Your favorite "prepsol" alternative?

[sremick]

Yes, I know it`s been asked a 100 times. Trust me, I`ve been searching and reading...



But I don`t come away with a clear idea. Everyone preaches "prepsol prepsol prepsol"... as if you can actually buy the stuff. I`ve searched all over, both shops and online. It doesn`t appear anywhere. I`m talking about the real thing, from Dupont.



So then there`s the whole denatured alcohol thing as an alternative, usually people say mix 50/50 with water.



So am I to assume that everyone is either using prepsol they`ve obtained from some guy named Vinnie who works as an after-hours janitor in the secret back-rooms of Dupont, or uses a 50/50 mix of denatured alcohol and water?



If you use something other than real Dupont Prep-Sol or denatured alcohol, what do you use? Don`t be vague... I`ve see lots of mentioning of other products that I also couldn`t actually track down anywhere, either from resellers or even the manufacturer`s site (one that comes to mind is Kleanstrip Prep-All, which doesn`t seem to actually exist). Chances are I`ll be ordering online, so if you know of a real place you can actually purchase the stuff from, a link would be useful.



Sorry if my tone sounds demanding :( I`m just getting really frustrated when a product is mentioned so much as The Thing To Use yet you can`t actually find it anywhere. I`d rather not just randomly accept whatever product some local guy hands me if I ask for a wax-stripping solvent... I trust your guys` opinion far more and would rather use something someone here endorses.



Thanks!

[sremick]

Forgot to mention... here are two products I did find:



3M Prep Solvent-70 (water-based though so I hear stuff like that takes a lot longer to dry)

http://www.hillas.com/Products/3M_Other_Bonding_Products/3M_70_GL.asp



C-16 Pro-Sol

http://www.professionalcarcare.com/xcart/catalog/C61_ProSol-p-16150.html



See, I`m really not lazy... I am searching hard...

[Bill D]

I find Kleen Strip Prep-All all over the place: Wal-Mart and all auto parts stores. I`ve seen that 3m product before in my catalog and I bet a good paint and body supply store that has a nice 3m selection will have it.



I think I`d like to move on because even though the content is small, 1.5%, it does contain toluene. I`d prefer something totally toluene and xylene free.



There is a link to the MSDS fro Prepsol somewhere here. I believe it showed Prepsol is a "cocktail" of different solvents but no toluene or Xylene.



If you are having a hard time finding a Prepsol alternative and don`t wish to use Prep-All. I think New Car Prep from Autoint.com is a very attractive alternative.



Good work searching and "doing your homework" BTW ;) :up

[Accumulator]

These days I use Wurth Clean-Solve (art. no. 8909382-U) but I can`t remember where I ordered it. When I need more I`ll get it through my mechanic, who uses a lot of Wurth stuff. Sorry, guess that`s not of much help :o



When I don`t use that, I use 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover (pn. 051135 08984).



You could get Griot`s Paint Prep (pn 11135), but it`s pretty expensive for a product of this type. Griot`s also sells the 3M stuff I mentioned above ( LINK (www.griotsgarage.com) , phone is 800 345-5789).



I`m surprised you can`t find Prep-Sol locally. That (or its competitor Pre-Kleano) should be available from any shop that sells autopaint/body supply stuff. There`s another product called something like "Akryl-Clean" too. All these are basically the same stuff and shops that supply bodyshops have them. Check the yellow pages and you should be able to find a place near you.

[sremick]

Originally posted by Bill D

I find Kleen Strip Prep-All all over the place: Wal-Mart and all auto parts stores.



Hmm, ok any idea why I can`t find it? Heck, I can`t even find it on Kleanstrip`s website. What should I be searching for (web)?




Originally posted by Bill D

I think I`d like to move on because even though the content is small, 1.5%, it does contain toluene. I`d prefer something totally toluene and xylene free.



How come? What`s wrong with toluene and xylene?




Originally posted by Bill D

If you are having a hard time finding a Prepsol alternative and don`t wish to use Prep-All. I think New Car Prep from Autoint.com is a very attractive alternative.



This stuff?

http://www.autoint.com/autostore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=22&idproduct=185

[Bill D]

Yes, that is the Autoint product.



FWIW, I got the sense from Autoint when I contacted them that toluene in small concentration is ok, just not the cutting edge, and consequently more expensive solvent mixtures available. From a health stand point any one of these products we are discussing need to be used a very well ventilated area.



Accumulator,



Yeah, I have my 3m General Purpose Adhesive remover sitting on the shelf not doing much. I think I might re start using it again, this time for LSP removal. That is often available in the smaller chain auto part stores.

[dternst]

Einszett Acrysol



http://www.detailersparadise.com/View.asp?ProductID=368252003554412%2D1225212614091

[sremick]

Ok I found "Prep All" on the internet, but there seem to be two different ones.



http://www.crashsupply.com/cgi-bin/csupply/klegsw362.html



http://www.crashsupply.com/cgi-bin/csupply/klegvoc363gr.html



What`s the difference? The first one doesn`t have a picture, but maybe this is it:



http://www.kleanstripauto.com/art/products/prepall.jpg

[Bill D]

Ah ha! the second link must be a new VOC compliant version. Haven`t seen it locally yet. Nor have I ever seen a gallon of it locally. I wonder what the new formula entails. I have never seenthe packaging in the last link.

[the other pc]

Good timing, Bill D just posted a link to a good article on the subject. http://autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=536700#post536700



Do you have any auto paint supply shops in your neighborhood?





PC.

[Bill D]

Originally posted by dternst

Einszett Acrysol



http://www.detailersparadise.com/View.asp?ProductID=368252003554412%2D1225212614091



I noticed Kent Automotive has a product called Acrysol. So we seem to have 2 Acrysols or maybe one is re branded? :nixweiss



I think when things like this happens, one company has to change their name--happened with 1z before: Raindance had to be changed to Perls

[tom p.]

Bumping up a 10 yr old thread.

Guys, what is a modern day equivalent that works well? I`ve got an old can of the Kleen Strip Prep All but always felt that product left some kind of residue behind. Anyone suggest a product they like?

Thanks.

[Accumulator]

Ah, perfect timing! I was just using my new fave this morning- Pre from Eastwood. Haven`t noticed any residue, certainly nothing that messed up my paints/primers, and it cleaned off some awfully tenacious lube just like magic.

Eastwood PRE Painting Prep (http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-pre-painting-prep.html)

[Oldfordisbetter]

I use Prep All. Im happy with it

[Lonnie]

Pittsburg Paint and Glass (PPG) Acryli-Clean DX330 Wax and Grease Remover.
Too bad this stuff is NOT available anymore, as mine came from an auto parts /body shop supply store in about 1985 before VOC-compliance laws were in effect.

One thing I would mention is going to garage or estate sales you may find all kinds of no-longer available car-care chemicals , insecticides, herbicides, and cleaners that have been stored/squirreled/hoarded away that have not been used for some time. Just be careful what you buy and how you intend to use it. If the container looks like its leaking or really rusty, leave it alone. Hazardous Material/Environmental clean-up can be very expensive to the "new owner". (You bought it-you own it responsibility)