From: neilson@pmin28.osf.org (Peter Neilson)
Subject: Re: solvent for duct-tape adhesive?
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Lines: 45

In article <1993Apr27.030226.16016@uvm.edu> me170pjd@emba-news.uvm.edu.UUCP (Peter J Demko) writes:
>From article <1993Apr27.004240.24401@csi.jpl.nasa.gov>, by eldred@rrunner.jpl.nasa.gov (Dan Eldred):
>> In article <1rh9b0INN2r4@snoopy.cis.ufl.edu> ruck@beach.cis.ufl.edu (John Ruckstuhl) writes:
>>>I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know what solvent I should 
>>>use to clean duct-tape adhesive from carpet?
>>>Someone taped wires to the carpet, and now it is time to move out.
>>>
>> I don't know for sure that this will work, but you might try MEK (methyl
>> ethyl keytone?).  It worked getting the stickum left over from shelf paper,
>> and is available at paint stores.  Use a carbon gas mask and lots of
>> ventilation--this stuff really stinks!
>> 
>> 	- Dan
>> 
>
>For those who don't know, methyl ethyl ketone is more commonly known 
>as ACETONE and can be found as the major active ingredient in
>NAIL POLISH REMOVER.  YOUR WIFE'S PROBABLY GOT SOME HANGIN' AROUND....

Oh dear, time for me to try to remember my chemistry.  Let's see if I
can find the formulae somewhere in the dim recesses of my mind.
<sounds of gears>  <fumes of overheated oil>  <unmistakable stench of
the Nasal Chromatograph>   Ha!  I knew there was a double bond!  Now
how shall I show that in ASCII? 

          MEK:                                 Acetone:

          C - C - C - C                        C - C - C
              #                                    #
              O                                    O

The hydrogens are not shown, and # represents double bond.  MEK has a
methyl (CH3) on one side, and an ethyl (C2H5) on the other.  Acetone
has two methyls.  So acetone is not methyl ethyl ketone, but instead
is dimethyl ketone.  Both solvents have similar properties.  I think
that MEK may be a little less flammable but a lot worse to breathe.
It's a lot harder to buy MEK than it once was.  Use acetone.

Nail polish remover consists almost entirely of acetone.  If you buy
some for your workshop, get the very cheapest, because the more
expensive kind has oils and perfumes that you don't need.
-- 
Nothing is so foolish that it has not been posted to some net newsgroup.
         >>> Peter Neilson --- neilson@osf.org <<<
Quote changed daily.  If you've seen this one before, burn your calendar.