I buy everything but the DeOxit in 5 gallon tanks for $20.Where are you finding it that cheap?
I'm used to seeing 1 gal containers for ~20 (denatured alcohol), and cheapest price on a 5 gal ~$43 FWIW, so a cheaper source/s would be extremely helpful. Could also use sources on cheaper IPA and maybe some MEK ($92 for 5 gal).
In general, ethanol is a better solvent than isopropanol, but not as good as methanol for some things. I wonder if the reason IPA seems to be used more in electronics has something to do with the solubility of rosin flux.
nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene
Sorry, I buy it from a small local store who's friends with the family. But yes, from home depot its usually $20 a gallon.
The plastics used for electronic parts are almost always "thermoset" types such as nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc. These are not affected by solvents much, if at all. Others like ABS and polystyrene however, are thermoplastic and will dissolve in the active solvents such as acetone, MEK, etc.
Methylene chloride is my solvent of last resort. Available by the gallon at plastic fabricator shops.
Methylene chloride is my solvent of last resort. Available by the gallon at plastic fabricator shops.
Methylene chloride (AKA Dichloromethane) is one I've never tried. What is it particularly good at as compared to the others? Does it for example dissolve something like epoxy quickly?
In looking it up, I came across this site which has properties of a very wide range of solvents (and apparently online ordering of same):
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistry/solvents/dichloromethane-center.html
Nothing dissolves epoxy (though fuming nitric acid burns it away pretty reasonably...along with everything else..), but DCM is one of the few solvents that softens it, IIRC.
Speaking of solvent welding, THF (tetrahydrofuran) is a primary constituent of PVC cement.
Oh, for something around IPA or acetone, but a little heavier, one could try ethyl acetate (typically a component of nail polish remover).
Tim
I can't get away from methanol. I used it for over twenty years when I had my electronics repair business. When I started in 1969 I bought it by the gallon at the local hardware store. By the time I sold out in 1992 we had to special order it from a lab supply for big $ (at least compared to the hardware store).
I've tried everything else since. The substitutes either don't do the job as well or they eat plastics. Now that I'm back into electronics (mostly as a hobby), I got myself a liter of it (through Amazon) and it works as well as I remember.
They say it doesn't take much of it to kill you but after all these years I'm still here. Probably isopropyl is the closest in results and it's much safer, but once you've used the real thing...
I have a litter of methanol for optics stuff, but I rarely use it out of fear it will absorb though my skin (really, its more of a laziness to get up and find a pair of gloves). Did you always use gloves?
In the US it was not until the 80s that restrictions began to be put on it. Before that all that was said about methanol was if you drank it you'd go blind or die. Now you practically need a hazmat suit to handle it. I would not suggest anyone not wear gloves when using it but if you're unhappy with your present cleaner of choice, it may be worth it to 'suit up' (or at least 'glove up') and give methanol a try. It's much gentler with plastics than ethanol and it cleans better than isopropyl.
I can't get away from methanol. I used it for over twenty years when I had my electronics repair business. When I started in 1969 I bought it by the gallon at the local hardware store. By the time I sold out in 1992 we had to special order it from a lab supply for big $ (at least compared to the hardware store).
I can't get away from methanol. I used it for over twenty years when I had my electronics repair business. When I started in 1969 I bought it by the gallon at the local hardware store. By the time I sold out in 1992 we had to special order it from a lab supply for big $ (at least compared to the hardware store).
Your comment got me wondering about methanol. I've been using "Denatured Alcohol" for a long time, and thought it was mostly methanol. I buy it from Home Depot by the gallon. Doesn't say on the can just what it is, but does say it contains methanol, so I thought it was mostly methanol. Just looked it up, and found that it's about 50% methanol, 50% ethanol and a little methyl isobutyl ketone.
As far as exposure, I've been soaked up to my elbows in this stuff many times over decades, with no known effects so far (other than temporarily very dry skin) - I'm extremely healthy, and no spring chicken. I just had a look at the MSDS, and it appears that acute exposure (like drinking the stuff) can kill you or cause blindness, but typical skin contact or inhalation is likely to only cause various temporary forms of irritation like nausea or headache.
I can't get away from methanol. I used it for over twenty years when I had my electronics repair business. When I started in 1969 I bought it by the gallon at the local hardware store. By the time I sold out in 1992 we had to special order it from a lab supply for big $ (at least compared to the hardware store).
Your comment got me wondering about methanol. I've been using "Denatured Alcohol" for a long time, and thought it was mostly methanol. I buy it from Home Depot by the gallon. Doesn't say on the can just what it is, but does say it contains methanol, so I thought it was mostly methanol. Just looked it up, and found that it's about 50% methanol, 50% ethanol and a little methyl isobutyl ketone.
As far as exposure, I've been soaked up to my elbows in this stuff many times over decades, with no known effects so far (other than temporarily very dry skin) - I'm extremely healthy, and no spring chicken. I just had a look at the MSDS, and it appears that acute exposure (like drinking the stuff) can kill you or cause blindness, but typical skin contact or inhalation is likely to only cause various temporary forms of irritation like nausea or headache.