Substitude for Bloxygen

rockler has it

Just use an air duster can and it will do the same thing.

Here is a site that lists several vendors:

http://www.bloxygen.com/purch.html

Lew

Greg,

Have you actually used the air duster trick???

-- Chris

Yes, and it seems to work pretty-well. Here’s some instructions:

Varnish Storage hint: Each time you use the can of finish, before capping, be sure to flush out the airspace in the can with Kensington Duster II, Dust-Off, or some similar product. Just make sure that the product contains no air (actually oxygen is the culprit). Most computer, office supply, and home supply stores carry aerosol cans of several different brands of compressed air duster. Make sure your can has the 5” tube for directing the gas into your can or bottle. To use, insert the tube in the valve, then insert the other end of the tube into the can (but not below the surface of the liquid), lean the lid on top and release a gentle stream of gas into the can to displace all of the air (a couple seconds generally does the trick). Slide the tube out of the can and immediately tighten the cap. By the way, don’t be surprised if the can tends to collapse on storage. The duster gas slowly dissolves in the varnish, creating a vacuum. But if no oxygen is present, the varnish will stay fluid for literally years. You might want to transfer the varnish to a glass bottle with a tightly fitting lid and flush well with duster for long term storage (glass obviously won’t collapse under the vacuum). When I open a new, large can of finish, I routinely pour most of it immediately into a glass bottle, flush, cap, and put away for storage. The rest of the can, just the amount I expect to use within a week or two, goes into a smaller glass bottle, which I flush and cap after each use.

Thanks teenagewoodworker, Greg Wurst and Lew. I am going to try the air duster. I still have some laying around in my office.

I am going on vacation for two weeks and I need to be sure I have Tung Oil when I come back.

We need to be sure to put the airduster away from kids, the stuff is deadly.

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

You can also add clean glass marbles (Hobby Lobby, Micheal’s etc.) to the reduce the headspace in the can. You can reuse them in the next can you open. Might have to try the air duster trick too though.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

What is the composition of air duster?

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I googled it, and this is what I came up with:

Only $2.99 a can – Any quantity

Item # 94203
Mfg # 94203
Price $4.99
Sale Price $2.99
You Save 40%
Qty

Order Information

Product Description
GUST Easy Duster, quickly blows dust, dirt, lint, hair, sand, sawdust, moisture and microscopic debris from hard-to-reach areas or delicate surfaces. GUST is like a portable air compressor you can hold in your hand.

When you Dust with GUST, you get a blast of extremely clean, filtered, moisture-free, high pressure gas that will not scratch or harm glass, optics, metals, plastics, rubber, or hardware when used as directed.

GUST is a time saving cleaning tool with a unique variable pressure trigger that lets you control the dusting pressure. Dust with GUST to clean keyboards, printers, computers, cameras, audio gear, miniblinds, plants, lamps, appliances, power tools, or anywhere dust collects in your home, garage, office, or business.

GUST contains 100% pure difluoroethane, a colorless, odorless, moisture-free, ozone-safe propellant that can produce pressure in excess of 70 psi.

BENEFITS:

� Contains 12 oz. of 100% pure difluoroethane.

� Blasting power exceeds 70 psi.

� Non-flammable, non-ozone depleting, and filtered to 0.2 microns.

http://www.southernhillscomputer.com/gueadu12.html

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

I’m frugal as well as rustic.

It seems silly to me buy gases to save finishing products.

I buy Tung Oil in volume, five gallons at a time.
I redistribute the TO in to more convenient sized containers.
Some are one gallon in size and some are about a single job or two in volume.
I use recycled containers that I get for free.

I also have some accordion pleated plastic containers that can be collapsed down to the size of the remaining contents.

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky

Argon is another great substitute.

Marbles or large nuts (the hardware kind, not yours or Tung nuts) work great to remove air, and are cheap.

-- - Real men read directions

The air duster seem to work for me.

