Denatured (ethanol)Alcohol vs Rubbing (Isopropyl) Alcohol

Just found my answer in another search. Also read the warnings on the possibility of flammability.

Thanks to anyone who would respond.

Either one works, I prefer isopropyl. It doesn't contain the noxious fumes, and is also much safer for skin contact.

Denatured alchohol has a very strong "chemical" odor very similar to automotive paint thinner, and gloves are recommended when using.

I tried some for about 1 minute and capped it back up, I now have a whole quart of the stuff that I don't need. I don't want my train room smelling like a body shop.

I have always used denatured with gloves. Cuts right through the grime.

Denatured is an alcohol paint solvent. It's toxic is swallowed which leads me to believe it's methanol as opposed to ethanol (grain-based). The fumes are strong and you should wear gloves. It will cut through a whole lot of gunk quickly, will strip the glue from your ballast and strip the paint of your track base. When we use it, we never pour it onto anything -- just a rag or track cleaning pad. We've used it to loosen and strip ballast from track realignments and soak Ross turnouts in it to remove any remaining ballast to re-use the them. Nasty stuff but it works.

Make sure the gloves you use aren't permeable to the stuff.  If it's methanol I'd say don't  use or only use with proper protection in a very well ventilated area.  From wikipedia on why you may want to avoid it:

 is metabolized to formic acid or formate salts, which is poisonous to the central nervous system, and may cause blindness, coma, and death.

I also use denatured alcohol on a moistened cotton rag, wrapped around a piece of 1X2" wood. Naturally, I don't drink it, as I prefer Maker's Mark!!!

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