Getting mek

[llacy]

We are in the process of rebuilding a Piper PA12 and a Piper Colt. About two years ago I bought a 55 gal drum of MEK that cost $15 per gallon less than at the local hardware store. Now we are finding out you almost can't buy MEK for any price. It seems you have to have a background check from the Drug Enforcement Agency. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do?
Lou Lacy
loulacy@gmail.com

[CarlOrton]

Hi, Lou;

Don't know about 55 gal qty's, but Lowes still has it in 1 gal cans. No background check required, either. You might want to pay cash, though, if you go that route; they'll trace your credit card expenditures to the products and think bad things about you.

[tonycondon]

not here, Lowe's and other hardware stores now seem to only sell "MEK Substitute". I don't know the difference but it seems to work just as well as the real stuff and has a less offensive odor, although a respirator is still a good idea.

[steveinindy]

Thank you meth cookers. We have a similar issue here to what Tony described. Apparently MEK is commonly used in making meth so they've put controls on its sale much like they did with pseudoephedrine.

[Treetop_Flyer]

MEK is used a fair amount in the composites industry. You might try http://www.compositesone.com/ and see if a local distributor can source some for you.

[martymayes]

Regardless of how you get it be prepared to pay. A 55 gal drum is now ~$1150 or ~$21/gal.

[steveinindy]

Regardless of how you get it be prepared to pay. A 55 gal drum is now ~$1150 or ~$21/gal.

And how much of this is needed for an average composite build?

[prasmussen]

Have you tried the new All-Safe brand MEK? It’s part of the family of All-Safe products. The resin is so user friendly it has a picture of the owner’s kid bathing in it on the box. And the Part B is Atlanta tap water. A word of caution though, there is litigation pending. Seems we just can’t have pictures of kids in a tub any more. ;-)