Alcohol source

[leadhoarder]

What does everyone use for alcohol? I see lots of posts suggesting to use alcohol for cleaning. I do not use much of it but a year ago I needed some ISO alcohol for mixing with lanolin for reloading case lube and I had a hard time finding it and it was expensive. Granted this was when everyone was panicking looking for it for cleaning hands.

Is ISO recommended or is denatured a better choice when economy is considered?

 

[Terry Lightle]

I use denatured in my concoction,had a bunch from when I owned my traditional archery supply.

 

[hawkeye2]

91% Isopropyl, Walmart or any pharmacy. It should be back on the market by now.

 

[deermanok]

I don't use it for cleaning per se. I will dump some down the barrel to dissipate any water left in the barrel and breech. WD40 will do the same.

 

[mooman76]

$tree has 70%

 

[Phil Coffins]

I buy my Everclear at North Star Liquor and I don’t put it in guns. It tastes better with a cola!

 

[Stumpkiller]

Another vote for 91% Isopropyl. CVS. If you can't find that - Stove or Solvent Alcohol (paint dept) - Lowes or Home Depot.

 

[barracudadave67]

Walmart has lots of alcohol, some of it is drinkable also.

Dave

 

[SDSmlf]

Quite a few self made local businessmen here in Western North Carolina selling their homemade version of alcohol. Typically in plastic gallon jugs.

 

[tenngun]

Quite a few self made local businessmen here in Western North Carolina selling their homemade version of alcohol. Typically in plastic gallon jugs.

Blue flame for white smoke?

 

[SDSmlf]

Blue flame for white smoke?

Local supply typically has been verified by the ‘supplier’. Ultimately the final ‘inspection’ is usually a bubble test, followed by a taste test performed by the end user, while watching for the size of the smile. Then there is always the imported stuff…… But realistically, will stay with the cheap CVS, Walgreens and WallyWorld stuff for muzzleloader cleaning, and save the ‘good’ stuff for personal consumption.

 

[Frontier's]

90% or denatured works great for me as a final way to flush moisture out of a freshly cleaned bore.

 

[Nazgul58]

I get Isoheet in the auto section. It is 99%.

Don

 

[Art Caputo]

I ordered 90% IPA on Amazon. Fast and easy.

 

[andy52]

"HEAT" in the hardware or auto store is just 95% alcohol.

 

[OhioHawkeye]

A lady brought in a dozen gallon bottles of comercial alcohol sold for cleaning (used in machine shops) to our firehouse one day. She just wanted to dispose of them and was concerned about just pouring it out. There was 3 of us who shot. She wouldn't take any $$ so I've had a good supply of what I think is wood alcohol up till a couple years ago. As Grain alcohol is illegal to sell in Ohio, I cross the border to get everclear which is what I use. It works exactly the same, and I can blow peoples minds, joking when I take a sip of it when I'm sitting cleaning my guns in the evening. I found rum leaves a sticky residue.

 

[necchi]

I use Denatured Alcohol. Get a gallon at the local Home Depot $10-12 in the paints section, and it'll last ya a year or more.
All kinds of handy uses in the shop and with all my ml guns.
I actually pour out of the gallon to a smaller airtight bottle and refill as needed.

 

[Billy Boy]

I buy my Everclear at North Star Liquor and I don’t put it in guns. It tastes better with a cola!

Up here we have always used it on pancakes..

 

[Omahkapi'si]

Yup, drugstore....works just fine.

 

[Erwan]

I use denatured alcohol for shellac, it is strong (99% before denaturation) and not expensive : ~8.00 for one liter...