solvent question?

What is the solvent used for Laurel MT stock
finish and Casey's True oil??? I buy this stuff
and use it once and it solidifies to a tough gel
by the next time I need to use it again.I tried
MEK but that evaporates too quick....

I have the same problem with tru-oil. I fill the bottles with marbles to bring the liquid up to the top, keep the tops clean, and store them upside down so any gel is down at the bottom when you open it up. But, even doing all that, I just build too dang slow to use it up before it goes bad. The Chambers oil seems to last a lot better. I'm not sure if adding some solvent would slow all that down or not.

From what I understand, the best way to avoid this problem is by displacing the oxygen in the bottle with CO2. Some of the woodworking companies sell spray bottles that you are supposed to spray into the mouth of the bottle or can as you are closing it, leaving a cap of carbon dioxide in the container. I have never tried this personally, but have read good reviews of the stuff! :idunno:

You should be able to dissolve the oiled "gel"s or restore them as an oil by adding Denatured alcohol to the congealed stuff.

I learned to store the bottles upside down, so that any air is at the bottom, and any layer that forms from oxides will be at the bottom, rather than covering the top. BUT, if you store any of these fluids long enough, you need to consider adding some denatured alcohol to dissolve the congealed oils, and mix and thin the remaining liquid so it can be used.

Use the alcohol to clean oil out of the threads of the bottle, and in the cap before turning the cap down on the top. Those oil spills congeal, and leave air gaps that allow air thru the threads, to slowly evaporate your oil during storage. You get a much tighter seal on your lids, if the threads are cleaned! It also keeps the lid from being GLUED SHUT! :shocked2: :rotf: :hmm: :thumbsup:

RGriffith said:

From what I understand, the best way to avoid this problem is by displacing the oxygen in the bottle with CO2. Some of the woodworking companies sell spray bottles that you are supposed to spray into the mouth of the bottle or can as you are closing it, leaving a cap of carbon dioxide in the container. I have never tried this personally, but have read good reviews of the stuff! :idunno:

Click to expand...

For years I have kept an old two literpop bottle in the shop with the lid modified for adding a plastic tube. When ever I use varnish or laquar I put some vinegar and baking soda in the two liter jar and stick the hose in the varnish/laquar can to let the carbon dioxide fill the gap before putting the lid back on. Carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen so it will stay in the can long enough to get the lid back on. Just remember to not use so much vinegar that the actual foam goes into the can. :idunno:

Thanks Ohio, Simple and it works!! :thumbsup:
Robby

ohio ramrod said:

RGriffith said:

From what I understand, the best way to avoid this problem is by displacing the oxygen in the bottle with CO2. Some of the woodworking companies sell spray bottles that you are supposed to spray into the mouth of the bottle or can as you are closing it, leaving a cap of carbon dioxide in the container. I have never tried this personally, but have read good reviews of the stuff! :idunno:

Click to expand...

For years I have kept an old two literpop bottle in the shop with the lid modified for adding a plastic tube. When ever I use varnish or laquar I put some vinegar and baking soda in the two liter jar and stick the hose in the varnish/laquar can to let the carbon dioxide fill the gap before putting the lid back on. Carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen so it will stay in the can long enough to get the lid back on. Just remember to not use so much vinegar that the actual foam goes into the can. :idunno:

Click to expand...

Wow, that's cool! Many thanks! :hatsoff:

Thanks Paul, I will give it a try and see if it
works for me...It would seem the company would
have some printed {but very small} instructions
for preserving their product...

They don't want you to save it they want you to buy more! :grin:

I used to have that problem too....the next time I would use the TruOil, it would have a thick crust on top of it. Then I learned to store it with the bottle upside down. That seems to help a lot. Clean the threads on the jar and cap before closing it up and it is much easier to open the next time you use it.