Chemistry

[Curtis Kyger]

On the subject of Chemistry, I know enough that what I just did was not very intelligent and could have been very very bad, but apparently I got lucky this time with uncontrolled mixing of chemicals.
After soaking some 3D printed items in Bestine, I attempted to return the leftover Bestine back into it's can; but I was actually pouring it into a can of Lacquer Thinner.  What did I do chemically?  Can I continue to use my mixture for cleaning rail?

[RBrodzinsky]

No harm.  You just mixed one non-polar organic solvent with a bunch of other polar and non-polar solvents.   Since each manufacturer of "lacquer thinner" tends to have their own mixture, you have to look at the individual MSDS to know what all is in it.  For the most part, you will find Acetone, Toluene, Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone, Methanol and a whole bunch of other light to medium weight solvents in it.   Some heptane (Bestine) won't hurt or impact it at all. Still good for rail cleaning.

Of course, don't use this new mixture on your 3D parts!

[PhD, Chemistry, University of California Berkeley, 1981]

[peteski]

The new mixture will contain some dissolved wax which will be left on the rails after the solvents evaporate. But it will probably be just a miniscule amount and it might actually protect the rail from oxidation (omproving conductivity). 

I can just see now: Newsflash! An new and revolutionary method of track cleaning using FUD-wax in a solvent! 

[Mike C]

#biohazard # It's gonna blow !