Stoddard solvent availability / questions

[Titanium]

Hi all – I've been reading up on Stoddard solvent, and it seems like a great option for cleaning some machines and even paper (I want to try dry cleaning some dirty paper money). But I'm having trouble locking down exactly what it is, and whether it's always labeled as "Stoddard solvent". I'm seeing claims that lighter fluid is Stoddard solvent, or that charcoal lighter fluid is, and that it's the same as "mineral spirits" or Type 1 mineral spirits.

Are all those really Stoddard solvent? Should I be looking specifically for something labeled as Stoddard? Where are the best places to look?

I've also read that there is an odorless version, and a high flashpoint version (140 F). Do these tweaks affect its solvent performance at all?

Thanks.

p.s. I liked this old academic paper on using Stoddard to gently dry clean clean museum fabrics. It was used in commercial dry cleaning for decades, before perc, and alongside perc as a gentler option. It's amazing that such a powerful solvent doesn't harm fabrics at all.

 

[doitmyself]

Great question and very difficult to pin down. There is a lot of ambiguity in terminology, similar to car finish products......wax, sealant, polish, etc. are often misused per their true definition. This happens in wood finishes also: varnish, polyurethane, oil finish, wipe-on finish inter-mingle among product names.

I am not a chemist. This article shows a table explaining different SDS CAS numbers for Naptha, Stoddard Solvent, and 3 types of mineral spirits.
https://www.naturalpigments.com/mineral-spirits-stoddard-solvent.html Apparently, there are 3 different "flash grades" in each of type 1, 2, and 3 below (total of 9 types)

Mineral Spirit Types
CAS No.	EINECS No.	Name	Notes
8030-30-6	232-443-2	Naphtha
8052-41-3	232-489-3	Stoddard solvent
64475-85-0	265-185-4	Mineral spirit type 1
64741-92-0	265-095-5	Mineral spirit type 2	Solvent-refined heavy naphtha (petroleum)
64742-48-9	265-150-3	Mineral spirit type 3	Hydrotreated heavy naphtha (petroleum)
64742-88-7	265-191-7	Mineral spirit type 0	Medium aliphatic solvent naphtha (petroleum)

To me, Stoddard solvent is a type of mineral spirit, but maybe different than the other paint thinner varieties (different CAS #). But on store shelves and literature, the terminology are often used interchangeably as I stated above. Very confusing.

Here's an example of "real" Stoddard solvent, CAS 8052-41-3: https://www.laballey.com/products/stoddard-solvent-lab?currency=USD&variant=41710808170651 ....Click on "description" and it states "Stoddard Solvent Is Not EXACTLY The Same As Mineral Spirits But It Is A Type Of Mineral Spirits"

Here's more examples of Stoddard solvent vs different mineral spirit types:
https://www.solventsandpetroleum.com/mineral-spirits.html

Again, I think the confusion exists because the terms mineral spirits and Stoddard solvent are miss-mashed together in product names, descriptions, etc.. Hopefully a chemist will come along to give more clarification.

 

[Cujet]

As a connoisseur of all forms of petroleum scents, I can say with authority that the "classic" Stoddard Solvent of my youth does not smell the same as the more recent (prob 20 years ago) versions. I have not seen anything labeled as Stoddard Solvent since then.

It performed much like classic mineral spirits. If I were to guess, I'd say it's a blend of mineral spirits and naptha, with some other things thrown in.

 

[nthach]

AFAIK, Stoddard solvent is simply paint thinner. Charcoal lighter fluid flashes off too quick, while naphtha has slower dry time and toulene flashes off quick.

Here’s the stuff I use: https://kleanstrip.com/solvents-and-thinners/odorless-mineral-spirits-california/

Per the SDS, it’s pure petroleum distillates. When I googled the CAS# I found this:
https://www.exxonmobilchemical.com/...ab89a60202cc3f56/2653-source/options/download

Exxon before XOM used to sell Varsol, which is now owned by Recochem in Canada.

