IPA versus IMS?

[Radio Fixer]

Can IPA be used to thin shellac rather than IMS?  Seems to me they are both 99% alcohol or so they claim.

Not going to use it for French Polishing but just as a sealer coat and to improve adhesion of glass paints.

thanks Gary

[ppppenguin]

IPA (isopropyl alchohol, formally propan-2-ol) is readily available. Or at least it should be since it was in huge demand for making hand sanitiser and prices shot up. IMS (industrial methylated spirit) is not legally available to individuals in the UK but some people may have it available informally through their work. IMS typically contains 90% ethanol, 5% methanol and 5% water. It's a constant boiling mixture which makes it almost impossible to distil to recover pure ethanol.

They are both short chain alchohols but not chemically identical. IPA is certainly used as a paint thinner. I think it's very like that IPA can be used to thin shellac. Try a small amount first.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol (rather US centred view)

[Kalee20]

I've tried soaking phenolic valve bases in IPA to clean them, before regluing back on to the parent valve.

The cement originally used is often shellac and wood flour. IPA doesn't seem to soften it, but meths does.

So, I'd suggest IMS will probably prove a superior solvent for shellac.

[Murphyv310]

Ken on here was a chemistry teacher so why not ask the expert.
In the old days I did the same with cellulose thinners..... It worked for me.

[Cleggy]

There is a well-known paint called Zinsser B-I-N, which is Shellac-based and referred as having very good adhesion. When ever I us it, I use methylated spirits (as supplied in 1 litre bottles by Wickes etc) to thin it and clean equipment (it is fast drying, so cleaning is a challenge). I think that's what it says on the can. Both industrial meths and domestic meths are primarily ethanol. I never tried to use IPA; probably not a good idea.

C

[Nick]

Zinsser paints are very good.

They also do excellent adverts...

https://youtu.be/8rz11cu-SBI

[Diabolical Artificer]

From your title i thought you we're after a recommendation/comparison of India Pale Ale & something like Inspector Morse Special. Not sure the last one exists, but it ought to. Would that they sold Old Navigation in bottles, black as treacle, that thick it needs scissors to cut it off at the tap, only sold in pub - The Albion in Loughborough, Leics, a reet drop of good. All of which is of no significance whatsoever to your OP.

Andy.

[Radio Fixer]

Thanks for the replies.
Never tried Old Navigation Andy but like you when someone says IPA I always think of beer first: sign of a misspent youth.

Gary

[BusyBee]

From your title i thought you we're after a recommendation/comparison of India Pale Ale & something like Inspector Morse Special. Not sure the last one exists, but it ought to.


Andy.

Now there is something with strength. An 'Inspector More Special' with 'Rebus' chaser would be a real liver killer.

Tracy

[Diabolical Artificer]

Ahhh, IPA, had my first pint of IPA on a school trip to see Shakespeare's house, or his Mum's gaff, not 100%, remember the chintzy wood frame houses, at least I think I did, can't imagine school teachers letting me go to the pub, but I have a distinct memory and it was the 70's.

Oho, a Rebus = pint of heavy, malt chaser and packet of peanuts or scampi fries, the Breakfast of Champions, had a few of them in pubs all over the land from spit and sawdust pubs in Heanor or Ilson, to a pub crawl on Portabello Rd & quite a few in Ma Murphy's in Bantry Co Cork, after a while I could understand the old lads down from the hills with their thick southern Irish accents. That'd set me on me arse now, used to be able to drink 14 pints of Special Brew with chaser's and walk home, albeit in a wobbly sort of diagonal weave. Hells teeth though, the morning after.....

Andy.