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Rescuing Danish Oil that's starting to polymerize in its bottles?

The Coleman fuel he’s talking about is in a pour can. Not the compressed gas. It’s used for lanterns and camp stoves.

Cans of naphtha can be found in the paint section. Lighter fluid for Zippo lighters is naphtha, not to be confused with charcoal lighter fluid.

I use it for cleaning greasy surfaces.

Well, I guess we don't have the red and silver Coleman fuel cans here in Colorado. At least, I've not found them at any of the stores near where I live. I have found the green pressurized propane canisters. We have DNA, which is sold as a fuel, and it can only be sold as a fuel as otherwise it would fall under the various restrictions on VOCs here in Colorado. I guess, if the Coleman fuel is naphtha, then that may be why its not available. It seems that Naphtha and Xylene were at the top of the list of VOCs Colorado wanted to ban...
😢
 
FWIW, here is the one non-junk item I finished with this going-bad danish:

1762542505742.png

It was harder to deal with the soak time and wipeoff, but, in the end, this satin sheen, was something I hadn't really been able to get before. Such was the motivation of finding a way to preserve the stuff, at least for a little while, instead of just tossing it...
 
Yeah, that's what I've done with a new can. I have been using stop loss bags for about two years here. I bought this can before I started using the bags, and at teh time, I redistributed it into smaller bottles, that would be used up in a single project at a time (they are very small bottles with little yorker caps, few ounces each.) This made it easy to use up the oil in a bottle on each piece, and I was working through them for a while. But I've had a rocky road with my woodturning, there are times I can turn, then I have these lulls due to life, and I don't turn for a while. This stuff just happened to be from before I started using stop-loss bags, and it was kind of an expensive can (IIRC, 1gal, I think it was $58, then plus tax), not the normal 1-quart cans.
The caps with Stop Loss bags are just not strong enough and every cap has split on the 4 bags I have. So I cut a shallow groove near the open end of the cap, bind with fine wire and then coat with epoxy. I contacted the inventor and his explanation for the flimsy caps was reasonable, so I doubt he'll change the specs.
 
Did you follow the directions and put some wax on the threads to prevent sticking and not tighten more than finger tight?
 
The caps with Stop Loss bags are just not strong enough and every cap has split on the 4 bags I have.
Woodcraft sells replacement caps for the bags in case you hadn't seen that. I agree, the caps are flimsy and prone to breakage.
 
The challenge I have is Colorado has banned most of the viable solvents. We basically have nothing here anymore. I am honestly surprised the Ace was carrying this paint thinner, no other place does.

I don't recommend breaking the law. I have, however, read on other forums where people have driven to other states to bring back solvents still sold there.
 
Well, I guess we don't have the red and silver Coleman fuel cans here in Colorado. At least, I've not found them at any of the stores near where I live. I have found the green pressurized propane canisters. We have DNA, which is sold as a fuel, and it can only be sold as a fuel as otherwise it would fall under the various restrictions on VOCs here in Colorado. I guess, if the Coleman fuel is naphtha, then that may be why its not available. It seems that Naphtha and Xylene were at the top of the list of VOCs Colorado wanted to ban...
😢
There are two 1 gallon cans of Coleman fuel available on isle 23 at Ace on E Lliff Ave in Aurora @ $19.99/can according to the website.

It was an interesting read on what was declared prohibited in CO. Fuels containing MTBE are prohibited. Not the fuel itself.
 
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There are two 1 gallon cans of Coleman fuel available on isle 23 at Ace on E Lliff Ave in Aurora @ $19.99/can according to the website.

It was an interesting read on what was declared prohibited in CO. Fuels containing MTBE are prohibited. Not the fuel itself.
Interesting. I checked the ACE near me, and the one on Buckley, and neither have it (despite it being listed on the web site.) I also checked the couple of REI's near me, but neither have the red and silver cans (only the propane.) On the REI site, the only store they show that has any stock is nearly 60 miles away. I've checked all the Home Depots and Lowes within about 15 miles or so, and none have it. I don't know why it is so scarce. I'll check out the Ace on Illif, although I'd be surprised if they actually had any either.
 
