30 replies to this topic

[jjlax10]

Curious what brand MEK people use and where they buy it from?

Josh

[piscov]

Same here!!

[Jerry Adair]

Unaware of any branding significance. I get mine from Sherwin Williams.
Jerry-

[vintage penman]

Usually whatever's on ebay.

[Procyon]

Usually whatever's on ebay.

I can't find any on ebay. 

[John Jenkins]

Try Home Depot or Lowes in the paint department.

[Procyon]

Home Depot, Lowes, ACE, don't carry it in California, at least in many parts of the state.  It is not illegal to sell in the state, but local air quality districts prohibit it in certain areas (like mine).  At least that's my understanding.  Local Home Depot has something called MEK Substitute.

[Jerry Adair]

Lots of choices on Amazon including Sunnyside which is usually good stuff

Priced from $5.83

Jerry

[JonSzanto]

I hope you guys don't mind me posting this question: as long as the subject is MEK, could you offer any tips or techniques in how one goes about using this to repair cracks, etc? I'm not really anxious to go that next level of work on my pens, but on a certain level, with care, it seems possible.

 

I'd love to hear some thoughts, if appropriate.

[david i]

Just a reminder about methyl ethyl ketone:

 

http://www.cdc.gov/n...g/npgd0069.html

 

 

http://www.cdc.gov/n...g/neng0179.html

 

regards

 

david

[AeRoberto]

Guys, MEK and Acetone are dangerous, and in these cases one have to be sure of what is going to do before actually doing it, and be sure of using proper protections for himself and what is surrounding him.

[jjlax10]

You need a vapor hood or a very well ventilated area. I will probably use it outside.I have been taught the proper method for using it, and have tried it before. 

[Procyon]

Indeed, MEK is quite dangerous.  That is why I was a little surprised that you can buy it on Amazon and have it mailed (or at least shipped in some way).

[TimGirdler]

Many of us use something better--and much more dangerous.  I won't name it here, for obvious reasons.  But, MEK is reported to work well for solvent welding. 

 

I will say, I'm considering a respirator mask of some kind.

 

Be careful!

 

Tim

[Jerry Adair]

All right Rev Tim.  What is it the world wonders?

Jerry

[david i]

Yah, Ron uses the evil stuff. It is pretty evil.  Think I first heard about it 8 years ago. I blank on the fellow's name, but for a bit he was aggressively selling "Depression pens" on ebay.

 

regards

 

d

[JonSzanto]

Well, that's about all I needed to hear. In the event of any of this manner of repair, I'll be glad to send it on to a pro who has the proper safeguards. Thanks.

[jjlax10]

I am not going to get the permit to get the stronger stuff mentioned above. 

[Mike Hosea]

You need a vapor hood or a very well ventilated area. I will probably use it outside.I have been taught the proper method for using it, and have tried it before. 

 

Your biggest risk in the present context is fire hazard after accidental spillage, I would think.  Otherwise, there's exposure and then there's exposure.  I haven't had any significant uses for MEK since I was into model building as a kid.  However, I researched acetone when I was using it to clean optics.  For some reason, people think acetone is highly toxic and don't want to moisten a Q-tip with it to clean an eyepiece lens on that account.

[Procyon]

I tried acetone to repair cap lip cracks in a basket-case Doric Morocco.  It actually seemed to work pretty well. My efforts went for naught, however. I pulled it out yesterday to see how it was holding up.  The cracks looked OK, but there was a chunk missing from the plastic at the top of the cap where it was badly crystallized. Can't even find the crystallized piece.

 

 

So much for that experiment, but I think I will be sending my future crack repairs to Ron.  Then I won't have to worry about it.

Edited by Procyon, 11 February 2014 - 06:35 PM.