16 May
2003
16 May
'03
1:51 p.m.
On Fri, 16 May 2003, Peter Turnbull wrote:
On May 16, 3:55, vance(a)neurotica.com wrote:
Kerosene, Stoddard solvent or Toner dispersant are about the same as
"White spirit" I like to use Toner dispersant since its really clean and
practically odorless (mostly pure isoparafine). Deodorised kerosene for camp
stoves is also good and pretty cheap...
I usually see isopropanol rather than methanol at
the pharmacist.
It may depend on the pharmacy, and methanol is more likely to be in the
back room than the front shelf. IPA is sold as "rubbing alcohol" in
the States, "methylated spirit" for a variety of purpose is commonly
available in the UK and most of Europe -- it's a mixture of ethanol and
methanol (plus dye). The point, however, is that methanol is a better
solvent for felt-tip and ballpoint pen inks than isopropanol is, and
that's what the original reference was about, IIRC.
For glue residue (incl. duct tape), though, what we call "white spirit"
or "turpentine substitute" (not to be confused with cellulose paint
thinner) in the UK, is better than any of the common alcohols.
None of the above will have any effect on most plastics, unlike
toluene, MEK, acetone, ..., all of which are solvents for many plastics
(in fact, for most non-waxy plastics, which leaves little but polythene
and PTFE).
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Peter Wallace