1 DEC 09
Cleaner and Solvent Test of Implement Surfaces, Nov. 2009
Sharpie
Mfr
Product
Primary ingredients
Secondary ingredients
Elmer's Painters
Paint Markers1
Krylon Short Cuts
Paint Pens2
notes
Sharpie
Elmer's Painters
Paint Markers1
aluminum plate
Ace Hardware
Toluol
95-100% toluene
Ace Hardware
Xylol
84% xylene
B-33 Engine
Degreaser
TSP Concentrate
Substitute
Berryman
BIX (Homax)
Citristrip
Stripping Gel
Krylon Short Cuts
Paint Pens2
notes
Sharpie
Elmer's Painters
Paint Markers1
javelin
Krylon Short Cuts
Paint Pens2
notes
plastic discus
good
good
good
good
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
light dissolving
16% ethyl benzene
excellent
excellent
excellent
fair
excellent
excellent
good
excellent
excellent
light dissolving
15-20% base solvent
10-15% heavy aromatic distillate
2% triethanolamine
red = good;
black = fair
poor
good
poor
poor
good
poor
poor
fair
10% ethanol, 2-butoxy-EGBE*
1-5% sodium xylenesulfonate
1-5% sodium metasilicate
good
good
fair
excellent
excellent
fair
excellent
good
fair
10-30% dimethyl glutarate
10-30% dimethyl adipate
30-60% n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone
1-5% citrus extract
1-5% polyethoxylated cocamine
good
good
good
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
fair
fair
poor
good
fair
fair
messy residue good
fair
fair
some residue excellent
fair
fair
good
good
good
some residue
excellent
excellent
excellent
moderate
residue
excellent
excellent
excellent
light residue; light
dissolving/tacky
excellent
excellent
excellent
good
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
light dissolving
fair
fair
fair
fair
poor
poor
good
poor
poor
some residue
6% sodium hypochlorite
Goof-Off
Goof-Off 2
5-10% benzenemethanol
3-7% ethanol
Goof-Off
Graffiti Remover
30-60% acetone
15-40% n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone
Goof-Off
Professional
75-80% xylene
Goof-Off
Wipes
10-30% mixed dibasic esters
Greased
Lightning
Super Strength MultiPurpose Cleaner &
Degreaser
2% sodium hydroxide
5% 2-butoxyethanol
black=good;
red=fair
poor
poor
Klean Strip
Acetone
100% acetone
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
Klean Strip
Denatured Alcohol
45-50% ethanol
50-55% methanol
1-4% methyl isobutyl ketone
good
good
good
excellent
good
fair
excellent
excellent
fair
10-15% isopropanol
1-5% methanol
1-3% ethanol, 2-butoxy-EGBE*
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
moderate
dissolving, sticky
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
moderate
dissolving, goopy
good
fair
good
good
poor
poor
poor
poor
excellent
fair
fair
fair
poor
poor
fair
poor
poor
fair
good
good
good
good
poor
poor
poor
fair
fair
good
fair
fair
excellent
good
fair
excellent
good
excellent
Klean Strip
KS-3 Premium Stripper 70-90% dichloromethane
Klean Strip
MEK
Klean Strip
Naphtha (VM&P)
Klean Strip
paint thinner
Klean Strip
turpentine
1-5% d-limonene
100% methyl ethyl ketone
95-100% light aliphatic solvent
naphtha
95-100% Stoddard solvent (mineral
spirits)
100% turpentine (gumspirits)
residue
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
peels paint
off instantly
--moderate
dissolving, sticky
Ultra Power Specialty
Adhesive Remover
LiftOff 4 Graffiti
Remover
10% acetone
proprietary ingredients
good
good
good
excellent
good
good
excellent
fair
fair
household ammonia
30% ammonium hydroxide
fair
fair
poor
good
poor
poor
fair
fair
poor
Pyroil
Carburetor Cleaner
40-50% acetone
20-30% methanol
15-20% xylene
5% ethyl benzene
good
good
good
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
