Bestine - Questions About

It seems to be recommended that 3D printed items be cleaned with Bestine prior to painting. Never having used this before, I have the following questions.

May the Bestine be poured into any convenient container or does it have to be something special (metal/plastic/glass)?

After using the Bestine, can the remainder be poured back into the can, or does it have to be disposed of due to contamination?

Any special disposal requirements, or can it be poured down the drain or dumped in the back yard?

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks

Maxman

It’s basically hexane (non-polar solvent) so it can’t really be disposed of down the drain. Here’s an MSDS sheet on it:

http://archpdfs.lps.org/Chemicals/Solvent-and-Thinner_Bestine.pdf

A glass or metal container would work well for storage or disposal. Nalgene is also good but is more expensive.

Tom

Is there anything less toxic to use for this purpose?

Just took a look. Under the disposal section it says Bestine is not classified as a hazardous waste.

That’s because the EPA says a hazardous waste must be a solid.

NIOSH: The recommended airborne exposure limit is 85ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 440ppm, not to be exceeded during any 15 minute work period

You can’t smell it until 230 ppm

Toxic to aquatic life.

It has a very low flash point 27 F. Another reason not to pour it down the drain, as it will float on top the water.

According to what I found in your link labeled “hazardous waste”, hazardous

Sir, you are correct. They state a gas or a liquid can be a solid. I took chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry and this is the first I’m hearing of this. [^o)]

If I had a well, I wouldn’t be dumping heptane on the ground.

After reading the safety data sheet for heptane, I would not want to have that stuff in my home. It´s highly flammable, skin irritating, aqua-toxic, and can be fatal when swallowed or inhaled.

No, thank you!

So, okay, it is bad poo.

Can what I don’t use (basically the items get a bath in it) be put back into the can with out contaminating/diluting the original stuff?

Alternately, what can be used in its place?

Maxman,

If the bestine is removing contaminants prior to painting and those contaminants would affect the quality of your paint job (particles, uncured paint, etc.) then I would be hesitant to the possibility of re-introducing them to the surface of your 3D-printed part using pre-used solvent.

Tom

bestine is a solvent, and must be treated as such …

the ‘oily’ residue on the parts is a wax, not an oil …

an alternative [safer] is non acetone nail polish remover, still a solvent , but much milder