MinWax wipe on Poly in Plastic

Re: MinWax wipe on Poly in Plastic

Jack Dover

I have never tried it, but I don’t think poly can dissolve plastics unless it was mixed with some kind of thinner. And not every thinner can dissolve plastic, should be something quite aggressive like acetone. But pure water based poly will be okay, oil based could slowly deform the dispenser, but won’t eat though it.

I think more important issue is polymerization in a dispensing mechanism, in a nozzle or a straw. That would just destroy the mechanism.

Re: MinWax wipe on Poly in Plastic

A.J. Hamler

It depends on the type of plastic, of course, but that’s easy to test — just store some in the bottle and try it out on scrap.

I wouldn’t use any plastic bottle with a pump-type dispenser, as the poly could dry or cure in the dispenser tip and/or pump mechanism. A flip-cap bottle would be perfect. (Minwax wipe-on poly comes in a can with a flip cap.) A pancake syrup bottle or dish detergent bottle are two types that would work well.

I used a small Dawn detergent bottle for that exact purpose once, and it worked great. Admittedly, I just used it for application on a large project and didn’t store the finish in that bottle, so I don’t know what the long term effects — if any — would be on the finish. My gut tells me it’d be fine.

No

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Almost all plastics are permeable to oxygen and oxygen is what polymerizes the finish. The eventual result would be a snot ball of cured finish suspended in the solvent, as well as the inoperable dispensing mechanism as described above.

Re: MinWax wipe on Poly in Plastic

Clint Searl

Squeeze bottle with a flip up spout works just fine. By the time any polymerization occurs, Antarctica will have completely melted and the Eiffel Tower will be under water.

Re: MinWax wipe on Poly in Plastic

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

right, you need to tell Minwax that they can replace those expensive to make and ship metal cans. Instead use plastic like most everything else is packaged in now days.... except beer and wine which suffers reaction with oxygen.

For those denying gases pass readily through plastic leave a carbonated soda on the shelf well past its use by date and note how it has lost the carbon dioxide. Oxygen passes more readily than carbon dioxide.

Thanks. I am going to

Michael van pelt

Going to avoid the plastic. Thought I would try a glass vinegar bottle with stainless spout. Thoughts

Unclear your goals

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

This product has a low concentration of catalyst (I think) because it does not cure as fast as most varnishes. Hence, you can get away with more oxygen exposure than with most varnishes. So your plan may work. It would fail in days with Waterlox.

Keep in mind that if the material is not sealed in the container oxygen in the head space will react with the finish. This loss of oxygen will create vacuum and suck in more oxygen. Repeat till the varnish gels.

Re: No

TJD Edmonton

Don't agree. I have done just that and the finish showed not problems over the 4-5 weeks that the project took. It would have lasted longer if needed. I would not consider it for long term storage but it works just fine for a month for sure.

Re: Unclear your goals

Michael van pelt

Thanks. In the production mode. I have a large order of boxes to complete. Using the material right out of the can tends to be “messy”. I normally poor out a little into a large glass bowl and using a rag apply. Looking for a faster way for the insides mainly.

Re: MinWax wipe on Poly in Plastic

Clint Searl

I guess it's time to run the definitive test...now where did I put that plastic squeeze bottle?

Oh, in that case

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

On that time scale any container could work if provided a reliable dispensing solution for the varnish. In fact I would prefer plastic bottle where you could squeeze the head space air out after each use. Unsure of what closure to use but it needs to seal.

In use: Unseal, squeeze out the varnish as needed. When done squish the bottle to force out air in head space, reseal. With this under catalyzed material I think you will easily be good for a month. Might be as easy as a plastic soda bottle and cap.

Novel: Tomato products are spoiled by oxygen. Hence, an expensive 5 layer oxygen barrier plastic is used for ketchup bottles. If you can get it clean and have a good seal the finish will be free of oxygen. The squishy bottle will enable head space air to be forced out after each use.

Stop Loss Bag?

Don Stephan

For perhaps six months I have been using Stop Loss bags to hold P&L 38 alkyd varnish, and the same thinned 50% with good quality mineral spirits, without gelling. This is my last quart of the discontinued varnish, and if I decide to try Minwax Fast Dry Poly as a finish for my bowls I will be using a Stop Loss bag. After filling the bag I carefully squeeze out all the air and screw on the cap. To use the finish, I pinch the bag just below the cap, unscrew, pour some into a little restaurant plastic condiment holder without letting any air into the bag, and screw the cap on again.

Re: Stop Loss Bag?

David Weaver

I've been holding my own make of varnish in stop loss bags for nearing 2 years and it's good. But its probably different than a typical no 2 plastic container.

I haven't had a batch go bad yet, but read that the shelf life of pine dammar varnish is short.

poly inside a box

Dick Coers

It's been my experience that poly inside a closed container will stink for at least a year. I did a small desk for our son, and finished the pencil drawer inside and out with poly. Despite being hung from the desk top and not enclosed in a pedestal, you could smell the poly every time you opened the drawer. For what seemed like forever! Maybe your experience is different.

agree

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Enclosed use shellac. The esters it forms over time make a nice odor.

Re: No ... however

AZ in Colorado Springs

Minwax water based poly is sold in a plastic can. It looks like a conventional metal quart can, and the plastic lid snaps into the same channel around the top of the can, but it's all plastic.

Don't know about brush on oil based poly (it's been a long time since I used that). The wiping poly (oil based) cones in a metal can with a plastic cap.

Odor?

A.J. Hamler

I think you meant “intoxicating aroma.”

Re: poly inside a box

Michael van pelt

Ammo boxes for a gun store. The Odor will,not be a problem. Thanks

In that case....

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Hoppies #9 for an "oiled" finish. but I am confused. Nobody has any ammo on the shelves. What is the need for boxes? To pretend there is ammo on the shelves