Alcohol

K

KnuckleBuckett

New member
I have noted over and over in this foum that an isopropyl alcohol is used as a wipe down after polishing. I am guessing it is either pure isopropyl or isopropyl with deionized water as the balance? Isopropyl can leave hydrocarbons behind. Residue is minimal, but certainly detectable even visually on many surfaces.



I work in a laboratory and we use a 70/10 ethynol to deionized water (Desytol in Europe) for cleaning surfaces that need strong cleaning yet minimal to zero residue is acceptable.



Can anyone explain why isopropyl is the gold standard for detailing rather than ethynol?



Maybe I can learn something here.



:nixweiss
 
My logic would be that Isopropyl (I use 90%) has the ability to remove oils, helping to show if paint has/had any fillers on it.



Some of us are chemists, but most aren't, so the difference probably never came up within forum discussion. I can also say that Isopropyl is paint safe, which I can't say for ethanol.
 
Ethynol also easily and completely removes oils, greases, and carbon contaminants.



It is the same type of alcohol in drinking alcohol. We use it on 316 stainless steel and glass mostly. I will test it on painted surfaces.
 
I'm sure we're all willing to switch over if the benefits are there, but like MDRX8 asked, availability and price are going to be hard to beat when I can get rubbing alcohol anywhere for $1/bottle.
 
I used this approach to remove the old wax from my Corvette C5... In wiping down the car, it seemed to have softened the clear coat. After applying the wax / sealant...I noticed tons of hairline scratches all over the paint.



Had to have the entire car repolished...



If you are going to use alcohol, simple be careful.



I have read that many people as an option use Dawn Dish Washing Liquid
 
I would say that it was not the isp that caused any defects, it was the fillers in the previous products that were used that were removed with the isp, which is exactly what the purpose of the isp is used for.
oak3x said:
I used this approach to remove the old wax from my Corvette C5... In wiping down the car, it seemed to have softened the clear coat. After applying the wax / sealant...I noticed tons of hairline scratches all over the paint.



Had to have the entire car repolished...



If you are going to use alcohol, simple be careful.



I have read that many people as an option use Dawn Dish Washing Liquid
Click to expand...
 
KB, AFAIK you can't walk into a store and buy ethanol (unless you're in a liquor store buying grain alcohol), but every drug store etc. carries IPA. Sure IPA can leave residue detectable in a lab setting...but in the detailing application it's just not that critical.
 
MDRX8 said:
My guess is Isopropyl is more readily available....
Click to expand...
Bingo!





cjbigcog said:
Is denatured alcohol the same as IPA?
Click to expand...
No. Denatured alcohol is ethanol with something added to make it undrinkable.





Setec Astronomy said:
...AFAIK you can't walk into a store and buy ethanol (unless you're in a liquor store buying grain alcohol), ....
Click to expand...
True, not pure ethanol. But any hardware store or paint store will carry denatured alcohol, sometimes labeled as shellac thinner.





Setec Astronomy said:
...every drug store etc. carries IPA. Sure IPA can leave residue detectable in a lab setting...but in the detailing application it's just not that critical.
Click to expand...
Exactly.





PC.
 
I just dropped by Alberstons and they had both Ethanol and Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. The problem is that it says it was 70% by volume...what does this mean? 70% of the whole content is the alcohol or what?



I know there is a difference between % in weight and volume when speaking about waxes, but I forgot which was what.
 
Lately, I've been taking IPA and add distilled water to a 3oz mister to make it a 50/50 mixture and the add 1 big drop of ONR with an eye dropper. The ONR dilutes easily.



I figure that by adding the ONR it cleans the polishing residue just little bit better and adds some lubricity to help prevent marring.



I figure that there isn't enough ONR to leave much on the paint to cause any bonding issues.



I was trying to think of a way to make my own version of the Menzerna Top Inspection, which is way too expensive. $24.95 for 16oz.



I'm probably making each 3oz bottle for about maybe $0.30.
 
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