 

[aBiochemist]

Great question and very difficult to pin down. There is a lot of ambiguity in terminology, similar to car finish products......wax, sealant, polish, etc. are often misused per their true definition. This happens in wood finishes also: varnish, polyurethane, oil finish, wipe-on finish inter-mingle among product names.

I am not a chemist. This article shows a table explaining different SDS CAS numbers for Naptha, Stoddard Solvent, and 3 types of mineral spirits.
https://www.naturalpigments.com/mineral-spirits-stoddard-solvent.html Apparently, there are 3 different "flash grades" in each of type 1, 2, and 3 below (total of 9 types)

Mineral Spirit Types
CAS No.	EINECS No.	Name	Notes
8030-30-6	232-443-2	Naphtha
8052-41-3	232-489-3	Stoddard solvent
64475-85-0	265-185-4	Mineral spirit type 1
64741-92-0	265-095-5	Mineral spirit type 2	Solvent-refined heavy naphtha (petroleum)
64742-48-9	265-150-3	Mineral spirit type 3	Hydrotreated heavy naphtha (petroleum)
64742-88-7	265-191-7	Mineral spirit type 0	Medium aliphatic solvent naphtha (petroleum)

To me, Stoddard solvent is a type of mineral spirit, but maybe different than the other paint thinner varieties (different CAS #). But on store shelves and literature, the terminology are often used interchangeably as I stated above. Very confusing.

Here's an example of "real" Stoddard solvent, CAS 8052-41-3: https://www.laballey.com/products/stoddard-solvent-lab?currency=USD&variant=41710808170651 ....Click on "description" and it states "Stoddard Solvent Is Not EXACTLY The Same As Mineral Spirits But It Is A Type Of Mineral Spirits"

Here's more examples of Stoddard solvent vs different mineral spirit types:
https://www.solventsandpetroleum.com/mineral-spirits.html

Again, I think the confusion exists because the terms mineral spirits and Stoddard solvent are miss-mashed together in product names, descriptions, etc.. Hopefully a chemist will come along to give more clarification.

This post is a nice summation of the information that is out there.

I'm not a real chemist but a lot of these things would be defined by what cuts were taken during distillation. If the cuts overlap (which they do) the chemical compositions will be similar but not identical. Characteristics such as evaporation rate, boiling point range, flash point, chemical composition, etc. of the resulting product will all vary somewhat. What I cannot tell you is what cuts each one is. Another description I found is here.

There are four general types of mineral spirits, classified according to boiling point range (BPR):

• Type I (Stoddard solvent), BPR 149–182 °C
• Type II (high flash point), BPR 177–196 °C
• Type III (odorless), BPR 149–196 °C
• Type IV (low dry point), BPR 149–174 °C

This standard is manufactured using the Type 1 mineral spirit.

I use Stoddard solvent in the lab as a cheap, moderately volatile, water immiscible organic solvent, but wow has it gotten expensive. The technique was developed long ago when Stoddard was cheap and readily available but I am now trying to find a substitute that's cheaper and will remain available in the future.

I will evaluate substitutes based on boiling point ranges, evaporation rate, residue remaining after drying, and compatibility with polypropylene; which is where I think all of us are, trying to find cheap(er) solvents to use for our applications.

 

[doitmyself]

LOL, you joined BITOG because you found a stoddard solvent link here in an internet search?? Leave now, or you will forever get addicted to vehicle motor oils, filters, etc............................ and a great bunch of guys from all different backgrounds that truly share great learning experience based on such diverse background.

My interest in stoddard solvent is because in the 1940's+ it was broadcast sprayed on forest tree seedling nurseries as a form of post emergent weed control. When I moved to my current career position in 1981, I remember finding a 55 gallon barrel of "stoddard solvent" in our barn. https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/61/6/438/4672085

 

[aBiochemist]

LOL, you joined BITOG because you found a stoddard solvent link here in an internet search?? Leave now, or you will forever get addicted to vehicle motor oils, filters, etc............................ and a great bunch of guys from all different backgrounds that truly share great learning experience based on such diverse background.

