Author Topic: What dissolves Wite-Out?  (Read 4438 times)

Offline Brian Rupnow

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What dissolves Wite-Out?
« on: March 21, 2014, 12:49:48 PM »
When I am going to silver solder something but I don't want to have the solder get onto adjacent areas, I coat the areas with Wite-Out by Bic. It is a typewriter correction fluid. It does a good job of keeping the silver solder away, but then after the soldering is finished, I have a Devil of a time getting the Wite-Out off. This week when I siver soldered the needle onto the knurled brass needle cap on the carburetor I was building, I coated the knurling with Wite Out. Then I tried afterwards to get the Wite out off. I tried paint thinner, Varsol, rubbing alcohol, dishsoap, Goo Gone, and a high strength degreaser. None of them dissolved it. I finally got it mostly off scrubbing with toothpaste, hot water, and an old toothbrush. You can't sand it off or get too aggressive, or it damages the brass knurling. Does anybody know of something that will dissolve this stuff?---Brian

Offline Stuart

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2014, 01:53:10 PM »
Brian

its to late for this advice but I have better luck by using artist's water colour white  its titanium dioxide in a water base  ( its the same stuff as you have used but in a different medium )  it works and tend to wash off with water after a quick dip in the pickle in my case I use citric acid ( my choice )

soory I canons help with the stuff that you have used ju may find the artist paint in the small tubes is cheaper ( I nick it off Linda who does water colours for a hobby )

soft HB pencils will help to stop stray SS just rub it on the areas you which to keep clean , but my go to in tit. dioxide

Stuart
My aim is for a accurate part with a good finish

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2014, 03:40:41 PM »
I buy the theory that heat may transform the Wite Out into some chemical compound that can not be dissolved. Its only an issue on knurled surfaces. Anywhere else it can be sanded off.

Offline GailinNM

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2014, 03:51:16 PM »
Even when cooked on ordinary gasoline works quite well.
Gail in NM
I would like to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.

Offline loggerhogger

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2017, 04:25:23 PM »
Try acetone

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Offline sshire

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2017, 09:13:23 PM »
Too late now but there are much better solutions. White out (or Wite out), when heated, becomes a variant of a ceramic.
The real stuff is generically called anti-flux. Any decent jewelers supply will carry it.
The best I've found is Nicrobraz. It is in a felt tip pen. Very precisely controllable and comes off with hot water.
It's used in very critical applications where the solder absolutely cannot extend into close areas or the part fails inspection.
Ive been using the same pen for a few years.
It's available here and from other vendors.
http://www.carbideprocessors.com/nicrobraz-green-stop-off-pen/
Best,
Stan

Offline 10KPete

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2017, 10:54:38 PM »
Stan! You da man!

I just went to the link you provided (I've been looking for stopping compounds) and that guy has more info on brazing than I've ever seen in one place. I've done a ton of silver brazing and have always been hungry for tech data but never have I found a gold mine like this one.

Forever in your debt,
Pete
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SB 10K lathe, Benchmaster mill. And stuff.

Offline sshire

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #7 on: March 17, 2017, 12:39:00 AM »
Pete
I've known about these guys for years. Nice people. Willing to help.
They have many brazing videos on YouTube..worth a look.
Best,
Stan

Offline Ian S C

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #8 on: March 17, 2017, 12:53:56 PM »
According to the Bic(r) web site you should be able to remove Wite Out with mineral spirits, or a citrus based  cleaner.
After that, I would be tempted to put it in the dish washing machine.
Ian S C

Offline Mosey

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #9 on: March 17, 2017, 12:57:58 PM »
Have you tried Wite-Out thinner? Staples or other stationary stores.
Mosey

Offline old-and-broken

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2017, 02:54:19 PM »
Acetone or MEK (methyl ethyl ketone).


Or try a paint stripper that contains methylene chloride.  Just keep it away from magnesium.
A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step.

Offline 10KPete

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2017, 03:43:10 PM »
Those are all good for removing WiteOut under normal conditions, but won't work after it is baked at brazing temperatures...

 :slap:

Pete
Craftsman, Tinkerer, Curious Person.
Retired, finally!
SB 10K lathe, Benchmaster mill. And stuff.

Offline sshire

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Re: What dissolves Wite-Out?
« Reply #12 on: March 18, 2017, 01:15:17 AM »
Whatever the active ingredient, it fuses under high heat. Solvents are ineffective at that point. Abrasion is the only answer.
Best,
Stan

 

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