They took away my mineral spirits!

[Thomas Colson]

For the last billion years (at the rate at which I complete projects, it takes me 100 million years, on average, to finish one) I've been using Jasco Mineral Spirits, the kind that come in 1 gal metal cans. I use it for everything: thinning, cleaning out spray guns, cleaning, lighting the BBQ, killing fire ant mounds. The stuff has a million uses. Latest project, I'm going through the stuff like it grows on trees, so I head to the BLUE place, and they have no metal cans. But they do have plastic jugs. All I see are the words "Mineral Spirits" so home I go with 2 gallons (Which seemed like more than I paid for my gallon cans last month?). Turns out it's not just "Mineral Spirits", it's Jasco "Green" mineral spirits. I hate the stuff. It clogs up my spray gun. It leaves clumps when I thin with it. It's impossible to clean brushes with it. It evaporates too slow. Yes I mixed it thoroughly. The viscosity is quite different than what comes in the metal can, and I'm set in my finishing ways. So today I head across the street to the ORANGE place, same story. All they carry is this new green garbage in the plastic jug. I managed to get a can at a local hardware store, and they told me that's the last of it: all they're getting in now is this new green stuff. Anybody got a lead on where I can get mineral spirits shipped?

[Stephen Rosenthal]

You must live in California. The geniuses at California Air Resources Board (CARB) decided mineral spirits contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer, or some such poppycock, and banned it a few years ago. Same with denatured alcohol, but that can be found at a few “authorized” places at a significant markup. But yeah, the green mineral spirits is useless.

[Bill Dufour]

Coleman fuel or the walmart vesion is about $8.00 a gallon last time I bought some. It is basically naptha. Works fine to thin and cleanup Tractor Supply oil base paint.
Used to use kerosene for a camping lantern and to start the barbecue. Bought jet fuel at the airport. Bring you own funnel.
Bill D

[Jim Becker]

Use naptha. Less "oily" than mineral spirits so even better for the cleaning uses, but great for thinning, etc.

[Richard Coers]

It takes you 100 million years to use one gallon, and you bought 2 cans? Curious decision! What will your 10th great grandkids do with 1 1/2 gallons?

[Steve Rozmiarek]

You must live in California. The geniuses at California Air Resources Board (CARB) decided mineral spirits contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer, or some such poppycock, and banned it a few years ago. Same with denatured alcohol, but that can be found at a few “authorized” places at a significant markup. But yeah, the green mineral spirits is useless.

It's shocking to me to see the constant stream of uhauls coming to our area from california because people are fed up with this. I actually heard a very similar story from a new home customer just last week. Here most thing's called paint thinner are 100% mineral spirits, if you can still by paint thinner there.

[Jack Frederick]

When we moved out of CA in late ‘85 there were 24M people and I thought it was overcrowded then. In ‘11 with both of my children living in CA we chased them. I have girls and they can run but they cannot hide. In ‘11 when we returned there were close to 39M people. Why, well on its own it is the 5th largest economy in the world. Yes, people, at last, are leaving, as they should. If my kids would leave, I too would go. Every night before I go to bed I go to Yubanet and check the local and broader fire situation. The entire West does. Climate change has ruined it, or perhaps more correctly, the 39M have. I’m old enough to remember the smog in every major city. I am happy to be able to breathe in those cities and I covered them all in my business. That happened largely by the leadership of CA and that leadership in climate issues continues. I lived in Nebraska in ‘77 and it is wonderful country and fine people. Actually, it’s kinda funny. I was perfectly happy living in sin with this wonderful woman. A year in NE and I left married, now for 43 yrs. All you few out in the Sand Hill Country should be wary. They will keep coming Enjoy!

