Is Iso Propanol Alcohol (IPA) the same as the regular rubbing alcohol we buy at the pharmacy?
Hisham
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Iso Propanol Alcohol??
Hisham
Joined: July 23, 2004
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 01:51 PM UTC
Doodeck
Joined: August 15, 2014
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 02:01 PM UTC
Hi Hisham,
in short, isopropyl alcohol is "pure" and stronger alcohol, with the percentage of alcohol in solution above 91%.
Rubbing alcohol is usually 70% alcohol.
in short, isopropyl alcohol is "pure" and stronger alcohol, with the percentage of alcohol in solution above 91%.
Rubbing alcohol is usually 70% alcohol.
Hisham
Joined: July 23, 2004
KitMaker: 6,856 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 02:04 PM UTC
Thanks for the explanation!
Hisham
Hisham
SdAufKla
Joined: May 07, 2010
KitMaker: 2,238 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 08:00 PM UTC
To Sasa's information, I would add that "rubbing" alcohols often contain some amount of lanolin or other emollients to help prevent the skin from drying out when they are used. IPA is a "pure" solution that does not contain (usually) these types of additives.
These same kinds of skin moisturizers are also usually additives in fingernail polish removers along with various colored dyes. This is why ordinary lacquer thinners should be used instead of fingernail polish remover to thin paints.
These additives in rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover (and, BTW, window-glass cleaners) can contaminate the paints they are used to thin and weaken the paint bonds with the model surfaces.
These same kinds of skin moisturizers are also usually additives in fingernail polish removers along with various colored dyes. This is why ordinary lacquer thinners should be used instead of fingernail polish remover to thin paints.
These additives in rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover (and, BTW, window-glass cleaners) can contaminate the paints they are used to thin and weaken the paint bonds with the model surfaces.
spoons
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 527 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 08:22 PM UTC
Quoted Text
But experiment is key when sourcing a replacement thinners,i use window washer fluid with tamiya and have had no problems.These additives in rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover (and, BTW, window-glass cleaners) can contaminate the paints they are used to thin and weaken the paint bonds with the model surfaces.
retiredyank
Joined: June 29, 2009
KitMaker: 11,610 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 08:24 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextBut experiment is key when sourcing a replacement thinners,i use window washer fluid with tamiya and have had no problems.These additives in rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover (and, BTW, window-glass cleaners) can contaminate the paints they are used to thin and weaken the paint bonds with the model surfaces.
Otherwise known as thinning.
SdAufKla
Joined: May 07, 2010
KitMaker: 2,238 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 08:30 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextBut experiment is key when sourcing a replacement thinners,i use window washer fluid with tamiya and have had no problems.These additives in rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover (and, BTW, window-glass cleaners) can contaminate the paints they are used to thin and weaken the paint bonds with the model surfaces.
Otherwise known as thinning.
Most professional painters actually call it "reducing" and not "thinning," but, hey, we all know what we're talking about here...
ahandykindaguy
Joined: August 20, 2008
KitMaker: 1,295 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 09:35 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextQuoted TextQuoted TextBut experiment is key when sourcing a replacement thinners,i use window washer fluid with tamiya and have had no problems.These additives in rubbing alcohol, fingernail polish remover (and, BTW, window-glass cleaners) can contaminate the paints they are used to thin and weaken the paint bonds with the model surfaces.
Otherwise known as thinning.
Most professional painters actually call it "reducing" and not "thinning," but, hey, we all know what we're talking about here...
agian Mike, you're slaying me....
BobSolo
Joined: August 30, 2014
KitMaker: 331 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 09:45 PM UTC
Ive got some at 99.9 and its strong stuff, if i use a lot i have to use it outdoors or id pass out. I use gloves and wear eye protection too. Ive yet to test just how highly flammable it is.. just in case i blow my eyebrows off
Doodeck
Joined: August 15, 2014
KitMaker: 155 posts
Armorama: 154 posts
Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 09:54 PM UTC
Ipa is the only thing that managed to remove Vallejo primer and paint when I screwed up the job. But scrubbing the paint off without wearing gloves is NOT a good idea. Trust me. I had hands like lizard for a week after that
okievit
Joined: June 18, 2003
KitMaker: 225 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 10:04 PM UTC
Isopropanol, isopropyl alcohol, 2-propanol and propan-2-ol are all the same alcohol. It can generally be found at 70% or 90% in stores. Note: it is not the same as ethanol, which is what we normally call "alcohol", although it is in the same family of compounds.
