Which "Naptha"?

[PoorMan]

I had a small bottle I once got at a grocery store that just said "naptha" and it worked great. Having recently run out, I went to my local hardware store and they only had "VM&P Naptha".

Not knowing if this was the right stuff, I did a quick search on Wikipedia and found that naptha "normally refers to a number of different flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons, i.e. a distillation product...a broad term encompassing any volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture" intended for different purposes...

So which is the right kind for guitar building/wood degreasing? Is VM&P appropriate?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[River]

Ronson lighter fluid says "CAS #64742-89-8 & 88-7". Zippo doesn't say anything. That's all I know, but my guess is it'd be fine.

 

[bfcg]

Varnish makers & printers naptha. It will do just fine.

 

[PoorMan]

Varnish makers & printers naptha. It will do just fine.

Thanks!

 

[Ole'Lefty]

Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbon. Naptha is one of the lightest cracks in petroleum processing. Has a very low flashpoint, as one would expect for Zippo lighter fluid. On the other hand, it is heavier than gasoline. The spark from a lighter flint wheel is very hot.

Just use genuine care in its use. I have been on fire twice with methanol(much higher flashpoint)-once at night, and once in daylight-it took them somewhat less time to figure out that I was on fire in the dusk- a $1000 Nomex Kevlar 2 layer suit and underwear gives you 14-18 seconds before 2nd degree burns. And, it is nothing but a 3 layer "wick" when fuel gets on you. Ask any racer their biggest real fear------. Naptha is a magic solvent but due respect is necessary. Ole'SprinterLefty(on a less spectacular note, I have a silver dollar sized scar on my right upper thigh -filled a Zippo too much, dropped in my pants pocket and got a very nasty chemical burn. Caution, naptha melts nitrile gloves.)

 

[River]

Ah, the old over-filled-Zippo-in-the-jeans trick! Been there, done that.

 

[krokodyl]

I use Ronson's, called "Ronsonol". Works great