We've had growing success using Bio-Solv in place of acetone, MEK, toluene, white spirit, and gun wash — here's what changed once we made the switch.
Why we moved away from MEK
We started using Bio-Solv as a direct replacement for MEK, which we'd been using to clean up epoxy. The problem with MEK was how fast it evaporated — a constant fire-risk worry, and by the time we got into the workshop each morning it had mostly evaporated off, leaving a sticky mess that ruined our brushes and tools. Bio-Solv doesn't evaporate off the same way, so our brushes stayed clean whether we were using paint, varnish, or epoxy. Left in a jug, it clears and can be decanted off and reused again and again.
Cleaning airless spray equipment
When we moved to airless spraying, cleaning out over 40 feet of hose was a real concern, especially using two-pack and epoxy coatings. Bio-Solv has worked well here: we flush the hose through with water first to push out residual paint, then flush through with Bio-Solv into a tank or bucket. We let that wash settle and reuse it as a primary flush before a fresh batch of Bio-Solv, then flush through with the storage fluid — or just leave the Bio-Solv in the machine if we're using it again soon. Spray gun tips just go into a container of Bio-Solv until we need them.
Parts cleaning and general clean-up
In our parts-cleaning wash tank we now use Bio-Solv, and found that heating it slightly gives excellent results very quickly. We no longer lose paintbrushes to hardening from poor clean-up, which means we can justify buying better brushes — and get a better finish as a result.
What our customers tell us
Bristol work boats have told us they use Bio-Solv to remove cement when repairing inflatable boats and servicing liferafts, removing excess glue every time. We've also heard from people in the graffiti-removal trade, who value it for the same reason we do: if it's spilt, it dissolves in tap water, and if it makes it into the ground it breaks down naturally rather than persisting in the environment.
Would we go back?
No. Once you've made the switch, there's no reason to return to conventional cleaners and degreasers.
