spill clean up

[W701]

Some West system resin or hardner leaked from a box in my basement. Does anyone know of a solvent that I can use to clean this up?

Thanks
Thom

[Chris Setzler]

I'd try denatured alcohol. Generally works for me.

Chris

[John Bell]

I've had good luck with waterless hand cleaner. Scrub the area with just the cleaner on a brush, followed by adding a little water, more scrubbing, then a good rinse.

[mmd]

If still liquid or nearly so, as stated by Chris S., use denatured alcohol or white vinegar. If catalyzed but not yet fully cured or in a very gooey state use acetone. If the latter, ventilate area well and use sparingly - acetone is not good for you. Use rubber gloves for all operations.

Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for WEST 105 epoxy here: http://www.westsystem.com/webpages/userinfo/safety/MSDS105.pdf

MSDS for 205 hardener: http://www.westsystem.com/webpages/userinfo/safety/MSDS205.pdf

MSDS for acetone: http://www.bu.edu/es/labsafety/ESMSDSs/MSAcetone.html

Always play safe...

[JimConlin]

The hardener is water soluble, so a mop will do. It's the nasty stuff, so wear gloves and rinse well.
The resin or mixed product can be cleaned with acetone, vinegar or waterless handcleaner.

[Thorne]

Vinegar and gloves.

[Chan]

Figure out if it's resin or hardener, whichever it is mix in some of the opposite and let it cure, because of concretes[I assume your basement has a concrete floor]perpetual dustiness cured epoxy doesn't stick that well and will pop off with a putty knife.

[NuSKcalB]

Methyl Hydrate (also known as camp fuel) works well - It cleans up in ajiffy and evaporates very, very quickly. Does not smell as strongly as acetone but obviously, take note of the MSDS sheet requirements for handling/masks/ventilation etc.

NuS

[John Turpin]

A gallon of cheap vinegar should do it.

[Lewisboats]

Vinegar sure kills the cure but I have never had much luck with it removing the sticky stuff. I use acetone...but then I build outside or in an open garage so fumes arent so much of a concern. Make sure you use gloves as acetone acts as a transdermal agent...seeping into the skin and carrying any other nasties with it.

[John Bell]

Vinegar only reacts with the amines in hardener, thus killing any curing properties of mixed resin. Vinegar is an acid, the amines are bases. Dilute acetic acid (vinegar) won't have much effect on uncured resin. For that you need a solvent to dissolve it or a surfactant to emulsify it.

Acetone is a great solvent. Waterless hand cleaner has a mixture of solvents and surfactants. Either will work.

[JimConlin]

Lifted from the West System website
for #105 resin : http://www.westsystem.com/webpages/userinfo/safety/MSDS105.pdf
SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES Soak up in absorbent material or scrape up. Residual can be removed with nonflammable
solvent, but solvent should be used sparingly and with appropriate precautions.

and for #205 hardener from http://www.westsystem.com/webpages/userinfo/safety/MSDS205.pdf
SPILL OR LEAK PROCEDURES:....................... Stop leak without additional risk. Wear proper personal
protective equipment. Dike and contain spill. Ventilate area. Large spill - dike and pump into appropriate
container for recovery. Small spill - dilute with water and recover or use inert, non-combustible absorbent
material (e.g., sand) and shovel into suitable container. Do not use sawdust, wood chips or other cellulosic
materials to absorb the spill, as the possibility for spontaneous combustion exists. Wash spill residue with
warm, soapy water if necessary.