Alcohol banned in California?

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kbright

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I'm in California, just finished up the last drops of denatured alcohol from a gallon jug. Went to The Depot for another gallon and was told that denatured alcohol was banned last year in California. California also bans clear mineral spirits, and isopropyl alcohol (vodka) greater than 150 proof (75%). Acetone is currently still available. Drug store alcohol at 70% is still legal, but unavailable because it's used for hand sanitizer.
 
kbright said:
isopropyl alcohol (vodka) greater than 150 proof (75%).
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California is a weird place; but vodka is ethyl alcohol, not isopropyl... which creates the question what did they actually ban? Isopropyl alcohol above 75%, or ethyl alcohol over 75%? I'm assuming the latter, since there is a proof statement - which doesn't typically accompany isopropyl alcohol. If that's the case, they basically banned Everclear.
 
Yes, Denatured alcohol is illegal, in california, due to the toxic shit they put into it.

I use Isopropyl alcohol now
 
So where does methyl hydrate/wood alcohol fit into the equation here? That is what I have access to in Canada. 99.9%.
 
Are methylated spirits available there?

Go to a paint shop for cars and such and ask what they use and where they get it. Another place to ask would be a cabinet shop or a Woodcraft store.
 
Randydb said:
So where does methyl hydrate/wood alcohol fit into the equation here? That is what I have access to in Canada. 99.9%.
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Randy - methyl alcohol might work for degreasing “ok”, but not as well as ethyl alcohol (Its a chemistry reason). Acetone, if you can get it, is better than either- but the stuff is really volatile, so only use outside or if you have really good ventilation. Isopropyl alcohol works well, and should be available?
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Are methylated spirits available there?

Go to a paint shop for cars and such and ask what they use and where they get it. Another place to ask would be a cabinet shop or a Woodcraft store.
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Yes, 99.9% pur methyl alcohol. Can get it all over the place. Local hardware store, Home Depot just about anywhere I ask. 4 litre containers of it!
I basically came across it when I wanted to go from acetone to alcohol to clean blades before glue up of handles. Couldn't get the same things you had in the states.
Is methyl hydrate not so common there?
 
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Denatured (Ethanol/Methyl) alcohol from Home Depot is what I use. There are folks who will chime in saying it is toxic. That is mostly for drinking it, which can be fatal. Have good ventilation and don't wash your hands in it and you will be fine.

The "Denatured alcohol from Home Depot and all the other hardware stores that is low cost ($16 a gallon) is mostly methyl alcohol now. It used to be around 80% Ethanol , but with all the ethanol going into hand sanitizer the ratio is more like 80% methanol. It is fine for cleaning and as a solvent.
 
Just be careful about keeping it off your skin. Methanol can be absorbed directly through your skin.
 
Oh poo, I dun et loza timmmes an neeveer sau a pwoblemm.;)

Yes, wearing rubber gloves and not using it as a hand cleaner is wise.
 
The title of this thread threw me into panic mode, I need alcohol for boosting my self rational senses living here. This effing state bans everything, every product has a cancer sticker on it, literally. I really cannot figure out how people live past 50 here if they used all these known cancer products for 50 yrs. Alcohol and cigarettes will kill you faster than anything but they still sell in Ca. They banned plastic straws and bags, well, if you pay a tax you can get them just like cigarettes and alcohol. Ok, off my venting podium, back to knives. SORRY
 
We use to get email sale flyers from a western clothing store out of state. Had never done a bunch of business with them over the years, but some. Recently, the wife was looking over the sale flyer and there was a pair of Twisted X driving mocs in grey she had been searching high and low for. They only make the grey in men sizes not women's, so this place had a man's size 6 for sale which would work for her. She jumped on it and got the order all filled out and ready to pay and then it comes up on the screen they won't sell to California. Huh? Not like they're a Gunbroker dealer or anything, (many won't sell to CA as there is extra paperwork to do). They sell clothes! So I checked their hours as it was evening here and found out they were still open even though they are a couple of hours ahead of us. So I called and asked the nice lady that answered why they wouldn't sell to CA? She transferred me to the manager and he was pleasant and polite but stated it was their new company policy from the owner. The owner had decided that Ca was too sue happy and he didn't want to go through the bother of a lawsuit. I asked for a specific example of when selling a pair of Wranglers had given rise to a lawsuit. He was unable to provide an example but did go on that they were a private company and that was what the owner had decided to do. I asked to be removed from their email list, which he did and said I do respect their right to run their business as they see fit. There was some silence when I asked conversely if they wouldn't mind when I told my 30,000 followers on Instagram about this.

Now I never, ever, did do that, because I do respect their right to run their business how they wish. But dang!
 
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