Does flash point of mineral spirits make a significat difference when used as parts cleaner ?

[verk]

Hi Forum. I've learned so much here and today I became aware that all mineral spirits are not the same. I was told by an old-timer ( pretty soon I'll be one myself ) that when cleaning parts one should use a flash of 140 or greater and that this is most likely much higher flash than the Home Depot mineral spirits that I purchased. So I looked it up and saw that the particular mineral spirits I purchased was shown as ">100". I suspect some of you out there know whether this actually makes a difference and if so in what way.

Appreciatively, Sven

 

[Killer223]

it's really a personal choice. if the stuff you're using is working then keep using it. i usually use diesel, kerosene, paint thinner. gas. in that order of stubbornness.

 

[seafish]

IMO it mostly depends on what the part is that you are trying to clean as well as what your'e trying to clean off of it and also how much elbow grease you want to put into the process.

For example I use Acetone whenever I'm in a rush ... it works great and fast with minimal effort but it is certainly more expensive then spirits or kerosene and evaporates extremely fast!!

 

[p-Bar]

you have to watch all thinners in Cali. I bet that's where you are. It's really not paint thinner , as lacquer thinner is full of acetones. Cali wants all solvents to have high flash points (evaporate fast) to meet there bs causes. I have my friend pick me stuff up in Arizona .

 

[Robbie Antonosn]

What I understand about flash points on these cleaners is. The higher the flash point, the harder it is to iginite. Evaporates slower. So I personally look for the highest flash point for the stuff I put into my solvent tank that is going to sit around. I am currently using a Crown product sold at Tractor supply rated for solvent tanks, flash I believe is greater than 145. Work better than most of the Eco water based stuff I have tried.

back when I was doing a mobile service for people.
I used gasoline. Stored in good cans. I would only use small volumes at a time, being careful to not have a fire. Some would never use gasoline, I never found diesel to work well enough. California would have issues with this.
As a young man/kid, we used Chevron (I want to say 105 solvent) product that evaporated rather quickly, would strip the oils off our hands. Probably lost lots of brain cells from that stuff working for Cummins in Alaska in the 80’s. But that stuff would clean like no body’s business.