I don't recommend breaking the law. I have, however, read on other forums where people have driven to other states to bring back solvents still sold there.
Yeah, I considered that once. The drive is a long one, no matter which direction I go. I hate driving, so its unlikely I'll ever do that. :P Maybe some day we can change the laws here in CO and get back to some level of normalcy.
 
Maybe some day we can change the laws here in CO and get back to some level of normalcy.

Another idea - move to the south east! The climate is good - not frozen for months), lots of culture, outdoor recreation including lakes/rivers/whitewater, rolling mountains, no shortage of water, land and housing is far more affordable than many places in the country, (TN has no income or wheel tax, gasoline is cheaper than much of the US - I paid $2.55 yesterday). Has great turning clubs, appears to be an epicenter of woodturning with abundant hardwood trees and free turning wood! We live close to where I-75 crosses I-40 easing travel to points N/S/E/W.

JKJ
 
Another idea - move to the south east! The climate is good - not frozen for months), lots of culture, outdoor recreation including lakes/rivers/whitewater, rolling mountains, no shortage of water, land and housing is far more affordable than many places in the country, (TN has no income or wheel tax, gasoline is cheaper than much of the US - I paid $2.55 yesterday). Has great turning clubs, appears to be an epicenter of woodturning with abundant hardwood trees and free turning wood! We live close to where I-75 crosses I-40 easing travel to points N/S/E/W.

JKJ

Honestly...Colorado is beautiful, but I am getting to a limit with it... It is not the state I moved to 28 years ago. It stinks like pot more than half the time, almost everywhere you go. Its becoming riddled with crime... We have a bunch of really stupid laws.

I've been seriously considering moving. Ironically, I've been looking at more northern states, but, maybe I should consider more southern states. I used to love the cold, but these days...not sure how well I'd be able to handle Idaho winters (top state I've been considering so far!)
 
I used to love the cold, but these days...not sure how well I'd be able to handle Idaho winters (top state I've been considering so far!)
My wife and I spent the start of our careers in the Moscow Idaho area 1995-2000. Career changes brought us back to our native Minnesota in 2000. The "Palouse" area of the Idaho panhandle and southeastern Washington had milder winters relative to what we experience in the south half of MN. Warmer winter temps and less seasonal snow, until you get up into hill country and higher. In 5 years there, I think we saw one single-digit below zero temp, and a "big" snowstorm probably meant 5-6".

Lewiston ID/ Clarkston WA, down in the Snake/Clearwater River gorges are even more mild in the winter. That tri-state intersection (along with Oregon) may be a place to consider for milder winters.

I can't give any experience other than that region. No idea what southern Idaho, and certainly along the central and eastern mountain ranges have to offer. Probably colder and more snow with the overall higher elevations. And probably larger centers of career opportunities.

I used to tell people that Idaho is a gorgeous place to visit, but if you're thinking of moving there for work, you better have a job lined up before you arrive. The panhandle has the Univ. of Idaho in Moscow, and Washington State Univ. 7 miles away in Pullman WA, and lots of very small businesses, but other than that it was all the farming and timber industries outside the city limits, and little else. But, that was 25 years ago...
 
My wife and I spent the start of our careers in the Moscow Idaho area 1995-2000. Career changes brought us back to our native Minnesota in 2000. The "Palouse" area of the Idaho panhandle and southeastern Washington had milder winters relative to what we experience in the south half of MN. Warmer winter temps and less seasonal snow, until you get up into hill country and higher. In 5 years there, I think we saw one single-digit below zero temp, and a "big" snowstorm probably meant 5-6".

Lewiston ID/ Clarkston WA, down in the Snake/Clearwater River gorges are even more mild in the winter. That tri-state intersection (along with Oregon) may be a place to consider for milder winters.

