EXPERIMENT: Effects of Various Chemicals on Yamaha FJ Paint & ABS Plastic

[Steve_in_Florida]

Partially a test of the "poll" feature, mostly just starting an interesting(?) discussion. 


I want to design an experiment to see just what affects our paint and plastics, and in what way. (...and inspire discussion on how to fix it if it DOES happen to YOU!)

Candidate solvents:
     Acetone
     Acetic Acid
     Alcohol (denatured, beer, whiskey)
     Brake fluid (DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1)
     Gasoline (Regular, Premium)
     Diesel
     Egg White
     Brake Clean Spray
     Carb Clean Spray
     Mineral Spirits
     Lacquer Thinner
     WD-40
     PB Blaster
     MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone)
     Tolulene
     Xylene
     Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
     Oil
     Naval Jelly
     Aluminum Naval Jelly
     1,1,1-Trichloroethane
     Ether
     Chloroform
     Battery Acid (sulfuric acid)
     Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic acid)
     Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
     A/C Coil Cleaner
     Benzene
     Starting Fluid
     Kerosene
     Cyclohexane
     Lemon Juice
     Bleach
     Ammonia
     Carbon Tetrachloride
     
Alcohols
Acids/bases
Oils
Oxidizers

Anyone think of anything else we can test?

Steve

[ribbert]

Partially a test of the "poll" feature, mostly just starting an interesting(?) discussion. 


I want to design an experiment to see just what affects our paint and plastics, and in what way. (...and inspire discussion on how to fix it if it DOES happen to YOU!)

Candidate solvents:
     Acetone
     Acetic Acid
     Alcohol (denatured, beer, whiskey)
     Brake fluid (DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1)
     Gasoline (Regular, Premium)
     Diesel
     Egg White
     Brake Clean Spray
     Carb Clean Spray
     Mineral Spirits
     Lacquer Thinner
     WD-40
     PB Blaster
     MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone)
     Tolulene
     Xylene
     Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
     Oil
     Naval Jelly
     Aluminum Naval Jelly
     1,1,1-Trichloroethane
     Ether
     Chloroform
     Battery Acid (sulfuric acid)
     Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic acid)
     Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
     A/C Coil Cleaner
     Benzene
     Starting Fluid
     Kerosene
     Cyclohexane
     Lemon Juice
     Bleach
     Ammonia
     Carbon Tetrachloride
     
Alcohols
Acids/bases
Oils
Oxidizers

Anyone think of anything else we can test?

Steve

Geez Steve, where do you live and how are the lungs?

Noel

[krusty]

Partially a test of the "poll" feature, mostly just starting an interesting(?) discussion. 


I want to design an experiment to see just what affects our paint and plastics, and in what way. (...and inspire discussion on how to fix it if it DOES happen to YOU!)

Candidate solvents:
     Acetone
     Acetic Acid
     Alcohol (denatured, beer, whiskey)
     Brake fluid (DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1)
     Gasoline (Regular, Premium)
     Diesel
     Egg White
     Brake Clean Spray
     Carb Clean Spray
     Mineral Spirits
     Lacquer Thinner
     WD-40
     PB Blaster
     MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone)
     Tolulene
     Xylene
     Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
     Oil
     Naval Jelly
     Aluminum Naval Jelly
     1,1,1-Trichloroethane
     Ether
     Chloroform
     Battery Acid (sulfuric acid)
     Hydrochloric Acid (Muriatic acid)
     Sodium Hydroxide (Lye)
     A/C Coil Cleaner
     Benzene
     Starting Fluid
     Kerosene
     Cyclohexane
     Lemon Juice
     Bleach
     Ammonia
     Carbon Tetrachloride
     
Alcohols
Acids/bases
Oils
Oxidizers

Anyone think of anything else we can test?

Steve

Geez Steve, where do you live and how are the lungs?

Noel

Coke?

[Burns]

rattlesnake venom?

[TexasDave]

Steve the EPA is going to come looking for you! They drive jeep wranglers with yellow lights on top. They wear orange construction hard hats with lime green safety vests. Enforcement teams usually come with 4 people per jeep. They did not have guns. Don't ask me how I know.  Dave

[ribbert]

Anyone think of anything else we can test?

Steve

Balancing bead dust.

Noel

[TexasDave]

Anyone think of anything else we can test?

Steve

Balancing bead dust.

Noel

Urin--neighborhood dogs(or pee on it yourself)  Dave

[Steve_in_Florida]

Steve the EPA is going to come looking for you!...

