denatured alcohol

Re: denatured alcohol

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The dye will be fine dissolved or diluted in anything called "denatured alcohol" (which might be anything from pure ethanol with a bit of something toxic to make it undrinkable to a near equal mix of methanol and ethanol). Available any place that sells paint.

You say it is "not cheap"? I would be curious to know what you hoped to pay for a quart of denatured alcohol.

Ditto for "95% ethanol" or "190 proof". Available in liquor store.

Rubbing alcohol is a mix of isopropanol and water. The dye might in fact dissolve or be diluted in this solvent. You will need to try it.

Whether a dye fades depends on its chemical structure. Your dye might or might not and a different color could fades entirely differently. The "premetallized " dyes are most fade resistant. Mineral pigment stains don't fade.

Well said Bill, plus a warning

Dick Coers

A lot of people think denatured alcohol is pretty harmless. But with the increasing amounts of methanol being added, denatured alcohol is now fairly toxic. The permanent damage comes from being directly injested, but vapors and direct skin contact won't do you any favors!

Methanol is extremely toxic to humans if ingested or if vapors are inhaled. Direct exposure to methanol should be avoided, as methanol can be harmful if swallowed, absorbed through the skin, or inhaled. Ingestion of as little as one to four ounces can cause irreversible injury to the nervous system, blindness or even death. Methanol can cause poisoning, systemic acidosis, optic nerve damage and central nervous system (CNS) effects. Methanol can also degrease the skin, which may cause dermatitis. Symptoms of acute methanol exposure may include headache, weakness, drowsiness, nausea, difficult breathing, drunkenness, eye irritation, blurred vision, loss of consciousness, and possibly death. Patients may improve and then get worse again up to 30 hours later.

Re: Well said Bill, plus a warning

Clint Searl

But if you strain the Sterno through a dirty handkerchief, it'll be OK to drink. So it says on the internet, anyway. Nyuk nyuk

A different warning

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Any solvent needs to be used in a well ventilated environment, as much for fire prevention as toxicity. While a brief snort of solvent might not get one over a toxic threshold this brief increase in concentration might get above the lower explosive limit.

Many kinds of solvent vapors sink where they can become concentrated enough to ignite with a spark source. Those experiencing low temperatures are also experiencing low humidity and static sparks. l

thanks for the info!!!