. And you couldn't have told me this back in 03 and 04
!
A suppliers safety sheet we had at the shop said that nitrile is NOT recommended for acetone.
I will do some web searching and see if i can fine a chart.
Also.. Not all disposable nitrile gloves are the same.. Reputable suppliers help. All depends on what you are doing.
found one that discusses nitrile glove compatibility and use recommendations:
Not good for acetone...
ehrs.upenn.edu
Edit: here is a glove chemical resistance chart
Not good for acetone...
Fact Sheet: Disposable Nitrile Gloves in Chemical Labs | PennEHRS
Original version 12/2018, Revised 1/2019, 3/2019, 3/2021 Note: For the purpose of this Fact Sheet, the term "disposable nitrile gloves" refers to gloves that are one-time use and have a thickness of 5-mil and less. Examples are given in the tables at the end of the fact sheet. Nitrile is a...
Edit: here is a glove chemical resistance chart