excellent
Savogran
TSP
75-80% trisodium phosphate
20-25% sodium sesquicarbonate
poor
poor
poor
poor
poor
poor
poor
poor
poor
Whiteworth
Methyl Alcohol
100% methanol
fair
fair
fair
good
good
fair
excellent
excellent
fair
Zep
Heavy Duty Citrus
Degreaser
1-5% d-limonene
1-5% monoethanolamine
1-5% sodium xylene sulfonate
1-5% DGME**
1-5% alpha olefin sulfonate
fair
fair
fair
poor
fair
fair
good
good
fair
Premier Value
Isopropyl Alcohol
70% isopropanol
fair
fair
poor
---
---
---
---
---
---
(n/a)
kerosene
100% kerosene
fair
poor
good
---
---
---
---
---
---
Krud Kutter
Motsenbocker
Pacific
* ethylene glycol n-butyl ether
** diethylene glycol monobutyl ether
25% d-limonene
1
2
water-based acrylic
oil-based enamel
5% 2-butoxyethanol
5% DGME**
residue
---
light residue; light
dissolving/tacky
Everyday Living bleach
3-7% tall oil, potassium salt
1-5% DGME**
1-5% propylene glycol phenyl ether
5-10% methyl soyate
5-10% propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-,
ethyl ester
3-7% alcohol ethoxylate, C9-11
1-5% alcohols, C12-13 ethoxylated
7-13% liquified petroleum gas
5-10% d-limonene
15-20% ethyl benzene
1-5% DGME**
---
messy
residue
<3% ethoxylated alcohol
<3% tall oil
excellent = quickly dissolves the marking
good = cleans up the marking
with minimal scrubbing
residue
residue
fair = some amount of scrubbing is required to clean off the marking
poor = a large amount of scrubbing is required to clean the marking
off a smooth surface or doesn't work at all
"Residue" refers to varying degrees of
messiness or goop that is created by the
cleaner
light dissolving,
tackiness
"Dissolving" refers to the melting
of the ABS plastic
Test Notes & General Procedure
The first test used an aluminum plate, which was
neither polished or rough.
A grid of markings was made on the plate.
The grid continued on the back side.
The positions of the markings within each cell was
consistent with regard to make and color.
The markings had one day to dry at room temperature.
The cleaning test was conducted in a ventillated
space, using chemical-compatible gloves and an
activated charcoal face mask.
MSDS sheets were used to establish the ingredients
of all the cleaners.
The cleaning was performed with cotton balls that
were soaked with the solvent.
In some cases, the cleaner left a noticeable residue,
which is indicated in the Notes column.
The residue was easily cleaned up in all cases; it
simply created an additional step in the cleaning
process.
The evaluation of the results (Excellent, Good, Fair,
Poor) was somewhat subjective, but was made
consistently by one person.
Test Notes & General Procedure (2)
The second test used four discuses with ABS plastic sides.
Only the black markers of the three makes were used.
Fours cleaners from the first test were not used due to mediocre performance.
The cleaning procedure was identical to that of the first test.
In some cases, the solvents began melting or dissolving the ABS plastic.
The degree of melting is noted in the Notes column.
In the cases of "moderate" dissolving, threads of the cotton ball began sticking in the plastic.
One area where dissolving took place is
visible on the right side of this discus.
Test Notes & General Procedure (3)
The third test used two halves of a Nordic javelin.
This was performed identically with, and at the same time as, the second test.
The solvent was wiped off immediately after the cleaning to ensure the paint
was not exposed unnecessarily.
Only the KS-3 Premuim Stripper began dissolving the paint.