Thanks you guys. And I am not nuts on nuts in my cans, stuff gets too heavy and awkward…

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

I’m wondering if “air duster” doesn’t always equal “air duster”.

I tried to preserve Waterlox and Gymseal with Miller-Stephenson air dusters with negative results. If some folks are having positive results, it means to me that different brands use different gasses.

On a side note, my local wine shop sells “Wine Preserver” for $8. I swear it’s Bloxygen. Same can, different label.

-- - Real men read directions

unless your climate is different, 100% pure tung oil won’t solidify. That’s one of the problems of using tung oil as a finish is that it takes days or weeks to dry and usually needs help from some type of drier.
The guy i buy my tung oil from buys it by the 55 gallon barrell and then sells it by the gallon to other people.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

Any good wine store will have that gas. It is used to take the oxigen out from an open bottle to avoid oxidation and ruining the wine.

-- Zipsss

Whenever I finish using varnish, paint or shellac, I press a piece of saran wrap down to the surface of remaining material. It keeps the air from contacting the stuff…less creative, but it works for me. -SST

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

Hi PaBull:

Are you talking about real tung oil or “tung oil finish”?

So called “tung oil finish” is usually diluted varnish and most often does not contain tung oil.
Tung oil finish will jell when exposed to air it is exposed to air because of the varnish.

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky

I am using the tung oil from Waterlox…

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

Waterlox makes a variety of finishing products that contain tung oil.

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky

You are saying this just “contains” some tung oil. ok, but all I was after is to keep it from jelling up. I like the product.

Sorry to mislead you here, DrGoodharp.

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

Waterlox makes great products.

The one you illustrated is about 3/4 solvent and the remaining 1/4 is a made up of tung oil and phenolic resins.
Its an oil and varnish mixture that is thinned with solvents.

This products is a great thin wiping oil-varnish mixture, much like so-called “Danish Oils”, which don’t contain Danes, pastries, or usually aren’t even made in Denmark. :)

Here’s a direct quote from Waterlox on how they recommend preventing jelling:

“Transfer unused Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish to smaller tightly
sealed jars or raise the level in the original container by adding clean
marbles or stones. This is to prevent the potential jelling of contents due
to air exposure within the can.”

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky

Thanks Dr. I read that. I was trying to get around having to transfer or adding marbles or stones. Somewhere I read the recommendation of using bloxygon.

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

Folks, I’m the Bloxygen guy. In 10+ years of sellling this product, I can only offer that the air duster option is NOT 100% as some have already found out and posted here. Difluoroethane (CAS #75-37-6) is NOT inert and does react with some finishes. Bloxygen uses pure Argon which is totally inert, heavy, and natural. If you have questions, see our website or contact me. I’m here to help. Nearly all vendors were out of Bloxygen this summer, but the product is now (and forever?) shipping on time. Stores should have it by the end of the week.

Steve

-- Use Bloxygen's gas to preserve finish leftovers in their original containers.

Wow, so here we go, who would have thought we would get THE bloxygen guy show up here…..

Thanks, BloxygenBoy, this sure gets rid of the marbles and stones!

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

Years ago I read somewhere that using the gas from a propane torch to replace the air in the can works, I have done this for a long time and it works well for me.
Smitty

In ten years of selling Bloxygen, I’ve heard it all. Propane (just like the air duster) is a reactive chemical. That’s why it burns. The pure Argon we use is completely inert. That means it will not react with ANY finish. We are selling this stuff for $9.95 a can which should last for about 50 to 75 uses in quarts. It should pay for itself by saving just 1/2 of one quart. It’s a good deal from a woodworker to woodworkers. Relative to marbles, stones, large bolts, etc…it really just makes a mess and tends to contaminate your finish. Give us a try, we guarantee you’ll be satisfied. Take care everyone!

-- Use Bloxygen's gas to preserve finish leftovers in their original containers.

Oh, by the way, we had one guy that preserved his dead pet possums. Really. No, I mean REALLY.

-- Use Bloxygen's gas to preserve finish leftovers in their original containers.