Acetone on tubes?

[moonshadow]

How ill advised would i be to use acetone to clean some sun weathered grey hypalon tubes.have pretty much tried every thing else with no success but a test patch with acetone for 20 seconds comes up quite good,any thoughts?

[Mollers]

I've used thinners and a Scotchbrite pad on sun yellowed white PVC tubes. It worked well. Proceed with caution would be my advice.

[paul tilley]

acetone is fine on hypalon as long as used sensibly ie dont soak the tubes in it

[Poly]

Originally Posted by paul tilley

acetone is fine on hypalon as long as used sensibly ie dont soak the tubes in it

Since you are new round here then I'll point out that Paul Tilley is one of the most respected independent tube makers in the UK, and quite possibly the world so his advice is pretty sound!

As you probably know acetone has the potential to be unpleasant so before anyone else posts it - ensure its used in a well ventilated space, wear gloves and keep away from naked flames/sparks/heat.

The "thinners" that mollers refers to may be easier to get cheaply in large quantities if required (its car paint thinners, or even cheaper "gun wash" used for cleaning spray guns). These are also used by people on here when traditional cleaners fail. They will be at least as nasty as acetone.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Since you are new round here then I'll point out that Paul Tilley is one of the most respected independent tube makers in the UK, and quite possibly the world so his advice is pretty sound!

Kiss arse.

My 'thinners' was more than likely gunwash. I had a 25Ltr can and used to decant it into a 1000ml thinners can for ease of use. I don't think that you can buy 25Ltrs now for safety reasons.

[moonshadow]

Many thanks guys for the helpful replies.......while im only registerd a while ive been lurking forever Really appreciate your help.........BUT im still afraid anyone got some before and after photo results

[martini]

Originally Posted by Mollers

I don't think that you can buy 25Ltrs now for safety reasons.

We buy 25L gun wash at work

[jwalker]

Acetone evaporates so quickly it is not easy to use for large areas, standard cellulose thinners (gun wash) is much better. Available from your local auto paint motor factors, 25lts approx 13 kwid plus the dreaded VAT here.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Acetone evaporates so quickly it is not easy to use for large areas, standard cellulose thinners (gun wash) is much better. Available from your local auto paint motor factors, 25lts approx 13 kwid plus the dreaded VAT here.

+1, I've tried Acetone in the past & it evaporates so quickly, it acts like a bonding agent to the Hypalon. It lifts the muck, but then evaporates before you can remove the muck & acetone off the tube & leaves the muck behind, embedded deeper than before you started.

[bliksem]

Hi Guys

My UK rib maker says Toluene (which in Belgium is also hard to get) is a good product to clean some dirt of hypalon tubes.(not on regular basis though) So I would like to hear the respected advice or MR Tilley on that. My tubes are black fabric impression and after three weeks lying in the Mediterrean seas small algae are not easily removed (in fact not at all) as well as some dried mud or smal stains of suntanning lotion or even stains from rubbed skin when you lied down on it!!

so ......

[paul tilley]

it is a toluene based thinners that is used during the manufacture of hypalon tubes so no problem there but it is crap for removing mud ect you need to wash and possibly scrub the tubes with a decent detergent like diluted traffic film remover then clean with acetone ,thinners (gunwash type ) or toluene

[bliksem]

hi

read there are two sorts of traffic film remover: alkaline based or PH NEUTRAL ONES . which is best? How much do I have to dilute? I already scrubbed the fabric impression with a brush but in my believe black should be black. And I like it clean and neat!

[jezza2011]

I used AutoGlym motor bike cleaner or engine degreaser on my old tubes to get them clean.
always did the trick and not too nasty on the tubes or me.