Isopropyl or de-natured alcohol?

[PaulN/KS]

A lot of the recipes for patch lube/bore cleaner call for isopropyl alcohol as an ingredient.I have used de-natured alcohol as a cleaner/de-greaser and was wondering what the difference between the two is?Could you use the de-natured stuff or is there some reason not to use it?

 

[cayugad]

I've used both.. The reason I am sticking to the isopropyl is I ran out of the large can of denatured I had and the smaller isopropyl bottles are easier to store and use. Also I think they might be just a little cheaper, maybe not.

Both will work :imo:....

 

[Slamfire]

Three kinds of alcohol.
1 ethyl, made from grain, and can be drunk by humans, that's the one thats denatured. Thanks to the ATF!
2 methyl, made from wood, naturally poisionous.
3 isopropyl, made from propane, kinda easy to produce, compared to the others, which is why it makes up the bulk of the market. Also poisionous.
They all do the same thing to oil and water inside a rifle barrel. :yakyak:

 

[Stumpkiller]

Yep. "Denatured" means they add gunk to it to make it stink and gag you if you try to drink it. Gunk is never a good thing to add to your barrel. Also, rubbing alcohol and other drugstore types contain 50 to 80% water. 91% Isopropyl contains only 9% water, so it's easier to control the mix by using that.

 

[Rat]

So wouldn't pure Everclear/White lightning be best...no water and no gunk?

That's interesting, as I use denatured alcohol in my alcohol stove for back packing...did not know it was drinking/grain alcohol with gunk to make it undrinkable.

In other words, if I packed Everclear for my stove, I could clean my rifle/pistol with it too, AND have a tonic for medicinal purposes? And...no gunk or water involved?

I may be onto something here.

"But officer...I was just cleaning my rifle".

"But officer...I was just cooking dinner".

Rat

 

[Slamfire]

You'd better have a good supply of water on hand if yore gonna put that 190 proof in yore mouth. :shocking:

 

[2172]

I find 1/3 branch water and some ice is about right..Hank

 

[RussB]

I find 1/3 branch water and some ice is about right..Hank

Ain't that hard on that ice Hank?? ::


Russ

 

[Bearbait2]

Mr. Rat,
We have used a very fine Single Malt and an excellent Sour Mash for cleaning barrels from time to time during the winter; while in the bush. Hot water will freeze in the barrel before you can pour it out. Never mind even trying to get a water soaked patch down the barrel! You might make it half way before it welds itself to the barrel.
We dip the CLEAN patch in my cup and what ever is left over can be consumed for medicinal purposes. My hunting partner once accused me of cleaning my rifle four times in one day. His only objection was that it hadn't even been loaded as yet, much less fired. I'm quite certain he was mistaken.
Best Wishes

 

[Rat]

Ha ha you guys are funny...!! Actually I'm not much of a drinker, so the temptation to consume my stove fuel/cleaning solution would be slight...but, there are times when a small "ceremonial" partaking of the stove fuel on a cold night by the campfire would be a welcome treat. Yep Slamfire I'll water it down a bit first!

But I'll tell you...I have some hard-drinking friends who would break down and cry if they knew I was burning Everclear in my stove and using it as a de-greaser in my rifle!! Seriously!! More likely they would tie me to a tree and then muck it down.

But, just so happens I have a big old bottle of the 'Clear that my son left here last time he was home on leave...so now it's my stove fuel and de-greaser!!! Hooooooodoggie!

Rat

 

[blackpowder shooter]

All I use is straight isopropyl alcohol to clean the bore at the range. Easy to get up this way - (gas line antifreeze) , absorbs water, and if you leave to much in the bore the gun will go off anyway.

 

[davesonic444]

Careful of your wood if you use de-natured. I have found it will remove and destroy some types of finish.Isopropyl works for me.
Dave :winking:

 

[Tahquamenon]

99% Isopropyl Alcohol here. :thumbsup: