Around 90% of methylated spirits are ethanol; so it’s incredibly strong. The main additive is 10% methanol, which is highly toxic, but it may also include isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, or other substances. These substances are added specifically to deter people from drinking it. Without it, you can imagine the social implications of having such cheap hooch readily available to all ages. The difference between the two alcohols is ethanol is made from grains, fruits, and vegetables, and methanol is usually from wood stock.
SOME USES OF METHYLATED SPIRITS
- It’s great as a glass cleaner! If you’re going to use it in hot conditions, dilute it with water.
- In fuel stoves – methylated spirits burns very cleanly; a little too cleanly infact as it can be hard to see the flame.
- Methylated spirits can be used to remove ink stains from upholstery or clothes.
- Remove permanent marker from pvc plastics.
- As a solvent for thinning paint.
- For cleaning paint brushes as an alternative to fossil fuel based solvents.
- As a general metal cleaner.
- For removing stickers and sticker residue from car windscreens.
- To clean bike disc brakes.
- Cleaning electronics.
- Cleaning CD/DVD laser lenses (use a cotton bud/q- tip)
Here’s an interesting fact picked on Wikipedia; In the United States, small amounts of denatured alcohol are used in many consumer products – and not just cleaning items. It will be listed as “SD alcohol XX”, where SD stands for “specifically denatured” and XX is the formula used in the denaturing process.
The raw materials required for the production of methylated liquid is not that complicated and it can be gotten with ease.
CHEMICALS NEEDED
- 10 liters Ethanol
- Methy-violate (Optional)
- 4 liters distilled water
METHOD
- Pour ethanol into a container.
- Add distilled water.
- Mix properly and package in a bottle.
You can add few drops of the methy-violate to it if you like, it does not add or increase to the quality of the methylated liquid, what it does is to change the colour if added.
Note: Always spot test when using methylated spiritson fabrics and plastics and take particular care when using on lacquered surfaces. Avoid using on wood items.
WARNINGS! Do not attempt to drink methylated spirits. Methanol can cause blindness, brain damage and death. While some people do drink it regularly, they are usually severely impaired after a while and others have died after their first try. Drinking as little as 10 ml of methanol (two teaspoons) can cause blindness.
Also, note that white spirit is not methylated spirits. White spirit is derived from paraffin, a by-product of crude oil processing.
Leave us a comment!
