Alcohol for French Polish in California

[Bill Hicklin]

I've used Everclear, which used to be legal here and which I can still get just over the state line. Never noticed any difference in process or result from hardware-store denatured, and even after decades of FP with the stuff I don't think I'm any more brain-damaged than I was before. And it's *much* cheaper.

[Beate Ritzert]

I spoke with a couple of people in the pharmaceutical industry and their thoughts were that the amount of denaturent in denatured alcohol was too small to create health effects from typical skin contact or inhalation. A thin pair of rubber gloves and good ventilation would further reduce the risk.

Denatured Ethanol (spirit) is being used regularly for french polishing and for violin lacquers. At least here in Germany where the use of pure Ethanol is also put under heavy restrictions.

[Bob Hammond]

I agree with Clay. So long as you don't drink it, the amount of methanol in hardware-store denatured alcohol is physiologically insignificant. But there are hazards with respect to breathing fumes and skin exposure that can and should be avoided. So buying Everclear is probably a waste of money and drinkable(!) ethanol. If you want to know what else might (and probably isn't) in denatured alcohol, then look up the manufacturer's MSDS sheet.