Sub for Nitro clean?

[Steve & Chris Clark]

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


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[Nigel Mellor]

"Steve & Chris Clark" <swampclarks2@sprint.cayourpants> wrote in message
news:bKSWc.1843$H23.19618@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
> 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?

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.

[Steve & Chris Clark]

"Nigel Mellor" <nigel.mellor@reply-to.in.signature> wrote in message
news:cghkk8$ltj$1@newsreaderg1.core.theplanet.net. ..
> 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.
-------
Yes, I knew it was dangerous and used it while I was upwind outside.
Thanks for the IPA suggestion Nigel!
--
Steve


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[Nigel Mellor]

"Steve & Chris Clark" <swampclarks2@sprint.cayourpants> wrote in message
news:tg_Wc.1852$H23.19925@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
> 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.

[Jeff Smith]

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.



"Nigel Mellor" <nigel.mellor@reply-to.in.signature> wrote in message
news:cghtt4$qbv$1@newsreaderg1.core.theplanet.net. ..
> "Steve & Chris Clark" <swampclarks2@sprint.cayourpants> wrote in message
> news:tg_Wc.1852$H23.19925@newscontent-01.sprint.ca...
> > 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.
>
>

[Nigel Mellor]

"Jeff Smith" <jbsmith991@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:6IKdnXhIUKsgrbDcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
> 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.

[Jonathan Hodgson]

On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 10:14:23 +0100, Nigel Mellor wrote:

> "Jeff Smith" <jbsmith991@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> news:6IKdnXhIUKsgrbDcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
>> 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

[Michael Chemerys]

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


"Jonathan Hodgson" <usenet@jphMUNGEDdevelopments.org.uk> wrote in message
news:g1xbnt5qrr1i$.14x8jqg6l0snz.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Thu, 26 Aug 2004 10:14:23 +0100, Nigel Mellor wrote:
>
> > "Jeff Smith" <jbsmith991@adelphia.net> wrote in message
> > news:6IKdnXhIUKsgrbDcRVn-pg@adelphia.com...
> >> 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

[Steve Cosby]

All you have to do is get a can of WD-40! It protects your car and gives it
a nice shine.