Yes, but at one point in time not that long ago people used to clean their
hands with the stuff (guess thats why we live longer now). I am afraid to
find out what solvents and chemicals my father has in the garage these days.
Anyway the problem with computers is that the texture that makes markers and
sticky stuff so hard to clean off the plastic is easily damaged with
solvents and ruins the look of the part. MEK would actually disolve common
plastics (and has been used to do just that).
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe" <rigdonj(a)cfl.rr.com>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 11:28 AM
Subject: Re: Removing duct tape residue.
MEK has all but been banned in the US and is just
about impossible for an
individual to obtain. Besides it EATS plastic!
Joe
At 02:27 PM 5/16/03 -0400, you wrote:
>How many people keep something as nasty as MEK in their house?
>Generally if your trying to disolve something then pick a solvent in the
>same family as the ink is made out of. like disolves like is a general
rule.
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Peter Turnbull" <pete(a)dunnington.u-net.com>
>To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
>Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 1:49 PM
>Subject: Re: Removing duct tape residue.
>
>
>> On May 16, 3:55, vance(a)neurotica.com wrote:
>> > 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