Found out the hard way that paint thinner and rubber seals don't mix

Was stripping a door handle last week and used lacquer thinner on the gasket by accident. It dissolved into basically goo in about 30 seconds. Has anyone else found a cheap substitute that won't eat through seals?

3 comments

3 Comments

river_rivera4528d ago

Learned that one doing my own dishes - used to think goo gone was just spicy soap.

finley_harris528d agoMost Upvoted

Wait you SERIOUSLY thought goo gone was spicy soap? How did that even happen? Did you take a bite out of a bottle or something?

the_lisa27d ago

My 97 Ford Taurus had its window seals turn into sticky tar after I used acetone on them thinking it'd clean off some paint overspray. Took me three trips to the junkyard to find replacements that weren't cracked. Honestly, people act like mineral spirits or kerosene are the devil but I've been using those for years on old car parts with rubber gaskets and never had a problem. Lacquer thinner is just too aggressive for anything flexible. If you want cheap and safe, grab a bottle of WD-40. It's not glamorous but it'll break down paint without turning your seals into soup.