I have used spirit stain/dye for years now, and have had a supply of denatured alcohol, to thin and clean brushes with, now I'm getting low on it, and cant buy it because of the ban in California, what other thinner can I use thats safe to use in a confined space? I'm considering switching to water-soluble dye after reading the article on it from the latest magazine, but I like the alcohol based dye, it dries faster and it's already in a liquid state, any help is appreciated.
-
April 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn an Egg! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Kelly Shaw winner of the March 2025 Turning Challenge (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Ellen Starr for "Lotus Temple" being selected as Turning of the Week for 21 April, 2025 (click here for details) -
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
California's ban on denatured alcohol and Spirit stain.
- Thread starter Gary F Lawrence
- Start date
- Status
I have heard of guys ordering the denatured alcohol, delivered right to their door. However, makes me wonder, is it bad for our health?
EverClear 190 proof (95% alcohol) or any other neutral grain alcohol of an equal proof.
Denatured alcohol can be bad for your health if not used with appropriate PPE.
Denatured alcohol used to be predominately ethanol with around 5% of methanol and other denaturants. Now, most contain 50% or less ethanol and a mix of other (cheaper & more toxic) chemicals.
Denatured alcohol can be bad for your health if not used with appropriate PPE.
Denatured alcohol used to be predominately ethanol with around 5% of methanol and other denaturants. Now, most contain 50% or less ethanol and a mix of other (cheaper & more toxic) chemicals.
At least with Everclear - you have a "multi-purpose" material. Sure it can substitute fro de-natured alcohol. But it can also be employed as a "personality lubricant" in cocktails.....
Roger Wiegand
Beta Tester
Many states that have banned denatured alcohol for use as a solvent still permit the sale of "stove fuel", which turns out to be the same thing.
I believe CA also bans the sale of 190 proof Everclear, for reasons unrelated to pollution.
The composition of both "denatured alcohol" and "stove fuel" is not defined and differs among manufacturers and over time. For consistency on tasks more critical than washing out brushes, like dissolving shellac and using with alcohol-soluble dyes, I use what is now called Mohawk Shellac Reducer. More expensive (but cheaper than Everclear), and seems to have good properties for finishes. I've also used the Mohawk "Dye Stain Reducer" for dyes-- found several cans on closeout at Woodcraft. I don't know what its chemical composition is, but it works nicely.
I believe CA also bans the sale of 190 proof Everclear, for reasons unrelated to pollution.
The composition of both "denatured alcohol" and "stove fuel" is not defined and differs among manufacturers and over time. For consistency on tasks more critical than washing out brushes, like dissolving shellac and using with alcohol-soluble dyes, I use what is now called Mohawk Shellac Reducer. More expensive (but cheaper than Everclear), and seems to have good properties for finishes. I've also used the Mohawk "Dye Stain Reducer" for dyes-- found several cans on closeout at Woodcraft. I don't know what its chemical composition is, but it works nicely.
Stove fuel is also banned, the only mohawk dye stain reducer, or other reducers, are water based, do you know where to get water based dye? having trouble finding it.
Roger Wiegand
Beta Tester
TransTint dyes can be used with water. They would be my first choice for dyes in any event. I prefer alcohol, so would order the Mohawk Shellac Reducer which still appears to ship to CA (Amazon didn't object when I tried sending some to my brother in Richmond). If you use them with water be sure to raise the grain and sand prior to application, as you would with any other water-based dye or finish.
Target Coatings has a new line of water based pigment stains. Haven't tried them, but their other WB finishes have been pretty uniformly superior, so if I wanted a pigment stain I'd give them a try.
Target Coatings has a new line of water based pigment stains. Haven't tried them, but their other WB finishes have been pretty uniformly superior, so if I wanted a pigment stain I'd give them a try.
A trip to Oregon or Nevada is in order. They are banning pretty much anything useful in California.
What’s the highest proof alcohol you can buy? You might be able to buy some “molecular sieves“ on Amazon or EBay to absorb most of the water. Hopefully this will increase the proof enough for a wood finish.
https://www.amazon.com/Molecular-Sieve-Ounce-Bottle-Laboratory/dp/B0834JDNG9
https://www.amazon.com/Molecular-Sieve-Ounce-Bottle-Laboratory/dp/B0834JDNG9
So you're saying that this stuff will absorb the water in alcohol. Like isopropyl alcohol that I can use to thin dye stain?
Hydrogen and Oxygen can very dangerous to work with it won't be long before H2O is banned.
Yes, but you might also try looking for some pharmaceutical grade ethanol or IPA to see if that’s allowed in CA.
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2005
- Messages
- 13,092
- Likes
- 5,551
- Location
- Dalworthington Gardens, TX
- Website
- pbase.com
This thread is locked because a couple of you "gentlemen" seem to have forgotten our very easy-to-understand rule about civil behavior. And, you don't reply in kind to uncivil behavior. You report it so that Emiliano and I can clean up the mess. I deleted a number of posts and unfortunately, some posts by innocent bystanders were also deleted.
- Status