M.E.K. Substitute??????
 

Went to the orange box store today to get some materials for dope thinner and noticed they don't have any methyl ethyl ketone, but what they are calling a "substitute" M.E.K.

As I know he is knowledgeable about these things and this is one of the areas I hold him in very high regard, I have to ask GHrocketman if he has dealt with this new substance and just how does it affect the thinner attributes for dope??

There is NO SUCH THING as "substitute" MEK.
Solvents suitable for thinning Butyrate Dope include Acetone, MIBK, Ethyl Acetate, MEK, and Toluene. Those are listed in quickest to slowest drying (evaporation) rate. They can be used straight or mixed in any proportion to achieve the drying rate desired.
Virtually any Home Depot or Lowe's carries Acetone and MEK unless in California. They used to carry Toluene also but do not any longer. You can get Toluene at Sherwin-Williams paint stores.
Ethyl Acetate and Toluene are available at most independent hardware stores.
TSC stores and Family Farm and Home stores carry MEK as well.
MIBK is available at some large industrial supply stores and chemical warehouses, as well as eBay.
Lacquer Thinner from DuPont/Nason or PPG at automotive paint stores will work due to being free of Methanol. Hardware store lacquer Thinner WILL NOT WORK due to always containing Methanol.

According to the MSDS from Klean-Strip, it is Acetic Acid, ethyl ester {Ethyl acetate}.


MEK Substiture MSDS

Ok, now with the ingredients, I can say that you can use that as part of a dope thinner package. Ethyl Acetate is usually in most dope thinners, but in a lower percentage than the other components. It does have less tendency to bite into/craze plastics.
Back when Testors still made dope, their thinner had a much higher percentage of Ethyl Acetate than Pactra, Sig, Brodak, S****, or Randolph dope thinners.

I thought the Fed outlawed MEK!?!
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No, the Federal government did not outlaw MEK. MEK suffered because someone coined the phrase, "Methyl Ethyl Death," to describe any unknown chemical that will kill you if you were exposed to it. The reality is that MEK has low human toxicity. MEK has an OSHA IDLH (immediately dangerous to life and health) level only slightly lower than ethanol. But the moniker stuck, and a consumer-driven availability cascade ensued that caused manufacturer's to seek alternatives to the evil MEK.

Found a formula online in someone's blog for a cheap sanding sealer alternative using MEK and styrofoam peanuts. Think liquid plastic, like Flecto Varathane. Dissolve the peanuts in the MEK to saturation. It should be the consistency of thin honey. Brush on with a disposable brush, sand down after dry. Generally one coat should do it.

Caution: there are two kind of peanuts being used as packing material. The soy based product will not work. But it's easy to spot from the styrofoam.

I literally have a Home Depot and Family Farm and Home store within 1/2 mile from my condo.
Both carry MEK in gallons and quarts. In addition to dope thinner, mixed 50/50 with Toluene or Xylene makes a great fuel injection cleaner.

We are more professional than that in the fire service. We call it "methyl ethyl bad $#it" . :cool:

I've heard that one too.... The firefighter in me laughs along, but the hazmat nerd in me says, "...but it's a simple ketone..." :o