[Steve Rozmiarek]

When we moved out of CA in late ‘85 there were 24M people and I thought it was overcrowded then. In ‘11 with both of my children living in CA we chased them. I have girls and they can run but they cannot hide. In ‘11 when we returned there were close to 39M people. Why, well on its own it is the 5th largest economy in the world. Yes, people, at last, are leaving, as they should. If my kids would leave, I too would go. Every night before I go to bed I go to Yubanet and check the local and broader fire situation. The entire West does. Climate change has ruined it, or perhaps more correctly, the 39M have. I’m old enough to remember the smog in every major city. I am happy to be able to breathe in those cities and I covered them all in my business. That happened largely by the leadership of CA and that leadership in climate issues continues. I lived in Nebraska in ‘77 and it is wonderful country and fine people. Actually, it’s kinda funny. I was perfectly happy living in sin with this wonderful woman. A year in NE and I left married, now for 43 yrs. All you few out in the Sand Hill Country should be wary. They will keep coming Enjoy!

It's a little alarming, being one of the few of the Sandhills Country, to see the constant stream of imports. Guess I can't do anything about it, so I might as well enjoy the show. Did you live in the sandhills?

[Jamie Buxton]

Naphtha is evaporates faster than the old mineral spirits. Depending on what you’re doing, that might or might get not be a good thing. For instance, if you’re making your own wipe-on varnish, you’re more likely to have streaks because you can’t maintain a wet edge.

I actually smuggle the old good mineral spirits into California. The old stuff is still sold in Oregon and Nevada.

[Stephen Rosenthal]

I actually smuggle the old good mineral spirits into California. The old stuff is still sold in Oregon and Nevada.

In the unlikely event you got inspected at an Ag station, I wonder what would happen?

[Thomas Colson]

In the unlikely event you got inspected at an Ag station, I wonder what would happen?

Nothing. They only banned the sale, not the possession. Not in cali though, I'm in an area of the country that has such disregard for air quality, we don't even have a vehicle inspection and being on the EPA non-attainment list is a point of pride for the county gov't, so I'm wondering where this green push came from. I'm sorta green my self, energy efficient and all that, installing an EV charger soon, but mineral spirits is the hill I'll die on. Just got back from another BLUE store, bought their last 5 cans, they have no clue why, but no more cans are coming in, just the green stuff. Must be a "Corporate Responsibility" thing. I do make my own wipe on, and I'm not a fan of change. Mineral spirits in a can is what works for me, and what I'll keep using as long as I can find a source within a 2 hour drive.

[Rod Sheridan]

I almost exclusively used solvent based finishes and didn’t like the look of water based polyurethane finishes.

Then I found a Minwax oil modified polyurethane and it looks very much like oil based when it’s dry.

3 or 4 coats in a day is very nice as well….Rod.

[Roger Feeley]

I almost exclusively used solvent based finishes and didn’t like the look of water based polyurethane finishes.

Then I found a Minwax oil modified polyurethane and it looks very much like oil based when it’s dry.

3 or 4 coats in a day is very nice as well….Rod.

Rod,
I’m a huge fan of Vermont Natural Coatings and their Polywhey varnish. FWW did a comparison of brushing varnishes some years ago and VNC rated very high. An extra virtue is that FWW recommended those cheap foam brushes. I put on a coat and then just wash the brush like any sponge. Re-coat in a half hour.

I noticed that people just can’t stop fondling projects varnished with this stuff. It has this kind of buttery feel that just feels good. The other thing I notice about Polywhey is the sound/feel when I tap it with my fingernails. It’s more like clicking glass or porcelain.

im about to make us a new headboard. The bride wants white so I will be trying C2 paint that uses Polywhey.

[Rod Sheridan]

Thanks Roger, I found a local dealer and will try the product……Rod

[Chess Baloo]

Rod,
I’m a huge fan of Vermont Natural Coatings and their Polywhey varnish. FWW did a comparison of brushing varnishes some years ago and VNC rated very high. An extra virtue is that FWW recommended those cheap foam brushes. I put on a coat and then just wash the brush like any sponge. Re-coat in a half hour.

I noticed that people just can’t stop fondling projects varnished with this stuff. It has this kind of buttery feel that just feels good. The other thing I notice about Polywhey is the sound/feel when I tap it with my fingernails. It’s more like clicking glass or porcelain.

That sounds like something I'd like - I am just a noob beginner here and only doing some small projects as I get time, but I love the sound of that.
Is this the product that you are referring to?

https://vermontnaturalcoatings.com/p...with-polywhey/