Alternate thinner

[gdf26562]

Hoping you may be able to assist, my new neighbour has a illness that he obtained through working on banana plantations and has no tolerance whatsoever for chemicals, most things make him sick, he has been like this for about 6 years and has just started coming good.

Now, to my problem. I live on a small block between two 5 acres blocks, and this neighbours house is about 50 metres from mine, I am aware of his illness and attempted to curb my use of chemicals, as I hate neighbour disputes. (being a cop)

I sometimes use wattyl stylewood spray lacquer, and use the wattyl thinner to clean up, I have since found out that this thinner makes him violently ill, only found out because I went over to ask him to turn the bass down on his stereo and he said, "Well lets compromise"

is there anyone out there that can point me towards a less volatile thinner, I and he would be much apreciatted.

[durwood]

There is a gun cleaning thinner that is available which is a lot less refined than normal thinner its a cheap variety capable of doing the job but I suspect that your neighbour may still be affected.


Prehaps you should also look into the gun cleaners availble which consist of a container which you place the gun into and pump solvent through the gun. These are available commercially but you could easily make a home made version.

Or make sure the wind is blowing from his direction or take the cleaning far enough away from his premises so there is no effect from the thinner.

[Harry72]

When you got a finishing job coming up go see him and work out a time he's not home.

[joe greiner]

Also, if the wind is idle, set up a fan to blow from his direction.

Joe

[thumbsucker]

Try Citrus based thinners, natural, low smell, low irritation.

Petrochemical Thinners can linger for hours and days, as they slowly breakdown, releasing an array of carcinogenic compounds. If your neighbor has sever allergies it will make little difference if he is home or not at the time you do your thing.

You may need to look into non toxic finishes. Remember you to are being exposed to these chemical as well, they are doing you and your family damage as well even if you do not feel it at the moment.

I have sever allergies, to most chemicals, cleaning agents and food stuff, it can be very painful.

I therefore have learned how to french polish, which I finish with natural waxes, and resins. You be amazed how rich and durable finish you can develop with practice.

The bad news for you is that your neighbor immune system is now hypersensitive due to the work based exposure. This means that he will in time develop an allergy to anything you use, because his immune system will view it as a threat and trigger his allergies after being exposed to it.

[totoblue]

Only spray when his stereo is too loud.

Or seriously, you could look at water based finishes, if you gun is ok for them. They will still have chemicals in them but a lot less volatile and no solvent for cleanup.

Metho based finishes may also affect him less and metho evaporates quickly and IIRC is a simple chemical so won't break down into other chemicals.

[soundman]

I think anything that will do the job will be a problem too him.... so

all the measures above


resene have a water based clear poly that aparantly is just great.
my mate "magic murph" has had a go with it & recons it performs more like a laquer than a varnish when sprayed and is extreenly low odour
their lustacril and enamacril solid colours I have used and are real good too. cheers

[gdf26562]

Thanks guys for your replies, I have told him that I would endeavour to utilise lesser volaitile chemicals in the future, and would no longer throw them on the dirt driveway outside my garage, as that was a real problem for him. I thought I was bending over backwards for him, as I honestly did not want to cause any problems for him.

I was away for a couple of days and returned home last night, this morning I walk outside, and would you believe it, he has put up a plastic sheet, about 6ft high, right along the fence line, looks bloody awful. To say I was miffed was an understatement.

So I went down there and asked him why? his answer "Privacy" I explained that I was no longer using the volatile chemicals, but his reply was, "everyone else is doing what they want on their land, so I will too." I told him that it looked pretty average, his reply "I can't see it." given the location of his house to the plastic, this is true. (reckons he is going to put up a fence later)

I think he got the idea that I was off with him, so I have decided to let him get on with his 'privacy' and have nothing to do with him, hoping he will soon replace the plastic with a fence.

Here I am trying to be a good neighbour, and he has no consideration of the view I now have. go figure.

Just as well I am not a vindictive person otherwise I could be a nasty neighbour and spray all day to my hearts content, and he would suffer more than I would with loud music.

[soundman]

HMMM this is all starting to sound a bit fishy.
Violently I'll... hmmm.
You'll need to watch what you do with this fella.

There are those who at some point enter an alternate reality and start exagerating things either intentionaly or in their own belief and therefore get quite unreasonable.

be carefull, very carefull.

cheers

[RufflyRustic]

Keep this thread bookmarked for yourself...

[Bob38S]

GDF,

Sound like this bloke is setting you up for some sort of problem.

I can just hear it -- "It was so bad I had to put up plastic etc......."

Sounds very sus, I would start to make some notes [memory is not a smart way to go] and keep a record of what you do and the responses etc - good idea to take some pix of where you work, materials used etc - ensure your camera also has the date stamp activated.

Hope it helps,
Bob

[soundman]

Hmm he's 50 meters away right and cant see the fence

cheers

[gdf26562]

Thanks for your advice guys/gals.

I will take notes and keep a diary, mind you, the stuff I use is nothing unusual, he reckons he had a reaction to the wattyl thinner, mayhaps he can sue wattyl

Anyhow, I have come to realise that he may be ending up as suggested by soundman. but if he thinks he can make life difficult for me, I have a good knowledge of the law, 20 odd years experience will aid me.

God I miss my old neighbour, curse him for selling
Shall keep you posted if it turns to

[JCCLARK]

A great substitute thinner for lacquer is urethane thinner.
The kind for auto clear coats.
I just tried it and it works better.
It also cost more