Alcohol: Which is best?

Alcohol will attack some of the insulative coatings Lionel used over the years. I'd guess the same would hold true for other brands.

I learned the hard way.

I wouldn't use alcohol on trains.

I use 100 percent mineral spirits.

91% or better isopropyl works great, has been recommended on other more sensative electronic devices  like audo/video tape players, dvd, cd players and discs etc.

 

Denatured alcohol works, but its far more toxic in nature and the noxious odor is horrible. I have a whole qt for free if anyone wants to come n get it. I don't like my train room smelling like an automotive paint shop.

My opinion, I sure would NOT use "mineral spirits" as it will leave a film on your track. If you are operating with conventional power, that film probably would be no problem, but it will play havoc with DCS and TMCC/Legacy.

 

I prefer denatured alcohol for track and pick-up roller cleaning. I also use lacquer thinner for track cleaning, as neither product leave a film on the top of the rails.

I have used good ole rubbing alcohol for years. It cleans and dries so fast it can't cause rust. Track cleaning fluids are good but the price keeps going up.

I prefer the 99% Isopropyl alcohol, but the 91% is all that's commonly available now, so that's what I use.  I also have denatured alcohol around, but after reading the MSDS for Isopropyl and denatured alcohol, the choice is clear, at least for me.

 

91% or better Isopropyl works fine. Have used denatured alcohol, but it will attack paint, is toxic, and has those great fumes. We save that for when we have to remove ballast for a track realignment.

I agree. Rubbing alcohol is cheap, effective and safe to use.

Personally I prefer:

 

Your taste may vary.

As for cleaning, for track I use IPA (isopropyl), for gunky motors and gearing mineral spirits.

 

Jerry

I use 91% isopropyl for cleaning and stripping paint. 70% for wetting ballast and scenery to break surface tension before adding the white glue.

  Naptha (lighter fluid) is a far superior solvent than alcohol, does not attack plastics or paint, and does not have a strong odor.  It evaporates quickly, and leaves no residue. I use it for all my cleaning and repairs, and have found it to be the best cleaner/degreaser to use.

 

Larry

I keep 91-2% on hand at all times for a number of things. Big bottle from Wally World.

DITTO

I was thinking of something more classy and train related. 

 

 

don't waste your money with 91%. After a few openings in its so hygroscopic, it more then likely becomes 70%.

Back in April 2013, when we were talking about track cleaning, I out this piece together about safety issues:

 

Ethyl alcohol is a hydroxide. It is metabolized by the liver (alcohol dehydrogenase) to acetaldehyde, a common metabolite. Those of us who ingest large amounts of alcohol can get gastritis or ulcers, but it is nowhere near the caustic injury of an inorganic hydroxide (A lot of it has to do with the wretching that also comes with it)

The alcohols all evaporate quickly at room temperature.....the track dries quickly.

Isopropyl alcohol ingestions are common. ( You can get really drunk and it's very cheap) There is no caustic mucosal burn. It is metabolized in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase to dimethyl ketone, which is acetone. It is basically eliminated from the body via the lungs. You can smell it easily. The danger in isopropyl alcohol ingestion is respiratory depression. You worry about aspiration and respiratory failure. Close monitoring of the airway and supportive are is the general treatment.

Denatured alcohol. Stay away from it except under very controlled conditions. Keep it locked and away from children. (My advice: don't have it around) It is rendered poisonous by the addition of methyl alcohol. Methanol enters the liver and uses alcohol dehydrogenase to internally form formic acid and formaldehyde. Metabolism is then poisoned throughout the body. The treatment is extracorporeal removal with dialysis.

Methanol and isopropyl alcohol are sometimes ingested by a desparate individual. They make you drunk. But the consequences can be dire. (Anti freeze, ethylene glycol is handled like methanol).

I believe that one can continue to use isopropyl alcohol safely to clean your track.

Kleen Strip S-L-X is an ~50-50 mix of ethyl and methyl alcohol.  sorry to tell you guys that anything over 90% will shortly become 90% (and less) with any exposure to air.

