Making my own less toxic brake cleaner with acetone, IPA, denatured alcohol, maybe heptane?

[WildCoast]

I'm tired of paying $20/can for brake clean! I don't want to go anywhere near the chlorinated stuff because it's so toxic (Tetrachloroethylene). The 'non-chlorinated' is usually a mix of either Heptane, Acetone, IPA (IsoPropyl alcohol), sometimes Methyl Acetate according to SDS's for the various brands. The stronger CRC brand stuff is basically just Acetone lol. Welcome to the chemical industry, basically the same handful petroleum distillates repackaged a thousand different ways... what a scam.

I've used Acetone (C3H6O) in a spray bottle as a cleaner, which works great b/c it's interesting polar AND non-polar properties:

• Polar Part (Oxygen in the Carbonyl Group): dissolves polar compounds such as the lithium or calcium soaps in greases
• Non-polar part (two methyl groups (-CH₃): dissolves hydrocarbons (greases, oils, etc)

But... Acetone is so hard on plastics and rubber I don't think it's great at 100% concentration as a general cleaner/degreaser in the shop - I've ruined some plastic tool handles using it, includes the screen on my fancy expensive Fluke multimeter

So thinking generally a mix of polar + non-polar solvents would be make a good versatile cleaner?

I'm thinking of mixing 10-20% acetone, with some alcohols, not sure which, wondering if I can mix different ones to give me a broader grease cutting spectrum?

I understand that Methanol removes ionics better, isopropanol removes non-polar materials better. Not a fan of using methanol too much seeing as it's so toxic, I believe even fumes/skin contact isn't great. So instead thinking of mixing IPA, denatured alcohol (90% ethanol), and Acetone.

Looks like many non-chlorinated brake cleaners use tons of Heptane. It has a 98c boiling point though, so doesn't dry that quickly. Even IPA is better at 82c, and ethanol is even faster drying with 78c. Heptane is very non-polar, so good at cutting hydrocarbons... hmm

I can't seem to find cheap consumer-available Methyl Acetate, so that's probably not an option.

So maybe Heptane + 10% acetone + 40-50% alcohol, either IPA or ethanol (denatured).

Thoughts??

 

[WildCoast]

Proposed mixture:

• 50% Heptane (Dissolves oils, grease, and waxes)
• 20% Acetone (Breaks down resins, adhesives, and varnishes)
• 20% IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) (Helps dissolve residual polar contaminants)
• 10% Ethanol (Boosts solvency for water-based residues)

 

[WildCoast]

Another option is adding some naphtha or light hydrotreated petroleum distillates (CAS 64742-47-8) - I think usually in the C6-C9 range. Usually <2% aromatics unlike the old school Stoddard Solvent, and should cut hydrocarbons really well? Basically what is consumer labelled as 'odorless mineral spirits'

Just not sure how fast they would evaporate, I think CAS spec says 3-194c boiling range, which is kinda wide, so not sure if most of it will be below 100c?

 

[Astro14]

Honestly, I would skip the acetone. Yeah it’s a great solvent, but it’s the one that’s the most harmful to you, as well as anything you own that is plastic.

Heptane and ethanol would be my choice, and you can get one of these:

https://a.co/d/c5nYGhA

Sure Shot A1000R 1 Quart Enameled Steel Sprayer, Red​

I got one about 2 years ago - filled it with mineral spirits (which cuts down on the amount of brake clean I use). I think I added air pressure to it 2 years ago, and it is still holding that pressure. You can adjust the spray to a stream, or wide, and I keep mine on wide since I mostly use it to clean things.

 

[Creekside]

Honestly, I would skip the acetone. Yeah it’s a great solvent, but it’s the one that’s the most harmful to you, as well as anything you own that is plastic.

Heptane and ethanol would be my choice, and you can get one of these:

https://a.co/d/c5nYGhA

Sure Shot A1000R 1 Quart Enameled Steel Sprayer, Red​

I got one about 2 years ago - filled it with mineral spirits (which cuts down on the amount of brake clean I use). I think I added air pressure to it 2 years ago, and it is still holding that pressure. You can adjust the spray to a stream, or wide, and I keep mine on wide since I mostly use it to clean things.

I will second the Sure Shot and mineral spirits. I use a fraction of the brake cleaner now compared to before. We even went that way at work.

 

[VersatileGuy]

There is no substitute for oil cleaning than perchloroethylene.

It leaves things coated in oil totally dead dry as if the oil was never there.

Acetone, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, etc do not "love" motor oil, atf, etc like perc

 

[Paco Pena]

I buy the old school chlorinated type on sale. Keep it off your skin and use in a well ventilated area. I don't use much. Some folks use obscene amounts when not needed.

Paco

 

[ripcord]

If you're wanting to cut down on cost, you can pre-clean everything with a brush, hot water and Dawn dish washing soap. It will take off a ton of grime. When you're going to reassemble, then do a finish clean with regular brake cleaner.

 

[facility1]

ZEP industrial cleaner in a spray bottle and have used foaming engine cleaner works too.