[Jewelry making - Article 00434] - Re: [Orchid] Denatured Alcohol

[Margaret Malm]

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Hi, Howard

>     The word "denatured" is not very specific.  I believe it means
>     that it refers to the fact that the alcohol is, or has been
>     rendered, poisonous, therefore not subject to tax as an alcoholic
>     beverage. (I don't remember the origin of my belief, so treat it
>     as a factoid) 

    This is correct. 

>     At one time, the shellac thinner I purchased at the hardware store
>     was methanol (wood alcohol, very poisonous)  

    It is also correct that Methanol is poisonous; you can absorb it
    through your skin in sufficient quantities to blind you! Yherefore
    you should avoid it! Even if it might give you a slightly better
    boric acid coating. 

>     However, how do you know that "denatured" at the pharmacy means
>     that the alcohol is really methanol?  

    You don't. And it almost surely is not, If you get it from a
    pharmacist it will be denatured ethanol (ethyl alcohol), and most
    definitely not the poisonous methanol (methyl alcohol).  If you get
    it at the hardware store, it could be all sorts of things. Probably
    has a different denaturant than the pharmacy type, but hopefully it
    will be ethanol.  But I would highly recommend checking the label! 

>     Like many other respondants to your question, I use the hardware
>     store stuff. One of these days, I plan to try out the methanol
>     that Rio Grande Jeweler's supply sells.  I think 5 gallons costs
>     about $50.00 

    Oh, please! I hope it is not methanol! (Have you possibly confused
    methanol and ethanol?) Again, I say -- it is poisonous; it can blind
    you!  Please think again! 

Margaret (the chemist)

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