11/28/09
Glove - Chemical Compatibility
Latex
(natural
rubber)
Nitrile
(Buna N)
Neoprene
(polychloroprene)
PVC,
Vinyl
Viton
Butyl
PVA
(polyvinyl
alcohol)
acetic acid (50%)
G
G
E
F
F
G
P
acetone
P
P
G
P
P
E
P
ammonium hydroxide (30%)
G
E
G
E
G
G
P
boric acid
G
E
E
brake cleaner (w/ hexane or ethanol)
brake cleaner, non-chlorinated
(w/ acetone, n-heptane or xylene)
brake fluid
P
E
P
P
G
G
carburetor cleaner
(w/ xylene, toluene or acetone)
P
P
chlorine (wet)
P
P
E
E
E
citric acid (10%)
E
E
E
E
denatured alcohol (impure ethanol)
G
E
E
G
detergent solutions
G
E
diesel fuel
diesel fuel additives
P
P
E
E
G
G
engine cleaner/degreaser
(kerosene, petroleum distillates, or
propane-isobutane-n-butane)
P
G
epoxy primer (toluene, acetone, MEK or
n-butyl acetate)
P
P
ethanol (ethyl or grain alcohol)
G
E
ethylene glycol
E
E
fuel injector cleaner (primarily kerosene)
P
G
gasoline, leaded/unleaded
P
E
grease, automotive (petroleum-based)
grease, automotive (silicon-based)
grease, automotive (synthetic)
P
G
P
E
G
G
hydraulic fluid (petroleum-based)
P
G
P
hydrogen peroxide
G
G
G
Chemical
E = excellent
G = good
F = fair
P = poor
G
F
E
G
P
P
P
E
E
F
F
G
G
E
G
E
G
P
G
E
G
F
F
P
E
F
G
E
P
P
E
G
P
Note: This chart is based on a survey of industry.
Where industry data conflict, a best-guess is taken.
E
1
11/28/09
Glove - Chemical Compatibility
Latex
(natural
rubber)
Nitrile
(Buna N)
Neoprene
(polychloroprene)
PVC,
Vinyl
Viton
Butyl
PVA
(polyvinyl
alcohol)
G
E
G
G
E
E
P
kerosene
P
E
E
F
E
G
G
lacquer
lacquer thinner
P
P
P
P
G
G
P
P
F
F
F
F
d-limonene
P
E
P
G
F
F
G
methanol (methyl or wood alcohol)
methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
mineral spirits, mineral oil
G
F
P
E
P
E
G
P
G
G
P
F
F
P
E
G
E
P
P
F
E
motor oil
naphtha
paint, latex
paint, oil-based
paint, automotive (w/ naphtha or mineral
spirits and small amounts of toluene, xylene
or n-butyl acetate)
paint, automotive (w/ large amounts of
toluene, xylene or n-butyl acetate)
paint activator, automotive (w/ MEK,
polyisocyanate resin or butyl acetate)
paint reducer/thinner (w/ naphtha or mineral
spirits)
paint reducer/thinner (w/ toluene or xylene)
P
P
P
P
E
E
F
G
G
F
P
E
P
G
P
P
P
P
P
P
F
P
P
P
P
E
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
parts wash, automotive (w/ naphtha,
n-hexane, cyclohexane or MEK)
P
G
petroleum distillates (naphthas)
P
E
P
E
rust inhibitors, automotive
E
E
rust remover, automotive
(<50% phosphoric acid)
G
G
sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
E
toluene
Chemical
isopropanol (isopropyl or rubbing alcohol)
G
F
E
E
E
E
E
P
P
F
P
P
E
P
G
transmission fluid
transmission fluid, synthetic
P
P
E
G
turpentine
varnish
P
P
E
G
P
P
E
F
G
P
P
P
F
P
P
E
P
G
wax remover, automotive (w/ naphtha,
xylene or ethylbenzene)
xylene (dimethyl benzene), Xylol
E = excellent
G = good
F = fair
P = poor
Note: This chart is based on a survey of industry.
Where industry data conflict, a best-guess is taken.
2