I can't give any experience other than that region. No idea what southern Idaho, and certainly along the central and eastern mountain ranges have to offer. Probably colder and more snow with the overall higher elevations. And probably larger centers of career opportunities.

I used to tell people that Idaho is a gorgeous place to visit, but if you're thinking of moving there for work, you better have a job lined up before you arrive. The panhandle has the Univ. of Idaho in Moscow, and Washington State Univ. 7 miles away in Pullman WA, and lots of very small businesses, but other than that it was all the farming and timber industries outside the city limits, and little else. But, that was 25 years ago...

Thankfully my main job is remote: Software engineer/architect. I can pretty much work anywhere in the country, from home. Hence why I'm very seriously considering leaving Colorado. I no longer am really locked in here. It used to be the Denver Tech Center where all the jobs were, and you had to be on-site, in office. Things shifted around the southern areas below Denver for a while. Then a number of years ago, maybe almost ten years now, most of the work shifted INTO Denver, and I hate going into Denver. I started working from home before the pandemic. SINCE the pandemic, Denver is pretty much a dead husk full of crime and pot smoke, the DTC is half-dead, and there is little reason to actually stay in the state. ;)

Thanks for the info! I'm kind of surprised that there is any part of Idaho that has milder winters. I've spent time driving through Wyoming during the winter...and man, sometimes it gets downright frightening, with how you can't see 10 feet in front of your car and its just a flat, blank, featureless white landscape. Maybe I unduly transferred those experiences to Idaho. Despite the concerns about whiteout, though, Idaho has still been my top choice for the last year or so. I need to plan some trips to some of these places and actually check them out during the summer. One thing about Colorado, its more airid environment, seems to suit me better than humid environments that get hot. I've spent time in Kansas, during the summer...I like some of it, but the humidity and heat during the summer, I don't think I could handle. We get 90-100 degree days here in Colorado, and its not the same...lacking the humidity, its just different. This is the main reason I haven't moved yet, despite having wanted to for, well, probably two years now.
 
I used to love the cold, but these days...not sure how well I'd be able to handle Idaho winters (top state I've been considering so far!)

I grew up in PA, south of Pittsburgh. I remember snows 2-3' deep, country roads that stayed covered with packed snow for months, temperatures well below zero, ice floating on the river, staying close to the fireplace or furnace vents, bedroom so cold a glass of water would freeze over night.

Here, we have snow but rare to get over an inch or two, and it's usually gone in a couple of days. Snow 3-8" is possible but extremely rare. Never a chance to ice skate on a pond or ice fish. People bike and fish from boats and such most of the year. Several times I drove east to the Atlantic coast in December and surf fished in shirt-sleeves in the day and a coat and hat at night. Even then, some incredibly tough people were windsurfing and kite-boarding in the ocean and sound wearing wet suits.

Unlike PA, the fields and yards often say green or mostly green in the winter - I took my wife to PA once in the winter and she couldn't believe how brown the grass was and how dirty gray everything else was, especially the old dirty snow along every road. I made good used of chains (plastic chains) exactly twice in 55 years, once getting down a slippery driveway and once when a rare ice storm immobilized everything. One thing we DON'T have is an abundance of good snow clearing equipment - the county here will spread fine gravel on hills if you call and ask and scrape off the rare snow - if you call and ask! We live up a fairly steep hill and several times I cleared a rare snow with the skid steer. Only one person said thanks...

It's often pretty warm in the summer but not always. This climate is perfect for using heat pumps to heat and cool. I know people with gas furnaces but they don't come on often. Humidity is relative high but with air conditioning it's nice inside. My house and shop have heat pumps and keep the temp and humidity controlled all year.

I have a friend who has a farm in Wyoming, very close to Idaho. He spends his summers in Wyoming and winters in Tennessee.

JKJ
 
As a retired pharmacist, here is a thought for you. Go to a local independent pharmacy and ask them to buy a case for you of plastic 2oz, 3oz, 4oz, 6oz, or 8oz plastic liquid bottles like the kind cough syrup is dispensed. Inexpensive, UV light protected, and just right to keep the air out to prevent oxidation from occurring and you can get the size you want. Buy a big can and pour up in the small bottles. You can also pull the outer child proof cover on the cap and make it easy open for all you old farts that need to get the grandchild to open for you.
 
