Help, please: Help ... what disolves GRS Thermo-Loc?

Archie Woodworth · Dec 19, 2016

OK, I ended up using methylene chloride and it dissolved it nicely ... kind nasty stuff ... Look up the MSDS.
If any one else needs to dissolve Thermo-Loc here is where you can get some...

http://www.micromark.com/Same-Stuff...n=GoogleBase&gclid=CIuwgL2ugNECFd6CswodhoMD_A

Thanks again for all that responded.

Crossbolt · Dec 19, 2016

OK, you folks are scaring me with what you have on hand and are willing to pour into open beakers

I realize most probably know the hazards of materials like MEK, etc., but just a reminder to be sure you research the hazards on these compounds before use for those not familiar with them. No offense intended.
Jeremy

Brian Marshall · Dec 19, 2016

Jeremy,

That was exactly why I kept those options out of my first reply...

The skill sets of forum members vary way too much to give blanket advice on stuff that can hurt them.

And yes, I know that you can get burnt from a heat gun or dripping hot shellac - but you are far less likely to start a lethal process within your body.

Those of you who remember the days of Big Daddy Roth and the Candy Apple paint jobs, probably know why those paint jobs disappeared?

Lacquer thinner was described by a student of mine who works in HazMat - as "liver solvent". Goes through your skin and destroys your liver.

My own cancer was caused by fumes from cadmium alloyed "EZ" silver solders.

So yes, that sh*t happens - if you keep ignoring the warnings.

Brian

tdelewis · Dec 19, 2016

Excellent response by all. Never had the problem but reading this was an education.

Archie Woodworth · Dec 19, 2016

I UNDERSTAND EVERYONES CONCERN ... that is why I included the MSDS ... Use at your own discretion ... Im not advocating its use, only mentioning what worked for me.

AND FOR THE RECORD, I didn't pour it into an open beaker...I actually dropped bracelet into the bottle and screwed the top back on and let it sit for a while. Then took it outside to remove it and allowed it to gas off (outside).

Dave London · Dec 19, 2016

Geez Brian nothing like a good wiff of Toluene in the morning to get the synapses miss firing.

Brian Marshall · Dec 19, 2016

Or spending 3 whole days in a closed 10' x 10' tack room at Golden Gate Fields Racetrack in the winter time - gluing 40 pair of 36" x 40" squares of Naugahyde to 2" foam to make "turbulator" ice boots for race horses... with Barge cement.

And that doesn't count gluing in the zippers and putting on the logos & trim.

The ultimate glue sniffing experience... As I recall, the headache from that stupid little adventure lasted about a week or ten days?

Considering all the other stupid stuff I have done, I am more than lucky to be alive.

Brian

Dave London · Dec 19, 2016

Yep same here

Christian DeCamillis · Dec 19, 2016

Archie,

Did you try the acetone at all? I use it all the time and it works 100 percent of the time. After a while the acetone in the jar gets grey from it dissolving the material. I guess I don't understand why anyone would use such toxic stuff when there is an alternative .

jerrywh · Dec 20, 2016

I'm with
Christian on this. I just soak in acetone and brush it off with a tooth brush.

Dani Girl · Dec 21, 2016

Everyone note you really don't want acetone on your skin or breath it in much either... it's not a 'friendly' option... just kills you slower. (I've heard)

Dani Girl · Dec 21, 2016

Also won't warm bits stick to warm bits, like picking up blue tack.

Archie Woodworth · Dec 21, 2016

Christian, I thought I sent this response yesterday....
Yea, I did try the acetone technique as you suggested and nothing happened...glass jar in ultrasonic...maybe I didn't leave it in long enough. Was in 10 minutes or so and that was after soaking it over night. How long should it take?

Christian DeCamillis said:
Archie,

Did you try the acetone at all? I use it all the time and it works 100 percent of the time. After a while the acetone in the jar gets grey from it dissolving the material. I guess I don't understand why anyone would use such toxic stuff when there is an alternative .

Christian DeCamillis · Dec 21, 2016

Ten minutes should be enough given that you soaked it overnight. It makes no sense to me I never had it not work. Make sure it's acetone and not fingernail polish remover some of that stuff is not the same. Are you sure it's Thermolock? There are other brands of the same stuff on the market but it's basically all the same stuff. I guess my only comment then would be I just don't know .

Chris

Archie Woodworth · Dec 22, 2016

Not to keep "beating a dead horse"....but to answer your question (and ask another).

I know it's Thermo-Loc for sure cause I just ordered it a week or so ago and acetone was just purchased at Lowes a month ago. While it did soften it a bit but it really didn't dissolve it; could dig it out with toothpicks and tweezers (after five minutes I posed the question to this site).

BTW Just wondering. When you placed your glass jar with acetone in the ultrasonic, did you remove the ultrasonic solution first or just set it down into the solution? Did you turn on the heat? I drained the solution first and didn't turn on the heater (thought it not good to have heater on with no solution in tank)?

Brian Marshall · Dec 22, 2016

Aw, man... I don't have another dead horse joke ready!

Have to think of one later, gotta leave right now to pick up a work crew...

I would think that if you drained the ultrasonic tank - there was no transfer (or very little) of ultrasound to the jar.

The little transducers are cemented to the bottom of the metal tank - but unless there is liquid above and between them, not much happens.

And had you not drained it the heat coulda been left on, and it helps. A lot!

Brian

Christian DeCamillis · Dec 22, 2016

Archie. I put it in the ultrasonic with the solution still in it. As Brian said the sonic waves then work well . That may be why it didn't work for you.

Chris

Roger B · Dec 22, 2016

Archie Woodworth said:
BTW Just wondering. When you placed your glass jar with acetone in the ultrasonic, did you remove the ultrasonic solution first or just set it down into the solution? Did you turn on the heat? I drained the solution first and didn't turn on the heater (thought it not good to have heater on with no solution in tank)?

Leave the solution in the tank - this will allow the ultrasonic waves to be transmitted into the acetone. The solution was already hot - I had used this method a number of times before but this was the first time the bottom dropped out of the jar

(Sorry - posted this before I had seen that there were other replies)

silverchip · Dec 23, 2016

I use a glass beaker for this method.

horologist · Dec 25, 2016

My ultrasonic is filled with clock cleaning solution. When I need to clean small parts in something else I use a small plastic or glass container filled with the alternate solution. Usually just letting it float around in the tank. Heat is almost always better for cleaning. My understanding is that the ultrasonic should never be run while the tank is empty. If memory serves it is a good way to destroy the bond between transducer and tank, thus ruining the machine.

Troy

Help, please: Help ... what disolves GRS Thermo-Loc?

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