Which is best for rod building tasks, denatured alcohol or rubbing alcohol? I've been using rubbing alcohol for glue cleanup and cleaning areas of the blank. thanks, mark

I use the rubbing all the time for clean up of glues

IF you clean a blank or anything where you will finish Clean Then scoff with a scoff pad then finish It can leave a film

Bill - willierods.com

Mark,
Rubbing alcohol is 70% pure alcohol.


Rubbing alcohol, USP / Surgical spirit, B.P. is a liquid prepared and used primarily for topical application. It is prepared from a special denatured alcohol solution and contains approximately 70 percent by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol (ethyl alcohol) or isopropyl alcohol (propan-2-ol).

However, denatured alcohol is essentially 100% alcohol:

[en.wikipedia.org]

For cleaning, denatured alcohol does a better job and does not leave the film that rubbing alcohol might.

Do not use rubbing alcohol in alcohol lamps since it will barely burn, compared to denatured alcohol.

Denatured alcohol burns with a colorless flame and does not smoke or leave any carbon behind as is the case with rubbing alcohol.

Go to any big box store into the paint store to pick up denatured alcohol. Also, never use rubbing alcohol as a thinner for certain substances that call for alcohol as a thinner. The non alcohol parts of rubbing alcohol make it very unsuitable as a thinner.

Be safe

Thanks guys! So i dont have to worry about denatured alcohol removing any gloss finish or color from a rod blank?

MAYBE
I have read some posts here that have said the blank was washed and the color came off

Just to be sure do a section where the handle will go

Bill - willierods.com

Roger,
Rubbing alcohol consists of a solution with isopropyl alcohol and water. I have seen it in three concentrations 70%, 91% and 99% isopropyl alcohol. These are aqueous solutions. Denatured alcohol is usually nearly 100% ethanol (or ethyl alcohol). There are small amounts of other substances added to prevent people from consuming the ethanol. These denaturing materials are required by federal law. If pure ethanol is sold,then federal taxes must be paid.

I just worry when people just use the term alcohol since that term is used to denote a very large number of compounds.

Mike Blomme

Amen Billy.

Billy is correct. I have had paint residue come off onto a rag using DNA. And, as said above, they are two different compounds. I think DNA is a less complicated and a "cleaner" solvent since it has no - or minimal - water.
Herb

Two different solvents, both have their place.

thank you...