Paint thinner
 

ok here's a wierd question. Does the active ingredient in paint thinner evaporate?

I have a snow scraper with a brush thing on it that has some paint thinner on it. The paint thinner has dried, but I'll be washing the brush thoroughly regardless. But I don't wanna take the chance that some of the thinner is still there and will mess up my cars paint.

As far as I know, paint thinner contains only volatile solvents. Once the paint thinner evaporates, nothing is left other than any paint residues that might have got there if you used the thinner before to clean something. I suspect that paint thinner would have little or no effect on your car's paint, though it would probably tend to remove any wax from the surface.

Use paint thinner (i.e., mineral spirits) to clean the brush. The residue left behind is probably not water soluable.

After cleaning, blot out the excess thinner and allow to hang with the bristles pointing down. You may also form an aluminum "sheath" on the brush until it is completely dry. You should be able to use it just fine once the thinner has dried.

well if ther'es residual paint on my brush I don't care. It's just a snow scraper. as long as the paint thinner properties aren't there, I'm good.

thanks

Pretty sure it just evaporates away. Put a drop in a cup on your desk and see if it evaporates..

It definetly evaporates, paint thinner on car paint should not do much harm anyway unless you leave it on for a long time, or really rub it in.

They finish on most newer cars is a urethane type finish. Before it is sprayed on, it is mixed with a hardening agent. Once it cures, you jsut about have to sand it to get it off.

I'm really confused. You're using a snow scraper as a a paint brush?

we were trying to clean paint off of something(using thinner), didn't have any scrubbers around, thought maybe the brush part of my snow scraper would help.. nada.. we bought a stiff scrubbing brush thingy, dind't help either.

Paint thinner's active ingredients definately evaporate. Regardless, a new ice scraper/ snow brush contraption will run you about $1.99 at walmart, and since the bristles of your paint thinned current scraper will likely begin to fall off soon from the solvents effects, I'd invest in a new one if it were me.

-bear

When in doubt, replace. It's not worth the cost if you guess wrong.