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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / September 2004Sub for Nitro clean?
I was cleaning up some stuff in the garage and came across a large stash of fuel line anti-freeze (methyl hydrate) and it occurred to me that it if it is a good cleaning solution that is gentle enough to use on fine optics of my $7200.00 bino Lica microscope at work, it should be a good cleaner for a nitro degreaser, so I tried some on the nitro residue of my MT body. I put two bottles into a spray bottle and gave it a go, FANTASTIC! I think I would use allot less this way. Works as good as the $14.00 a bottle of aerosol nitro cleaner does. I have only tried it on the body so far and thought I would ask if anyone has used it, by chance, on the composites of their vehicles as an alternative to the nitro cleaner? I would appreciate it if anyone knows if there is a problem that may occur using methyl hydrate as an alternative to the nitro cleaner you buy from the HS? -- Steve > I was cleaning up some stuff in the garage and came across a large stash of > fuel line anti-freeze (methyl hydrate) and it occurred to me that it if it [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > anyone knows if there is a problem that may occur using methyl hydrate as an > alternative to the nitro cleaner you buy from the HS? STOP! Methyl hydrate (aka methyl alcohol, methanol, wood alcohol) is a deadly poison. Google for safety data relating to methyl hydrate and see for yourself. The reason that this works so well as a cleaner for nitro fuel is that methanol is the main ingredient in nitro fuel. I suspect that the nitro spray cleaner you can buy at your LHS is actually isopropyl alcohol, which is much safer. You can buy isopropyl alcohol (aka IPA) very cheaply in large quantities (1 gallon / 5 litre cans) as brake and clutch cleaining fluid from any decent automotive parts factor. > STOP! Methyl hydrate (aka methyl alcohol, methanol, wood alcohol) is a > deadly poison. Google for safety data relating to methyl hydrate and see for [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > IPA) very cheaply in large quantities (1 gallon / 5 litre cans) as brake and > clutch cleaining fluid from any decent automotive parts factor. ------- Yes, I knew it was dangerous and used it while I was upwind outside. Thanks for the IPA suggestion Nigel! -- Steve > Yes, I knew it was dangerous and used it while I was upwind outside. > Thanks for the IPA suggestion Nigel! As well as the fume hazard, methanol can also be absorbed through the skin, so please do take care. I use IPA on my buggies with good results. It should be safe on composites but I do try and avoid splashing any solvent on carbon-fibre parts as a precaution. I read in RC Car Action that you can use denatured alcohol as well. I don't know if you should use it on the bodies as it may also remove paint, but the magazine did not warn about that. You can get denatured alcohol at Lowes in the paint department near the paint strippers for about 2-3 bucks for enough that would last 10 times as long as official Nitro Cleaner. > > Yes, I knew it was dangerous and used it while I was upwind outside. > > Thanks for the IPA suggestion Nigel! [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > but I do try and avoid splashing any solvent on carbon-fibre parts as a > precaution. > I read in RC Car Action that you can use denatured alcohol as well. I don't > know if you should use it on the bodies as it may also remove paint, but the > magazine did not warn about that. You can get denatured alcohol at Lowes in > the paint department near the paint strippers for about 2-3 bucks for enough > that would last 10 times as long as official Nitro Cleaner. "Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol (ethanol) to which a small percentage of methyl alcohol (methanol) has been added to render the mixture poisonous. A blue dye may also be added to indicate that the liquid is not drinkable." Commonly known as methylated spirits or "meths" in the UK, where a purple dye is usually added. In my experience methlyted spirits will attack hard polycarbonatem therefore it may damage lexan bodies as lexan is also a type of polycarbonate. >> I read in RC Car Action that you can use denatured alcohol as well. I >> don't >> know if you should use it on the bodies as it may also remove paint, but > Commonly known as methylated spirits or "meths" in the UK, where a purple > dye is usually added. In my experience methlyted spirits will attack hard > polycarbonatem therefore it may damage lexan bodies as lexan is also a type > of polycarbonate. I've used meths on bodyshells to remove the sticky residue from race numbers, with no detectable ill-effects so far. Jonny My hobby shop sells me large arosol cans of electric motor clear... I think it's call magnum force. At 6.00 a can cad I find it pretty reasonable compared to nitro cleaner > >> I read in RC Car Action that you can use denatured alcohol as well. I > >> don't [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Jonny All you have to do is get a can of WD-40! It protects your car and gives it a nice shine. |
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