Better (less flammable, less smelly) solvents have been developed, and mineral spirits fell out of favor for this purpose.įinally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that mineral spirits are also called “stoddard solvent.” If you’re browsing the ingredient list of a finishing product and see “stoddard solvent,” know that that’s actually just mineral spirits. I don’t know if it’d be my first choice in the kitchen.īack in the day, mineral spirits also used to be a solvent used in dry cleaning, although that’s no longer the case. It can also be used as a degreaser, primarily in the auto industry. When working with wood, mineral spirits can be used to clean stain and finishes off brushes, clean the wood before finishing, temporarily changing the color of the wood to highlight flaws, and thinning stain or finish for other purposes.įor general purpose cleaning, on the other hand, mineral spirits can be used to break down sap and sticky adhesives. Oil-based wood stains and finishes, sticky sap outside, adhesive left from stickers all of these are things that can be dissolved with mineral spirits.Īs a result, I categorize mineral spirit uses into two categories: woodworking, and general purpose cleaning. Mineral spirits are a solvent that dissolves oil. And that’s where mineral spirits come in. Water is often called the “universal solvent,” because it dissolves just about everything. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you.) What Are Mineral Spirits? Note: This blog contains affiliate links. If you’re not using them yet, let me bring you to the light! I soon learned many other handy uses for mineral spirits, and they’ve become a staple in house. Instead of going to work after finishing a project with my hands covered in brown blobs, I actually looked like a professional human being. Then one day, I discovered mineral spirits. I often finished projects with my hands covered in the stuff, and had no idea how to get it off. Back when I first started woodworking, I really struggled working with stain.
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