methyl hydrate

zebra26

zebra26

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I don't think this is the same as denatured alchol but is this stuff any good for cleaning ie degreasing the inners of semi-auto shotguns. Not cosomoline.
 
zebra
It will work but not real well as it evaporates quickly. I prefer to use brake cleaner in the spray can, its quick and dries everything up. On gas pistons I use carb cleaner to get rid of the carbon.
 
This is to clean out a new semi auto shotty.
I was going to use the Remington action cleaner but you say the brake cleaner works just the same?
 
zebra26 said:
I don't think this is the same as denatured alchol
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It's pretty close, I think it just has more poisons added to it. I use denatured alcohol to dissolve and mix shellac, and methyl hydrate to clean up the brushes because it's cheaper.
 
Denatured alcool is ethylic alcool (the stuff in beer and wine and other delicious drinks!) that is denatured by adding some methylic alcool to it, making it unfit for drinking... Methylic alcool is also known as wood alcool and it attacks the optical nerve, rendering you blind if you drink it! Of course, my chemistry classes were a very long time ago, in a galaxy far far away so I may have some of that wrong!
 
Not sure on all of what shrapnel said, but methyl hydrate is methanol and water, and methanol can cause blindness by being absorbed though the skin. As gasline antifreeze, isopropyl achohol is a better product, both are available, read the labels to see what your buying. I wouldn't use either as a degreaser, brake cleaner all the way. Its safe for all finishes and doesn't harm rubber seals or O-rings, which could be an issue in a semi-auto shotgun. Methanol "eats" some forms of rubber.
 
zebra26 said:
I was going to use the Remington action cleaner but you say the brake cleaner works just the same?
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I'm sure that they're both isopropanol. I tried it, and the effect and smell were identical.

A $5 can of brake cleaner is twice the size of a $10 can of browning or rem action cleaner! It's all in the marketing.

All you're looking for is a potent solvent that will give you enough time to wipe/flush away the dirty oil/grease before it evaporates. It's great in that regard, because you can spray it on, give it a wipe, and it's all dry by the time you wipe a light coat of fresh oil on there. I use it for pretty much anything, if it's a really serious job I break out the MEK!
 
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I'd use it in a pinch, but its not the best. I'd also be fast to get some oil on it afterwards to prevent rust. Methanol is a nice mild solvent for removing dried latex paint off stuff. It takes a little while, but its mild enough not to soften plastics and ruin other hardened finishes. I know your not supposed to drink it as its poison, but I wasn't aware that it was particularly toxic to the skin. Isopropyl sure isnt, after all, its whats called rubbing alcohol. Its an ok solvent as it evaporates fast. Another good solvent is ronson's lighter fluid. Very good for degreasing intricate parts like triggers and camera apertures.
 
Toluol .... a fast-drying solvent and an excellent degreaser ... stronger than mineral spirits/varsol and leaves no residue. Contains tolulene.

Yeah, yeah, it's a hazardous substance, but what, other than distilled water ( and it may be too ! ) isn't ??? :D

Available at Home Depot, Home Hardware, CTC etc.

( Works great for getting grease & oil spots off your clothes, too ! )
 
northern skies said:
I'm sure that they're both isopropanol. I tried it, and the effect and smell were identical.

A $5 can of brake cleaner is twice the size of a $10 can of browning or rem action cleaner! It's all in the marketing.

All you're looking for is a potent solvent that will give you enough time to wipe/flush away the dirty oil/grease before it evaporates. It's great in that regard, because you can spray it on, give it a wipe, and it's all dry by the time you wipe a light coat of fresh oil on there. I use it for pretty much anything, if it's a really serious job I break out the MEK!
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Several on the market for you...........Methylene Chloride - Varsol, Toulene, Xylene, Paint Thinner, Miniral Spirits............All of that I just said can be bought in small or large at home depot!
Methylene Chloride can be bought at industrial paints in langley!

Are solvents are either polar or non polar.........the lifting action will be equal from one to another - unless the #### is organic, Just let me know if you need any technical info..........I was going to be a chem engineer LOL!
 
Shrapnel said:
Denatured alcool is ethylic alcool (the stuff in beer and wine and other delicious drinks!) that is denatured by adding some methylic alcool to it, making it unfit for drinking... Methylic alcool is also known as wood alcool and it attacks the optical nerve, rendering you blind if you drink it! Of course, my chemistry classes were a very long time ago, in a galaxy far far away so I may have some of that wrong!
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Your right for the most part...........but its rather called ethyl and methyl no ic.
It indeed does cause blindess.......But is virtually harmless when in contact with your skin. Although vapours do harm you ( the ehtyl flavour )

Lots of old timers have gone blind when destilling their own brews, As the temp change from 100C to 110C can casue ethyl alcohol to evap or methyl alcohol.

any way.......dont drink any alcohol :p
 
perhaps I am the only chemist here; the only real error I see in the info here is a statement that methyl hydrate is methanol and water; not true. Methyl hydrate is simply an industrial or common name for methanol (which is also methyl alcohol or wood alcohol) Methyl hydrate does not imply any water content; it's just the name derived from the chemical structure because part of methanol's structure or formula is OH which is simalr to water which is HOH (another way to write H2O) Having said that, the alcohols do absorb water from the air; in the case of ethyl alcohol it will absorb until 5% water then stop.
It's true methanol is not a great all around solvent (not very good for petroleum stuff like oil/grease) but you will find it's better for certain things such as adhesive residues.
 
Methanol is too polar a solvent for most gun cleaning applications. Acetone would be a better choice, much less toxic than Mek or Methylene chloride and about the right polarity to dissolve pretty much anything gun related. For tough jobs mineral spirits followed by acetone.

my $0.02

Brian
 
For most of the solvents mentioned, be sure to have GOOD ventilation, or otherwise protect yourself from inhaling the vapors. Brake Cleaner is quite toxic, and the fumes from MEK, Acetone, Methanol and others are harmful as well. Regards, Eagleye.
 
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