Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether has a high solvent power so it is used together with low-boiling solvents. Methyl cellosolve (methyl glycol) is employed with particular advantage in cellulose acetate and cellulose ether lacquers. Although it has a rather high boiling point, film formation is rapid owing to its relatively high evaporation rate. Methyl glycol is such a good solvent for nitrocellulose that it may be used in the production of very highly concentrated lacquer solution which dry and set within a comparatively short time. It can be used with advantage for regulating the evaporation time and the flow of cellulose ether lacquers, for this purpose it may be diluted to a large extent with toluene or ethanol. This product is also used in the aviation industry as fsii – dicing – anti-icing agent.

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether tends to absorb water readily and is therefore always mixed with apitol, methoxybutanol, or butanol, in order to prevent “blushing” of the lacquer film on drying. Cellulose lacquers containing methyl cellosolve (2-methoxy ethanol) are applied to stained wood, the solvent dissolves part of the stain out of the wood, giving slightly colored lacquer films.