Denatured Alcohol - Is There An Alternative? - Delta Kits (2024)

Home The Wise Crack Newsletter Tech Tip: I Can’t Find Denatured Alcohol!

Delta Kits recommends that you clean your injector after every use with Denatured Alcohol. But Denatured Alcohol is no longer available in some states, in which case Isopropyl alcohol is a good second choice.

Is Isopropyl alcohol, or rubbing alcohol, the same as Denatured alcohol? Alcohol is an organic compound where a hydroxyl group is attached to a carbon atom and comes in many structures and forms.

Denatured alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol belong to two different alcohol groups. Both are solvents and effective cleaning agents but their structures, formulas and reactions are not the same.

Denatured Alcohol

Denatured alcohol (DA) is safe to use for the cleaning of most plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, nickel-plated, and anodized windshield repair injectors. DA evaporates quickly, so if possible, use only DA to clean Delta Kits windshield repair resin injectors.

DA is also safe to use when cleaning all of your other Delta Kits windshield repair equipment, including lights, bridge bases, injector seals, and of course injectors. But use DA with caution on labels, logos, and other printed products.

It is also a better choice than pure ethanol because it is considerably less expensive, and a better choice than Isopropyl alcohol which contains 10%-30% water and does not dry as quickly as DA.

DA is basically ethanol with one or more added chemicals to render in unfit for human consumption. While those chemicals vary, the typical DA that you find at your local hardware and paint stores has methyl alcohol (methanol) added. The primary alcohol used in alcoholic beverages is ethanol. DA is often a mixture of about 90% pure ethanol and 10% toxic denaturants.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Use isopropyl alcohol in most of the same applications as denatured alcohol. It is safe for cleaning plastics, metals, anodized windshield repair injectors; as well as all other Delta Kits windshield repair equipment. Use DA with caution on printed products, logos or labels.

Compared to DA, Isopropyl alcohol is a better cleaning agent especially for electronics, but it contains water, so it does not evaporate quite as quickly. Therefore, if you use Isopropyl alcohol to clean your Delta Kits injectors, be aware that additional dry time will be necessary between cleaning and reuse. That extra dry time is the only reason Delta Kits recommends DA over Isopropyl alcohol. Note: Blowing out the injector with compressed air after cleaning in either DA or Isopropyl alcohol significantly reduces dry time.

Isopropyl alcohol is isopropanol diluted with up to 30% water. The most common type available is 70% isopropanol. 90% is available but is sometimes hard to find.

Caution: As with any industrial cleaner or solvent, wear chemical resistant gloves and eyewear when using DA or Isopropyl alcohol.

Update from September 2009 article.

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Denatured Alcohol - Is There An Alternative? - Delta Kits (2024)

FAQs

Denatured Alcohol - Is There An Alternative? - Delta Kits? ›

Use isopropyl alcohol in most of the same applications as denatured alcohol. It is safe for cleaning plastics, metals, anodized windshield repair injectors; as well as all other Delta Kits windshield repair equipment.

What can I use as a substitute for denatured alcohol? ›

Although isopropyl alcohol is classified as a toxic substance, meaning that it's dangerous to consume and behaves as a mild skin irritant, it's generally safe to use. Unlike denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol has not had anything but water added to it.

What is the same as denatured alcohol? ›

Denatured alcohol, also known as methylated spirits, metho, or meths in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom; and denatured rectified spirit is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage its recreational consumption.

What is the best use for denatured alcohol? ›

One of the most common uses of denatured alcohol is as a cleaning agent. Denatured alcohol can remove dirt, grease, glue, wax, and other types of grime from a variety of hard surfaces, such as wood, glass, and plastic. Denatured alcohol can be utilized to fuel small camping stoves and oil heaters.

How to thin shellac without denatured alcohol? ›

Based on what I've read and my own experiments, I am confident we can dissolve shellac in methanol, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol just fine — as long as there is little water in solution, and the solids aren't allowed to settle and clump. When applied, methanol evaporates fastest and isopropyl slowest.

Is denatured alcohol just rubbing alcohol? ›

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and denatured alcohol are not the same. They share some similarities, but have different chemical structures and have different uses. They are similar in that they can NOT be consumed by humans. They are both toxic if ingested.

Is acetone a substitute for denatured alcohol? ›

While acetone is not the same as denatured alcohol, they are used in some of the same processes. Both solvents can be used in the production of plastics, cleaning, degreasing, and as an additive for fuel. While there is overlap some, there are industries or uses exclusive to either acetone or denatured alcohol.

Why was denatured alcohol banned in California? ›

Denatured alcohol can be bad for your health if not used with appropriate PPE. Denatured alcohol used to be predominately ethanol with around 5% of methanol and other denaturants. Now, most contain 50% or less ethanol and a mix of other (cheaper & more toxic) chemicals.

Which alcohol is known as denatured alcohol? ›

Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol which has been made unfit for drinking purpose by adding poisonous substance like metanol ,pyridine , copper sulphate , etc. Ethanol is an important chemicalo. It is supplied at concessional rates to industries . It is therfore, made unfit for drinking purposes to prevent its misuse.

Are denatured alcohol and mineral spirits the same thing? ›

The biggest difference between denatured alcohol and mineral spirits is their composition. Denatured alcohol is made from ethanol, which is derived from plants. On the other hand, mineral spirits are made from petroleum, a type of fossil fuel found underground.

What substance should be used for denaturation of alcohol? ›

As methanol is added to ethanol, the alcohol solution becomes poisonous, foul in smell, bad in taste and nauseating. - Methanol is the most widely used denaturant for alcohol.

Will denatured alcohol remove adhesive? ›

Another great adhesive remover is alcohol or denatured alcohol. Soak some dry paper towels in rubbing alcohol and then use them to dab until the sticker is fully saturated. After the sticker softens, use a plastic scraper or plastic card to remove the sticker.

Will denatured alcohol damage metal? ›

Like any other degreaser and nearly every solvent on the market, it's also effective at eliminating significant amounts of water. Metal parts and surfaces can be cleaned with denatured alcohol. It won't corrode the metal because it evaporates so quickly, but it will clean and sanitize it properly.

What can be used as a substitute for denatured alcohol? ›

Use isopropyl alcohol in most of the same applications as denatured alcohol.

Is everclear the same as denatured alcohol? ›

Everclear is also used as a household "food-grade" cleaner, disinfectant, or stove fuel alcohol because its fumes and odor are less offensive than isopropyl, rubbing, and denatured alcohol which are toxic to breathe or drink.

Can I use everclear for shellac? ›

Everclear, (less than 190 Proof) available in the states above IS NOT Recommend for use as a solvent for shellac.

Can I use isopropyl alcohol instead of denatured alcohol in a lamp? ›

You can also used isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol with an alcohol content of 90% or higher. Caution: A hazard exists whenever you are working around an open flame.

Is rubbing alcohol the same as isopropyl alcohol? ›

No – isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are not the same thing. Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol among other ingredients, such as water.

What fuel can be used in an alcohol stove? ›

You want either Crown Alcohol Stove Fuel, Klean Strip Green Denatured Alcohol or HEET (aka Yellow HEET). Anything else has a lower energy value and will take longer to boil water or cook your food for the same amount of fuel.

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