MEK pricing and availablity

I was doing some more research, and there was an MRH  thread from earlier year discussing the cost of MEK but almost nothing about a suitable replacement.

I just came across this product bulletin for MEK that discusses alternatives and the reason for the high price of MEK at the moment...

http://www.oxea-chemicals.com/uploads/tx_nfoxcnews/110503_MEK_Replacement_Tech_Bulletin.pdf

So it appears that a mix of 40% n-propyl acetate and 60% acetone might be a less dangerous alternative - anybody know where to get this mix?

Thanks again for any input and advice.

John Senior

October MRH

The Questions, Answers & Tips feature in October talked about styrene glues: http://issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/docs/mrh11-10-oct2011-ol/18?viewMode=presentation&mode=embed

Lacquer Thinner

Bob Harpe (who does many amazing things with Southern Ry. diesels) uses lacquer thinner for all of his styrene joints.  I have tried it and find it perfectly usable, although it's not quite as hot and the smell is a little stronger, compared to MEK.

Is a can of MEK really that expensive these days?  I'm still using the same quart can that I bought over 10 years ago.

˙Depending on your location

I live in Canada and my local Canadian Tire has a stuff called "PVC Cleaner" that is very close to the properties of MEK (from what I read) and I have been using this for years when my modeling budget was tighter.  This stuff is used to clean PVC pipping before applying the glue. 

I now use Tamiya thin cement for my plastic models but I may revert back to that stuff.

Cheers,

Chris

NOTE: Do not mistake this with "PVC Glue", they are totally different product and yes, I'm talking from experience!

pvc cleaner

I've noticed that MEK is rather difficult to find in Canada also.  Home Depot doesn't seem to carry it anymore, although they do carry pretty much every other organic solvent.   Your suggestion of PVC primer/cleaner is a good one as it's similar.  The PVC primer is a mixture of mostly Acetone with around 20% MEK and small amounts of other organic solvents.  The main difference between the PVC cement and the primer/cleaner is that the cement also contains dissolved PVC, which is why it does not make a good styrene cement.

Lacquer Thinner

While there is no specific formula for lacquer thinner (it is a very broad generalized term) most blends contain a majority of butyl acetate, toluene, and/or MEK. Any of which most certainly melt styrene. Lacquer thinner is readily available and inexpensive.

The lacquer thinner sold by Home Depot is 60% toluene, 15% MEK

MSDS

Lacquer Thinner

I'll second the point made about lacquer thinner being a suitable alternative. That's mostly what I use.   Maybe it's my imagination but it seems that the MEK bonds dry faster than with the lacquer thinner.

Lance

Visit Miami's Downtown Spur at http://www.lancemindheim.com

MEK in Canada

MEK is getting harder to find.  What you have to do is go to a paint wholesaler, like General Paint.  They supply painting contractors and will have MEK available.  I could only get a gallon sized can from my local General Paint store.  They charged me $19.00.  That was a couple years ago now.  I hear a gallon is around $40 now!

MEK in Louisiana

I just today picked up a quart of 100% MEK at the local Home Depot.  The stuff was just under $9 for the quart.  But that still is much cheaper than all the equivalent little bottles of glue.

Jack