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Found out my favorite CLA solvent is just repackaged brake cleaner

Was reading a thread on a vintage camera forum last night and someone mentioned that 99% of the 'premium' naphtha-based lens cleaning solvents are just hardware store brake cleaner with a fancy label. Spent $18 on a tiny bottle last month when a $6 can from AutoZone would've done the same thing for ten cleanings. Has anyone else found a cheaper alternative that works just as well?
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2 Comments
noah_rivera57
Yeah acetone from the hardware store works just as well for most stuff and costs way less.
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uma_mitchell83
And honestly if you're doing anything with paints or coatings the hardware store stuff is usually the same chemical makeup anyway. I've been using the same gallon of Klean-Strip for like two years on random DIY jobs and it works perfect for cleaning brushes or thinning out old varnish. Just make sure you're in a well ventilated area or outside cause that stuff is nasty to breathe in. You can even use it to remove super glue or nail polish without spending extra on branded removers. Only time I'd buy the fancy stuff is if I needed a specific purity for something like electronics repair.
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