[Mike Hunt]

Can anyone tell me where i can buy xylene cleaner?
Im in the procces of protecta coating my van floor and need to use this first.
Alternativly i can use an alkaline based household cleaner.
Does anyone know of one.
         Mike

[dai]

Caustic soda is a strong alkalyne. You can buy it for drain cleaning.
Caution! this stuff has to be handled with extreme care. Goggles, rubber gloves essential. It will burn through all natural fabric so recomend water proof polyester clothing. You would also need to wash and rinse all surfaces that you have applied it to before painting. Dai

[Mike Hunt]

Chears dai,
Can you suggest anything i can buy localy i.e focus do it all/super market.
    Chears mike

[neil100]

http://www.protectakote.co.uk/

On home page, go to ordering, order online, click accessories.
1 ltr xylene = £7.74. incl vat.

Its good stuff.
Nel

[Mike Hunt]

I need some for tomorow is there an alternative?

[neil100]

Protecakote is strange stuff.

If it were me I would order some, wait till it arrives and then do the van floor.
I did my own van floor with it, its the one in the little pic.

Nel.

You will do it once, do it right.

[Paul Forster]

celulose thiners (auto paint thiner) is Zylene and is availabe at halfords

[Andrews_Water]

Hi,

Be VERY careful !  Cellulose thinners are generally not xylene.  Hammerite thinner IS xylene, but is expensive.  We stock the proper stuff, see http://www.andwat.co.uk/acatalog/ANTI-CORROSION_PAINT.html, but couldn't get it to you in time for this weekend. Sorry.

Andrew

[DP]

Most household cleaners that contain soap are alkaline the mildest being washing up liquid and another is sugar soap, it just depends on th PH your are looking for which I doubt you would know.

We use alkaline cleaners based on their strength for a whole number of jobs and make a huge chunk of our income on them. Sugar soap (although we dont use it) is the most accessable and can be mixed in varying strenghts.

I cant comment if this would be good enough, I am just answering the alkaline question, not sure if this has helped.

[Mike Hunt]

Well,
Ive removed the ply lining,rubbed floor down with metal scourer.
Decided to use caustic soda diluted with water to clean.
 Watch this space.
               Mike   

[Ken]

I had a mountain bike years ago that had a matt finish and was told that xylene was the best thing to clean the frame. went in to a chemical supply company locally and asked for said xylene and the guy had kittens. Not very nice stuff apparently!

[Mike Hunt]

Well ive finally finnished and i must say the results are good.
The only problem is i dont think i used the right brush as some of the rubber crumb has congealed in certain areas. But  really not that noticable.
I done my transit 80 with half a tin so 4lts is plenty.
 

[busydaffodil]

Excellent stuff isnt it...protectakote!

Hiya mike 

[Mike Hunt]

Hiya Daff,
Great stuff,I plan to paint anything that moves with the leftovers,Missus,dog.
     Mike

[busydaffodil]

Non slip missus huh?   Lucky fellow  (unless your the baby oil type)