Re: DOT 5 issue

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/6/10 11:05:51

Tom, oven cleaner is water-based and contains lye (caustic potash or equiv) and would be a very poor choice, it has essentially no solubilizing power for an organic liquid. And be careful with benzene, it is at the least a suspect human carcinogen and has a very low flash point, only 12 degrees F. On the safety aspect, Acetone's flash point is even lower, 0 degrees F - and is also a skin and severe eye irritant and an explosion hazard so use any of them outdoors and with plenty of ventilation. Xylene and toluene (aka xylol and toluol) are a bit safer but still not great, and probably not a very good solvent for silicones. Speaking as a chemist with many years of experience is chemical safety, if you intend to use any of these substances, you should obtain and read the material safety data sheets (MSDS) first, or at the very least the label precautions.