Thread: Where to get 100% denatured absolute alcohol

A reputable paint shop should be able to held you.
Sceneys is the brand on mine and it is labelled for french polishing

Many (or possibly most?) people use methylated spirits as a substitute.

Originally Posted by antiphile

Many (or possibly most?) people use methylated spirits as a substitute.

hi antiphile, in Neil Ellis' Polisher's Handbook, he strongly advises against using ordinary domestic methylated spirits, as it can contain up to 5 % water, and lots of other additives which do not permit a good finish.

He says that the best stuff to use is 100% IMS ( Industrial Methylated Spirits), which is what I am chasing.

Also found out that the white de-waxed shellac flakes have a poor shelf life, even weeks in a hot climate like NQ) and need to be kept refrigerated, whereas the liquid form has a shelf life of up to 18 months.

I tried to get the 500ml liquid form from Carbatec, but they wanted $70 for just postage. Also their flakes have gone out of the ballpark at $65 for a small bag. What is going on?

Found the best source and with reasonable prices to be Carrol's Woodcraft Supplies

Have checked out Ubeaut's prices. They sponsor this forum for us as well as having very hi quality products at good prices. Have a look at U-Beaut Polishes - WHITE SHELLAC

Cheers
Phil

Should have mentioned are the Ubeaut retail outlet for Neil - he referred me to them

As mentioned earlier by another person, try a paint shop. I get 20lt drums of it from them. They have to order it in but they new what I was talking about when asking for 100% IMS.

I asked this question years back. Here is the reply from Neil.




Industrial Methylated Spirits or 100% IMS sometimes sold as Ethanol all the same thing. !00% isn't pure alcohol it is denatured alcohol with no addition of water. 95% is a misnomer as it could have up to 20% or more of water in it. Ordinary everyday or no name stuff is as a rule bloody useless as it could have as much as 45% water in it. To be sold as metho it only has to be OP (Over Proof) which means it will burn when a match is put to it, around 55% ethanol (meths)

To find out if your metho has water in it put a little into a bottle or jar and add a little mineral turpentine, shove a lid on and shake the living daylights out of it and if it clouds up (even a little) it has been watered down. If it clouds up a lot then it has been watered down a lot and really isn't suitable for mixing with shellac.

White shellac is the ideal thing for carvings as it will not change the colour of the timber any more than wetting the wood with water. One weak coat (8 parts metho to 1 part shellac) will seal the timber and raise the grain from the sanding this can be sanded off after about half an hour then a second coat of half strength shellac leave it to dry and wax or better still buff with EEE Ultra Shine for a beautiful sheen that will not overpower the carving but instead will bring it to life.

As a woodcarver and finisher I should know. I've used this process on many carvings over the years and it is by far the best, easiest, fastest and most beautiful finish for woodcarvings. Below is one I prepared earlier.

Crappy picture but you'll get the idea.

One of 3 Coats of Arms I carved for the Supreme Courts in Melb roughly 3ft high x 3inches thick, Huon pine, finished with the above method. Still have a brilliant glow to them today.

Cheers - Neil

thanks schaf, this is quite valuable information

Hi Dengue," Paint Right" stores sell it here in 1 & 4 litre bottles straight off the shelf, don't know if they operate up there though.

The thread has pulled the old chemistry from years ago. Methalated Spirits is Methanol and poisonous. Ethanol is what we drink. Used in a lab years ago as a drying agent and had to sign customs slips and keep a log of its use. I would think it would very difficult to purchase Ethanol.

Originally Posted by Homeleigh

I would think it would very difficult to purchase Ethanol.

nah, it's quite easy

the hard part is separating it from the unleaded

Aldi were selling BIO_ETHANOL FUEL for one of their specials, an ethanol fuel burner. The MSDS said it was 100% ethanol. The burners were withdrawn from sale for safety reasons and I haven't seen the fuel for sale again.

Hi again schaff

I just tried you method of testing the purity of the metho I have in the shed. Nothing but the best for me!!

It's from Bunnings and is the Digger Brand. I didn't even have to shake it before it turned very cloudy. I could probably use it as a coffee whitener to have with my morning cigarette. But then again, something tells me that might be a bad idea.

Looks likeI'll be looking for IMS over the coming days. Thanks again

Phil

Thanks for the info about Paint Right, 3ts, much appreciated. Unfortunately Paint Right have Qld stores only at Cairns, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Ipswich & Paddington (Brisbane city). No shops in Townsville, and Cairns is a 5 hour drive