Oh boy!   

Can't we even *TALK* about science without raising someone's ire?

I'm not THAT old, and still remember many of these things being readily available at the supermarket! Remember chemistry sets? (Gilbert, SkilCraft, Perfect) Or this old gem?



Many of the listed items were in my local Home Depot or Lowe's Home Improvement store.

I want to experiment with plastic repair and fabrication techniques, as they pertain to the bodywork on the Yamaha FJ-1200. The threads about ABS repair using Lego blocks and acetone got me thinking.

So...

...I'm curious as to what our bikes may come into contact with, and what those substances may do to the paint and plastic:

- Many of us are already missing the rear lower left chin fairing tab (presumably) due to leaking brake fluid from the clutch slave cylinder. Well, is the culprit DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1, or ANY OF THE ABOVE?

- If I spray brake parts cleaner on my calipers and rotors, will it harm the wheel paint?

- Will the overspray from the can of Carb Cleaner harm my paint?

- If one of my fellow rally attendees has been heavily drinking WHISKEY, and VOMITS on my bike, can I wait `til morning to wash it off?

- My wife just spilled nail polish remover on my windshield. Will it stain?

Questions, questions... (And since we love to TALK and ARGUE, I want to TRY and TEST. That way, I KNOW.)



Steve

[TexasDave]

Just trying to add some humor but the EPA does go overboard in regulating some of the chemicals we used and were readily available over the counter in my day. Carbon tetrachloride was the best metal cleaner and used extensively in the aircraft industry until found to be one of the most carcinogenic substances known to man. Trichlorethylene is the best chemical for removing adhesives from any surface without damage and is also heavily regulated. The EPA is an overzealous government agency as I did receive a visit from them.  Dave 

[X-Ray]

Very interesting. From what I've read regarding brake fluid, DOT 3, 4 and 5.1 eat paint/plastics.  Dot 5 is safe in that regard. 

[aussiefj]

Creosote is another one, it was used every where here in Oz for treating fence posts etc. against rot and termites, now it's taken off the shelves and can only be used under license.

 Another factor Dave is time, how long do you leave these things in contact with whatever you're testing. I recently suffered the crumbling chin faring syndrome and the last time the slave cylinder leaked was at least 6 years ago so it must take some time for the effect to take place.

Sun or rather UV rays is another factor here in Oz, it will fade paint and brittlilize (is that a word?) plastic very quickly if they are not protected in some way, we have some solar lights in the back garden that are about 4 years old and they just about turn to dust if you touch them now.

Sorry drifting a bit off topic now, but that's my 2 cents worth anyway.

John.

[FJmonkey]

Anyone suggest spray-on oven cleaner yet? Somewhat common in households...

[Pat Conlon]

...I'm curious as to what our bikes may come into contact with, and what those substances may do to the paint and plastic:

- Many of us are already missing the rear lower left chin fairing tab (presumably) due to leaking brake fluid from the clutch slave cylinder. Well, is the culprit DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, DOT 5.1, or ANY OF THE ABOVE?
Yes on DOT 3 and 4 (we know that) No on DOT 5 (we know that) don't know about DOT 5.1 U

- If I spray brake parts cleaner on my calipers and rotors, will it harm the wheel paint?
Yes, just as lacquer thinner will

- Will the overspray from the can of Carb Cleaner harm my paint?
Yes, just as lacquer thinner will

- If one of my fellow rally attendees has been heavily drinking WHISKEY, and VOMITS on my bike, can I wait `til morning to wash it off?
Wash it off immediately. Vomit contains hydrochloric acid which will stain your clearcoat and etch aluminum

- My wife just spilled nail polish remover on my windshield. Will it stain?
Yes, nail polish remover contains acetone, it will eat your paint just like it eats nail polish

Questions, questions... (And since we love to TALK and ARGUE, I want to TRY and TEST. That way, I KNOW.)



Steve

[cclase]

Not exactly the requested anecdotal data regarding stuff intentionally/unintentionally applied to painted ABS fairings, but here link to a Chemical Resistance Chart...gives a good baseline for ABS resistance to a wide range of chemicals.

http://www.proplasticsinc.com/chemical_resistance_guide.pdf

chris

   

[Dads_FJ]

I have some mercury, I'll bring it with to the Central Rally if anyone wants to experiment with that.   

I bought it at Radio Shack years ago (still in the original package too), it's in a glass tube with two wires coming out used as a switch.