My interest in stoddard solvent is because in the 1940's+ it was broadcast sprayed on forest tree seedling nurseries as a form of post emergent weed control. When I moved to my current career position in 1981, I remember finding a 55 gallon barrel of "stoddard solvent" in our barn. https://academic.oup.com/jof/article/61/6/438/4672085

I joined BITOG largely to say thanks to you for the convenient table of CAS numbers for different mineral spirit types

I am quite seriously looking for substitutes for Stoddard solvent in my application, since the number of places selling it has gone down substantially and the price has gone up equally substantially. When the technique was developed in the 60s people used it because they could get a 55 gallon drum easily and cheaply; now, a gallon through Sigma Chemical costs $180. I expect that one day I will just not be able to get it at all, and I'd rather not replace it with n-decane or something else equally expensive.

 

[aBiochemist]

As a connoisseur of all forms of petroleum scents, I can say with authority that the "classic" Stoddard Solvent of my youth does not smell the same as the more recent (prob 20 years ago) versions. I have not seen anything labeled as Stoddard Solvent since then.

It performed much like classic mineral spirits. If I were to guess, I'd say it's a blend of mineral spirits and naptha, with some other things thrown in.

Found this article which explains/supports your empirical observation regarding odor:

The nomenclature applied to mineral spirits described above has an interesting history. Until the 1960s, the predominant type of mineral spirits produced was a desulfurized straight-run (i.e., fractionated directly from crude oil by distillation) solvent, boiling in the range of 149°C to 204°C (300°F to 400°F), which was commonly known as Stoddard solvent, so named by the dry-cleaning industry. This material contained 15% to 25% aromatic compounds. With the advent of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), this product was entered in the TSCA inventory under CAS number 8052–41-3.

When clean air standards were first promulgated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly in California (e.g., Rule 66 in the Los Angeles area, and Regulation 3 in San Francisco), lower aromaticity was desired and new mineral spirits grades were developed. In subsequent years, due to demands for various product performance and formulation needs, mineral spirits with much lower aromaticity (~<1%) have been produced. These de-aromatized mineral spirits are lower in odor than the higher aromatic versions and are popular in many applications, primarily coatings and consumer products, as well as in dry-cleaning. Hence, the name “Stoddard solvent” is now often applied to many types of mineral spirits even though these products are somewhat compositionally different from each other as well as from traditional Stoddard solvent.

 

[Sumboodie]

This post is a nice summation of the information that is out there.

I'm not a real chemist but a lot of these things would be defined by what cuts were taken during distillation. If the cuts overlap (which they do) the chemical compositions will be similar but not identical. Characteristics such as evaporation rate, boiling point range, flash point, chemical composition, etc. of the resulting product will all vary somewhat. What I cannot tell you is what cuts each one is. Another description I found is here.


I use Stoddard solvent in the lab as a cheap, moderately volatile, water immiscible organic solvent, but wow has it gotten expensive. The technique was developed long ago when Stoddard was cheap and readily available but I am now trying to find a substitute that's cheaper and will remain available in the future.

I will evaluate substitutes based on boiling point ranges, evaporation rate, residue remaining after drying, and compatibility with polypropylene; which is where I think all of us are, trying to find cheap(er) solvents to use for our applications.

We carry it in pails and drums. It's about $15 a gallon.

 

[aBiochemist]

We carry it in pails and drums. It's about $15 a gallon.

Got a website, and do you ship?

Millipore Sigma charges $180 a gallon.

 

[tristan_stanley]

Lighter fluid and Stoddard are different products — just search for 'Stoddard solvent' specifically if that's what you want. Mineral spirits is in the ballpark but not quite the same thing. Most hardware stores stock it and it's not expensive.

 

[Hohn]

I remember checkout out old library books from the 1950/60s as a kid in the 80s interested in science. And even then, the experiments called for things you could get back then that are simply unattainable now.

I remember in particular, one experiment said to get 30% hydrogen peroxide from the drug store to make a small rocket. I didn't know over 3% existed then. I recently discovered 12% food grade purchased online, but still far below what the old science books had in them.

Those books were where I first heard of "stoddard solvent" and even my Dad hadn't even heard of it. Never saw it on any store shelf in our tiny WI town either.