Olaf
Olaf
Hisham
Joined: July 23, 2004
KitMaker: 6,856 posts
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Posted: Monday, December 01, 2014 - 11:41 PM UTC
The reason I asked is that I saw this video about this guy making his own acrylic thinner using 2/3 water.. 1/3 IPA.. 1 mil paint retarder.. and 1 mil something else I can't remember right now.. and he swears by it... BUT, I found out that pure alcohol is illegal here in Egypt, all I can get is regular rubbing alcohol at the pharmacy.. so the point is pretty much moot 
Hisham
Hisham
Armored76
Joined: September 30, 2013
KitMaker: 1,615 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 - 07:01 PM UTC
When I first heard of IPA, I simply walked in to the nearest pharmacy asking for it and they sold me a bottle of 125ml for something like 3 Euro. It was magical stuff in combination with both Revel Aqua and Vallejo! It was mixing excellently, went on just fine and was dry to the touch in vurtually seconds.
Then one day, the bottle was empty... I went into another pharmacy and asked for IPA. The lady then asked me if I want the 76% or 98% version. I had no clue as I never realized to that point that there is more than one kind so I bought the "stronger, 98% version. The 250ml bottle was just above 2 Euro...which was nice.
Once home, I started using the new bottle just like I did before... Bhaaammm!!! The Vallejo paint was all cloging up in the airbrush, filling all the nozzles and stuff... Happy as one can be, I was about to ditch the whole bottle. Luckly, I compared the "strength" to that of the initial bottle and it turns out, the old, working version only had 76%. What I do ever since is mix in a separate bottle a 50-50 mix of tap water and 96% alcohol... Happyly modelling ever since!
Just my two cents!
Cristian
Then one day, the bottle was empty... I went into another pharmacy and asked for IPA. The lady then asked me if I want the 76% or 98% version. I had no clue as I never realized to that point that there is more than one kind so I bought the "stronger, 98% version. The 250ml bottle was just above 2 Euro...which was nice.
Once home, I started using the new bottle just like I did before... Bhaaammm!!! The Vallejo paint was all cloging up in the airbrush, filling all the nozzles and stuff... Happy as one can be, I was about to ditch the whole bottle. Luckly, I compared the "strength" to that of the initial bottle and it turns out, the old, working version only had 76%. What I do ever since is mix in a separate bottle a 50-50 mix of tap water and 96% alcohol... Happyly modelling ever since!
Just my two cents!
Cristian
mag135
Joined: July 08, 2006
KitMaker: 146 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 - 07:23 PM UTC
I never heard of isopropanol sold on pharmacies. Only ethanol. Isopropilic alcohol is usually sold in chemist shops...and is poisonous.
BobSolo
Joined: August 30, 2014
KitMaker: 331 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 - 11:46 PM UTC
APC PURE in the UK sell 99.9 on Ebay: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/APC-PURE/Isopropanol-/_i.html?_fsub=3754197011
RGasper85
Joined: November 21, 2014
KitMaker: 20 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 07:12 AM UTC
What's the difference between Iso alcohol and denatured alcohol? Could I use denatured alcohol to thin Vallejo or to clean my airbrush after painting?
brentwal
Joined: February 06, 2010
KitMaker: 100 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 09:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
What's the difference between Iso alcohol and denatured alcohol? Could I use denatured alcohol to thin Vallejo or to clean my airbrush after painting?
NO. it's ethanol with a bunch of additives. It should only be used to thin/reduce shellacs or a cleaner/solvent. The additives are actually there to make it poisonous.
mag135
Joined: July 08, 2006
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 128 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 - 12:00 PM UTC
Quoted Text
APC PURE in the UK sell 99.9 on Ebay: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/APC-PURE/Isopropanol-/_i.html?_fsub=3754197011
wow...in Spain about 20/L
edmund
Joined: November 10, 2014
KitMaker: 668 posts
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Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 12:55 AM UTC
Quoted Text
. Would it be OK to use this to clean the airbrush ?Quoted TextWhat's the difference between Iso alcohol and denatured alcohol? Could I use denatured alcohol to thin Vallejo or to clean my airbrush after painting?
NO. it's ethanol with a bunch of additives. It should only be used to thin/reduce shellacs or a cleaner/solvent. The additives are actually there to make it poisonous.
brentwal
Joined: February 06, 2010
KitMaker: 100 posts
Armorama: 73 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 01:39 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text. Would it be OK to use this to clean the airbrush ?Quoted TextWhat's the difference between Iso alcohol and denatured alcohol? Could I use denatured alcohol to thin Vallejo or to clean my airbrush after painting?
NO. it's ethanol with a bunch of additives. It should only be used to thin/reduce shellacs or a cleaner/solvent. The additives are actually there to make it poisonous.
Yes, it's a good cleaner/solvent. I use it a lot to clean plugged rattle can nozzles and the ABs.
edmund
Joined: November 10, 2014
KitMaker: 668 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 04, 2014 - 01:59 AM UTC
It's pretty cheap at the local DIY store and you can get it at the gallon size .
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