<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Ask Umbra on turpentine disposal]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Mad Chemist http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/ Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:39:44 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/1 I love the smell of turpentine.  It brings back fond memories of my grandfather. 

Since turpentine is made by plants it is probably biodegradable, but don't dump it in the sewer anyway.  It is flammable and therefore a hazardous waste. 
A better choice is good old paint thinner, aka Stoddard solvent or VM&P naphtha.  Granted it is a petroleum distallate, but it has low toxicity and is recyclable.  Your HHW facility may have a place specifically for paint thinner to be recycled.  It has low volativity so your inhalation exposure is low and its flammability is more like kerosine than gasoline.  The amount of paint thinner you are going to use is a minute fraction of the gasoline, fuel oil, propane, etc that you are going to burn so don't worry that we are going to run out of oil because of using paint thinner.


]]> I love the smell of turpentine.  It brings back fond memories of my grandfather. 

Since turpentine is made by plants it is probably biodegradable, but don't dump it in the sewer anyway.  It is flammable and therefore a hazardous waste. 
A better choice is good old paint thinner, aka Stoddard solvent or VM&P naphtha.  Granted it is a petroleum distallate, but it has low toxicity and is recyclable.  Your HHW facility may have a place specifically for paint thinner to be recycled.  It has low volativity so your inhalation exposure is low and its flammability is more like kerosine than gasoline.  The amount of paint thinner you are going to use is a minute fraction of the gasoline, fuel oil, propane, etc that you are going to burn so don't worry that we are going to run out of oil because of using paint thinner.


]]> Comment #2 by ColinPage http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/ Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:26:36 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/2 Here in the UK it is not common to find oil based paint due to its VOC's. Therefor all paints and preservatives are water based so cleaning brushes is done with washing up liquid (ecover is our brand) and plain water. Simple really.

]]> Here in the UK it is not common to find oil based paint due to its VOC's. Therefor all paints and preservatives are water based so cleaning brushes is done with washing up liquid (ecover is our brand) and plain water. Simple really.

]]> Comment #3 by coventrykid http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/ Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:51:12 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/3 Having used paint thinner to clean my paint brushes I pour the resulting slurry of paint and thinner into a large glass bottle.  The paint settles to the bottom leaving reusable thinner on top.  Next time I need to clean brushes I decant the thinner and afterwards, once again, back it goes into the bottle.  I end up saving money by reusing the thinner and also by not having to find a way to safely dispose of any thinner.  After a while when the bottle begins to get full of paint, pour the thinner into a new container, let the old one dry out and it can go into the regular trash.

]]> Having used paint thinner to clean my paint brushes I pour the resulting slurry of paint and thinner into a large glass bottle.  The paint settles to the bottom leaving reusable thinner on top.  Next time I need to clean brushes I decant the thinner and afterwards, once again, back it goes into the bottle.  I end up saving money by reusing the thinner and also by not having to find a way to safely dispose of any thinner.  After a while when the bottle begins to get full of paint, pour the thinner into a new container, let the old one dry out and it can go into the regular trash.

]]> Comment #4 by Username http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/ Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:36:31 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-15-ask-umbra-turpentine-disposal/4 Wonderful answer, Thank You so much

Best Regards

Eco Friendly World

]]> Wonderful answer, Thank You so much

Best Regards

Eco Friendly World

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