Pretty sure the only way I know to reliably buy some is to buy Marvel Mystery oil, but of course MMO has more than just Stoddard solvent in it.

 

[Hohn]

Looks like there's an ASTM D484 that actually defines American "stoddard solvent" so you could try searching by that perhaps.


I dumped it into my favorite LLM and got this useful output:

Stoddard solvent is a petroleum-derived mineral spirit, standardized in the US under ASTM D484, originally developed in the 1920s as a safer dry-cleaning solvent to replace more flammable/toxic alternatives like gasoline and carbon tetrachloride-based fluids.


What it is:

• A blend of aliphatic (mostly paraffinic and naphthenic) hydrocarbons, C7-C12 range
• Flash point around 100-110°F (38-43°C) — deliberately higher than gasoline to reduce fire risk
• Low aromatic content compared to some other distillate cuts
• Boiling range roughly 300-400°F

How it differs from other petroleum distillates:

• vs. mineral spirits generally — "mineral spirits" is actually the broader/generic category; Stoddard solvent is a specific standardized formulation within it. In casual use the terms get treated as synonyms, but Stoddard solvent has a defined ASTM spec (flash point, distillation range, aromatic content limits) while generic mineral spirits sold at hardware stores may vary batch to batch.
• vs. naphtha (VM&P naphtha) — naphtha is a lighter, more volatile cut with a lower flash point (~20-55°F) and faster evaporation. Naphtha is more aggressive as a solvent and more flammable; Stoddard solvent's higher flash point makes it the safer choice for enclosed applications like dry-cleaning machines.
• vs. kerosene — similar boiling range territory, but kerosene is optimized as a fuel (energy content, combustion characteristics) rather than a solvent, and typically has different additive/purity specs. Kerosene can substitute in some cleaning/degreasing roles but isn't formulated to the same aromatic/odor control as Stoddard.
• vs. odorless mineral spirits (OMS) — OMS is Stoddard solvent that's been further hydrotreated to strip out the aromatic compounds responsible for the characteristic petroleum smell. Same base hydrocarbon range, lower aromatic content, milder odor, often marketed for indoor paint thinning.
• vs. diesel/heating oil (#2 fuel oil) — heavier, higher boiling range distillate, not really a solvent-grade product at all; different molecular weight distribution entirely.

The practical upshot: Stoddard solvent sits in a specific niche — heavier/safer than naphtha, lighter and more solvent-focused than kerosene or diesel, and less refined (more aromatic, more odor) than odorless mineral spirits. It's largely been displaced from dry cleaning by perchloroethylene and now newer solvents, but it's still common as a general-purpose parts washer/degreaser fluid.

It seems to me that you could buy regular Odorless mineral spirits and add back whatever aromatics you wanted if you needed more hazard in your life. Apparently an 85/15 blend of OMS and Xylene is VERY close to actual Stoddard solvent.

 

[Nessism1]

Looks like there's an ASTM D484 that actually defines American "stoddard solvent" so you could try searching by that perhaps.


I dumped it into my favorite LLM and got this useful output:




It seems to me that you could buy regular Odorless mineral spirits and add back whatever aromatics you wanted if you needed more hazard in your life. Apparently an 85/15 blend of OMS and Xylene is VERY close to actual Stoddard solvent.

Real-deal mineral spirits have been restricted in my area. I'm bummed, because I need some. I keep recycling the same old solvent, capturing it after use and reusing it after the sludge settles to the bottom of the bottle, but this stuff is getting long in the tooth. My existing supply was provided by someone who picked it up out of state.

 

[Hohn]

Real-deal mineral spirits have been restricted in my area. I'm bummed, because I need some. I keep recycling the same old solvent, capturing it after use and reusing it after the sludge settles to the bottom of the bottle, but this stuff is getting long in the tooth. My existing supply was provided by someone who picked it up out of state.

Hey, friend, wanna buy a rolex? No? OK, I can see you're only interested in the GOOD STUFF. Well I have here some gen-you-wine mineral mineral spirits, fresh of the truck from my supplier. One tin, no more and no questions, Got it? Deal?
"