 

i'm well aware that methyl (wood) alcohol is poisonous.  i don't really lock it away, though.  i always have some beer handy if i ever did want to drink alcohol at home.

 

it's exceptional as live steam fuel.

And it is always real handy for use in the  flame thrower. 

 

 

 

You've seen the rest - now try the best! Cleans those rusty rails and unwanted brain cells.

 

 

I prefer the following alcohol:

Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey and Ginger Ale

Anchor Draft Steam Beer

1997 Heitz Martha's Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Matt

When I worked at a post production facility in the 70's, we owned an Ampex slow motion recorder/player which we rented out to CBS Sports.  It was big and heavy, and used two 18" shiny metal memory discs.  We cleaned it with grain alcohol.

 

 On another note, several years ago, in my woodshop I made a wood door with colored thin plastic panels.  When I was cleaning stain off the panels with mineral spirits, after a few minutes, all the panels started to crack into pieces, and eventually fell out.  Must have been some sort of unusual plastic.  

I agree with Larry...Naptha. It's also great for cleaning guitar surfaces (if your into that) Naptha won't harm lacquer surfaces, leaves no residue and dries quickly!

What about Witch Hazel?  It dries very fast.

If I may, I'd like to shift the emphasis to track cleaning.  Goo-gone on roller-operated cleaning cars seems to be the recommended approach.... Other ideas?

 

Just my opinion and experiences, but Goo Gone is the LAST stuff I would use to clean track with. It leaves a film, and also tends to destroy traction tires.

This has an astringent added in addition to the primary ingredient, which is alcohol.  I wouldn't get that anywhere near electrical stuff, I have no idea what it might do.

 

Thx, Hot H2O....That's just what I've been suspecting.  What do you use?

Well, as I stated earlier in this thread, I prefer denatured alcohol and/or lacquer thinner. 

In a pinch, any will do!

 

Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker

I've found that a scotchbrite followed by a paper towel will clean my track just fine, no solvent needed.

I rigged a pair of gondolas into Dennis' cleaning cars, front is scotchbrite, 2nd is paper towel. 2 or 3 laps and I'm done.No fuss, no muss

I do still want to make the dust buster car for the odd loose stuff that ends up in the track.

Naptha. It's also great for cleaning guitar surfaces (if your into that) Naptha won't harm lacquer surfaces, leaves no residue and dries quickly

Also will burn merrily...

I'll say it'll burn!  One spark is all you need!

Alcohol will burn just as readily with just one spark. The difference between an alcohol fire and a naptha fire is that alcohol will burn almost invisibly, and you may not know that alcohol is burning until surrounding objects (wood, plastic, paper, etc.) starts to burn. Ask anyone who fires a Gauge 1 live steam locomotive with alcohol about this. Naptha burns with a very visible flame.

 

Larry

It's a whole lot easier to get naphtha burning than Isopropyl Alcohol, I've tried both.

WOW, your right can't even see any flames

 

 

We're talking denatured alcohol here that we would use in cleaning our equipment, not the drinkable/cooking variety.

 

"Alcohol stoves are known for creating an almost invisible blue flame.  The flame's invisibility can result in injury or fire due to the incorrect belief that the flame is out.  A typical homemade alcohol stove is shown below in light and darkness.  The visibility of the blue flame is greatly reduced in the day light.  In some lighting conditions the blue flame is almost invisible."

 

Use whatever substance you are comfortable with to clean your trains. I use naptha for the reasons I have listed. Your mileage may vary.

 

Larry

Some good Tennessee Moon Shine.

When I joined the 3railers in 2010 they had been using denatured alcohol for over ten years with no equipment issues.  I know how good it works.  the key is to make sure you get it all removed from the track.  I have not replaced any rubber tires as of this posting and I run there every week 5 hours at a time.

Unless you follow the track cleaner pretty close, I'd imagine that any alcohol would be long gone by the time your locomotive comes along.

 

Isopropyl alcohol has a good visible flame. I you are worried about that sort of thing. Check out this video. http://youtu.be/Fx6ENYhYHgc