Official Luthiers Forum!

I often see naptha referred to in the forum, but seems to be a bit tricky to source locally in UK.
Would lighter fluid be useable, say to release a veneer from double sided tape (solid/radial rosette construction)?
Thanks in advance for any help.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Yep, it is the same thing as naphtha.

White gas, Coleman camping fuel. Do you have these ?
I could be wrong but I don't think lighter fluid is white gas. Sure doesn't smell like it.

Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Lighter fluid works fine for removing tape 'goo' - whether to release veneer or to clean residue from a finish (though I try to test finishes before hitting them with solvents...).
'Naptha' seems to be a pretty 'flexible' term- I'm not sure that white gas, naptha, coleman fuel, VM&P naptha and lighter fluid are all the same- at least in Canada.

Lighter fluid does come in a can with a convenient spout, so that's one advantage!

Cheers
John

Just remember to wear gloves when using it.
It's slow evaporation rate & the fact that it is a coal-tar product can cause
some health problems .
The more your in contact with it the more gets absorbed into your skin.
For your liver & other organs to clean out.

Mike

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Mike Collins

Good advice.
I keep boxes (nitrile and latex) of gloves handy, and use 'em.

Cheers
John

Thanks to all for your help, looks like lighter fluid is is.
Thanks very much for the safety tips as well, it's good to know what's required.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

here's a link: http://fuel.papo-art.com/ to a list of fuel names for various countries.

Naptha is called shellite, White gas, or Mobilite in Australia for example. All pretty much the same stuff though.

Don't know if it's true, but someone told me that camp stove fuel has an oily additive to prevent corrosion on the inside of the tank.
I'd like to know for sure, 'cause coleman stove fuel fuel is available everywhere. I have to order naptha from the nearest Mohawk distributor.

Winsor & Newton Artists White Spirit is labelled as Naptha on their data sheet (and on the bottle, I think).
Available from art shops around the UK.

Jon

Thanks - found Coleman's and Windsor and Newton product, both £5-6 a litres (1.7 pints or so) + P&P in UK.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.