Head cement thinner

[sukhoidave 0]

What is head cement thinner? I'm thinking probably acetone because I tried mineral spirits and tuolene and they didn't seem to do anything. I'd buy a quart of acetone and just fill a small jar with some because I'll use acetone for a lot of other stuff too. Gotta be a more economical way than paying several bucks for a little bitty jar labelled Head Cement Thinner...

 

Can anyone give me a definite answer, please?

[Soft-hackle 0]

Hi,

It depends upon what your cement is.

 

Mark

[Catalpa_Joe 0]

Acetone's pretty nasty stuff to use indoors. I've been using water based polyurethane varnish. You can get it at any hobby store. If it gets too thick, just add water.

[DancesWithHeadCement 0]

I think you nailed the most common already, tuolene and acetone can thin a number of brands, but it depends on whose bottle you have on your bench, as none thin "all" of the brands.

 

I use thinned vinyl cement, HH-66, that I can get from stores catering to boaters or truckers. It's also available in a good hardware store. You can get a pint for about $6.00, ditto for the thinner.

[Ephemerella 0]

To thin simple head cement, which is essentially lacquer, use lacquer thinner. It is available in the hardware store for about $8 a quart. You and all your friends will not use that much in a lifetime.

Do NOT use it for Fleximent or other flexible or vinyl cements, and of course not for water-based or alcohol based cements (duh).

 

And another thing. Do NOT transfer the thinner from the can it comes in to a smaller bottle or jar indoors. The vapors can travel to a furnace or pilot light and... :crying: Boom! Do this outdoors.

 

I put it in a squeezy bottle with a metal tube. The 1/2 oz or so evaporates in a year, but I just refill it from the quart metal can.