You can also pull the outer child proof cover on the cap and make it easy open for all you old farts that need to get the grandchild to open for you.
I do this occasionally. Mostly though I simply grab the outside of the lid with suitable pliers, squeeze, and twist. Always works.

Go to a local independent pharmacy and ask them to buy a case for you of plastic 2oz, 3oz, 4oz, 6oz, or 8oz plastic liquid bottles like the kind cough syrup is dispensed. Inexpensive, UV light protected, and just right to keep the air out to prevent oxidation from occurring and you can get the size you want. Buy a big can and pour up in the small bottles.
You can get small plastic bottles from other sources too, such as Amazon. When the covid pandemic hit and hand sanitizer became unavailable to buy I bought 100s of plastic squeeze bottles from Amazon and made hand sanitizer to give out. (I had several gallons of isopropyl alcohol on hand and mixed up sanitizer. - When I posted this picture of one batch on another forum...
1762834143927.jpeg
... an incredibly kind person saw it and shipped four metal 4-gallon cans of mixed sanitizer to me from his family company. I was floored. He wouldn't even accept shipping costs! I was able to bottle and distribute sanitizer to so many individuals, families, and organizations, such as churches that had food banks, charity organizations that help provide care and feed to single mothers, homeless - anyone who wanted some. We sent gallon bottles to some organizations. We still keep some small bottles in our cars. I also ran into another fellow who had a truckload of boxes of vinyl disposable gloves made for the food-handling industries - instead of trying to make a big profit he sold boxes or cases for what he paid for them! There are good people everywhere...

One problem with plastic bottles (especially as typically made from LDPE) holding finishes or other liquids - if stored for a long time, some of what's inside can evaporate through the plastic and the bottles will develop a vacuum and start distorting with the sides "caving" in. I have no idea what this might do to finishes. I also have bottles for when I bottle honey. Don't know if they are better but the plastic is a different type and thicker. The best plastic bottles I've seen come with excellent seals - those used by Mercury Adhesives for CA glue. The plastic is much thicker.

Another option is glass bottles. I've ordered cases of glass bottles with well-sealed caps, some for when I make vanilla extract, some I used for chemicals. Vapors cannot go through the glass. Glass can't be used for squeeze dispensing, but I think they are far better for storing chemicals, finishes, and other solutions over extended periods. (Visitors who cook love to take home a bottle of real vanilla extract made from Madagascar vanilla beans!)

I bought many bottles like this. I suspect the amber color could also minimize changes from light, but last time I checked I was still not an chemist or pharmacist. I do know they are good for long term storage of many types of liquids.
1762834769645.jpeg

(Fun fact - helium can pass through glass! Before laser diodes and laser pointers were available the local geek squad (I and friends) bought Helium-Neon lasers in glass tubes and built power supplies to drive them. After extended time, some of the helium would escape due to it's tiny atomic size and the laser would quit lazing. The solution, put the laser tube in a chamber pressurized with helium. We didn't have that but it also worked to put the tube in the top of an inverted bucket and fill the bucket from the bottom with helium gas! Didn't take much.

There, more things that will probably not be interesting to more than 1 person in 10,000! :)



JKJ
 
@Jon Rista, the area we lived in had very low humidity summers. It could get hot, but very dry. "But it's a dry heat!" Yeah, dehydrates you without you even knowing it.

Christmas 1995, mid-40s and rain. Boy, that surprised this transplanted Minnesotan.

Sounds like Denver is like Minneapolis, post-covid & Geoge Floyd. Downtown is quite empty, the local police departments are very understaffed, and the officers that remain, for whatever host of reasons, are reluctant to "serve and protect". Less than 5 years and we'll be relocating away from the metro area, at least a few hours away. But anyway, way off topic now!

Tried & True finishes forever!
 
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