I know this has been discussed and I did some forum searching and came up with a few things but wanted to ask ONCE more: Which is better for cleaning wheels, etc, denatured or isopropyl? I am planning a cleaning session and was wondering what the majority use and with what results. Thanks, J1
They both will do the trick but I think the denatured has been recommended more so.
I no longer use either.
Chuck said it. Doesn’t matter. Both are equally effective.
Meant to include, if the wheels are painted, the denatured will strip the paint off faster than the iso.
I use ethyl-alocohol. I once heard a large scale guy say that either denatured or isopropyl actually formed a thin layer of film on his rails which acted as an insulator, didnt see it though. I just avoided it, behinind every rumor is some amount of fact.
Chuck, what do you use in its place, if anything?
Ok, what’s the best for stripping paint of cars, and what’s the best for diluting paint for airbrushing?
I use 91% rubbing alcohol to strip Athearn cars. And denatured alcohol when airbrushing acrylics, but not in acrylic washes. My washes use 70% rubbing alcohol.
sorry to bring up a old topic guys, but does anybody know if denatured alcohol is avaiable in Canada? I for the life of me cant find it anywhere? could it be under another name?
Thanks
Jeremy
Jeremy,
Stop by your local pharmacy. It should be out on the floor somewhere. If you can’t find it, ask the pharmacist. He may have it behind the counter for some reason.
I would think it would be called one or the other - even in Canada. It also comes in 70% and 91% solutions.
Hope that helps…
Tom
cheers Tom
But I thought only Isopropyl is avaiable at the pharmacy? denatured should be there too though??[:)]
nsl:
The only way this could happen is with rubbing alcohols that contain some glycerin as a skin conditioner. Look at the label. I don’t think many do.
Neither denatured alcohol (ethanol with small percentages of other solvents added to make it poisonous and nondrinkable) nor isopropyl alcohol are able to leave a film of any sort. They are solvents. They evaporate.
However, if you use them on track with dirty spots, spreading the dirt around, and don’t keep wiping until it’s gone, you might well leave a thin film of dirt with any solvent.
I use isopropyl alcohol and never have any problems.
Sorry, Jeremy. Yes, what I stated before would be true for Isopropyl alcohol. You should be able to find denatured alcohol from your local home improvement store (Home Depot, Lowe’s, DIY) or hardware store. Comes in both qt. and gal. cans.
Tom
no prob :). I have checked those stores and a dozen more, I dont think its avaiable here in Canada, maybe under another name?
Jeremy
Well here’s a dumb question. What’s the difference between denatured and isopropyl?
Jeremy,
Try looking for Ethanol. Also SLX or synesol? (Not familiar with those names - See link). Are you sure you didn’t post the question as Tom H? [(-D]
Loathar,
Check out the same link above. There’s a section called Denatured Alcohol 101 and Denatured Alcohol that should answer your question.
Tom
hehhe, no thats not me,lol. I will check out that link though 
Jeremy
Ahhh…Moonshine that tastes bad![:P]
Alcohols are carbon chain compounds, with one of the hydrogen atoms on the simple chain replaced with a hydroxyl (oxygen-hydrogen) radical.
The simplest alcohol, methanol, consists of 1 carbon atom, 3 hydrogen atoms and one of those hydroxyl thingys. It’s abbreviated CH3OH, where the 3 would be subscripted if I could figure out how to do that.
The next up is ethanol, 2 carbons, 5 hydrogens and a hydroxyl radical, C2H5OH. Then comes the propyl alcohols. Because you’ve got more atoms, you can arrange them differently, even with exactly the same numbers of each. These different forms are called isomers. One of them is isopropyl alchohol.
The one we drink is ethanol. Denatured alcohol is mostly ethanol, but with extra rotten tasting stuff added so that people won’t buy it real cheap at the drug store and drink it.
Oh, if I got any of this wrong, please forgive me. I’m a physicist, but this stuff is organic chem, and I haven’t done that since the 1960’s.
Typically denatured is ethanol, with something added to poison it, like wood alcohol, so you can’t drink it. Otherwise, it would be taxed.
Isopropyl is made from water and propylene. Commonly used for rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol often contains glycerine as a lubricant.
One source is chemical supply houses, but that can be expensive, particularly if you plan to use it for cleaning, etc., and not for lab type uses.
Hardware stores may also have it, as it may have application as a solvent for some paints and varnishes.
Your chemistry is spot on.
Wayne