No Pure turps
 

It seems the stores around here are going the way of California. Selling no harmful products. I have been using pure turps (gum turpentine ) for years. Making stains and paints up to now. Ran out to pick up more today. Mt supplier no longer carries the product. Not a big fan of the odorless thinner or (God forbid) the environmental thinner, white milk.
What have any of you found as a doable replacement for pure gum turps for mixing Helmsman spar varnish?

Funny I thought this thread was going to be about purple turnips
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Turps
 

I hate to say it but The big orange box store has it so does DO It Hardware and Rocky's.

Serwin williams usually stocks it
If your thinning the spar, I'm assuming that your prepping a surface for the the un cut coat. I have been using regular mineral spirits for years with no ill effects. If your sealing plugs mineral spirits has worked very well and a lot cheaper.
Making paints and stains for the most part are made with mineral spirits (usually listed in the cans' label. Again have made many oil stains this way with mineral spirits and all have performed well.

Ed

Ed is mineral spirits marked on can as such or paint thinner? It seems I couldnt find that also. The only one they had other than the enviro ones was odorless paint thinner. Stupid me I was in the orange store the other night and the thought didnt cross my mind.
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Turps
 

I don't like the odorless thinner... doesn't seem to work well in making various concoctions, although it is supposed to be more refined..probably just me

Mineral spirits is usually marked as such. "Do It" hardware stores sells the Sunnyside brand of thinners, from what I've seen. Pure turps, mineral spirits, Vm&P Naphtha (varnish makers & painters), are all readily available.
I've used Vm&P Naphtha to thin spar varnish frequently, but it does speed up the drying time depending on ambient temperature, it's more refined than Naphtha and has a very low flash point.

If i can be of any further help... sing out

Ed