Is xylene a suitable substitute for toluene?

I am sanding down the last of the cornstarch + dope, glad it cuts quick.  Everywhere I used the lacquer thinner thinned dope it is falling off the plane with a touch.  The areas I used the aero gloss thinner the mixture is tight and crack free. 

I now have MEK, and can get xylene easily. 

I also have acetone, denatured alcohol, odorless mineral spirits, lacquer thinner, Coleman fuel, K1, and turpentine. 

I don't plan to try denatured alcohol, odorless mineral spirits, Coleman fuel, K1, or turpentine.  I would rather my attempts have good chances for success.

Phil

Xylene seems to work fine as a dope thinner.
Phil

I got the xylene at Lowes.  I was looking for toluene which is a more difficult chemical to get (I have not found it locally, but have not looked up the automotive paint stores).  Everything I read says if it is compatible with toluene then xylene will work fine, but the evaporation rate is slower with xylene.  I also found posts on RCG that stated toluene, and MEK would work, with MEK being a "faster" thinner than toluene, and that MEK encouraged blushing.  (I also got MEK at Lowes, but didn't try using any.)

I am using modern clear, and vintage blue (Pactra).  They both seem to thin and cure just fine with the xylene on board. 

The curdled, corn starch thickened clear I added the lacquer thinner to went to smooth and usable after adding xylene too.  That mess seemed to cure properly too.  I used it up and sanded it off already.  It was pretty dilute with maybe 1 part dope to 4 parts thinner, if that.   

From everything I have recently read the primary reason for a cocktail of thinners is to control evaporation rates.  There are other reasons such as certain thinners better separate solids, prevent or encourage cross linking, effect gloss, "blushing", and surface hardness, and more... but I didn't understand the chemistry in that article beyond if the finish is not as desired try a different thinner, or blend the compatible thinners.

Now I am almost out of colored dope and not done with the job.  I have two planes to paint before monocote, and only one is done.  The "formula U" I have is polyurethane and not dope.  I found even less information on that stuff, effectively none on thinning, if necessary. 

I may break down and order some dope.  Rustoleum is a choice still as these are planes for learning not show.

Phil

Thanks Steve.  These Pactra jars are so old that they lack the typical California warnings!  The labels are rather meaningless.

I ended up mixing the blue pactra aerogloss with the midwest aerogloss clear to get candy blue.  I added some MEK with excellent improvement of the brushing ability.

The candy is a rather awesome effect that is truly ruined by brushing.  The results look well enough for something to learn stunt on.  I might have to try doing candy with different paints at some point. 

Phil