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So far I've been using Everclear for French Polish but I'm starting to see so DA that is suppose to be safer to use than the old DA.
Do any of you have experience with "green" DA for french polish?
Everclear is kind of pricey and has been working okay so far, if it is the safest I'll probably go that way.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I used Kleen Strip Green DA. It is about $7 a quart vs $3.50 for their non green product. However it is about 90% Ethanol vs 50%. It has a better safety sheet as well. Its Health category is 1. As it is almost all Ethanol with a bit of methanol it works great for French Polish.
Most true value stores or big box hardware stores carry it. The lack of drinkable alcohol taxes makes it much cheaper than everclear.

http://www.kleanstrip.com/product/green-denatured-alcohol

MSDS data: http://www.kleanstrip.com/uploads/documents/QKGA75003_SDS-1623.pdf

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

SDA 23A.

Say, Dave - don't forget that Everclear has other uses besides using it in finishes....
No, I'm not talking about drinking it.
My mom uses it as a glass cleaner.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I would use everclear if I could get it here. I use the green lable Kleen strip.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Ever clear, for FP and kleen strip for cleaning

It sure is nice to have the real deal around for those shop jam sessions.

I like to use the EC because I like to tell people that the finish on their guitar was edible. In the grand scheme of things it's not that much more expensive plus it is 95% too.

Thanks for the input.
I'll stick a crow bar in my wallet and stay with ever clear.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Can you get a permit for it? Everclear is illegal in VA but I applied for a permit and got it in under a week at the suggestion of another poster. An agent came out and looked at my shop- wrote up a justification and wala! It might be worth looking into.

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Find an off brand of Grain Alcohol and save a few bucks a quart. I have used Diesel, which is distilled in Kentucky and currently have Golden Grain, by Luxco in St. Louis, MO. 190 proof Grain is 190 proof Grain, doesn't matter who distills it. I have to go to SC to buy it, as NC ABC stores now only carry 150 proof grain alcohol.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I hope he brought some pomegranate juice with him.

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Michael F Smith
Goat Rock Ukulele
http://goatrockukulele.com

I could likely get a permit, they allow it for lab cleaning and so forth but the price is crazy here in PA to really discourage any use.....

To many grain punch parties when we was younger I guess.....

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Thanks Waddy, I never thought to ask for 190 proof, I always just asked for everclear.
From now on I'll ask for 190 proof solvent.
It's 95% alcohol, what is the other 5%



This looks like it's laboratory grade stuff that can be 100% but it looks pricey.
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/pro ... &region=US

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Walgreen carries 91 % isoprpyl alcohol which can be used for cleaning wood and brushes

There are several states where you cannot buy 190 proof alcohol. A "watered down" version of Everclear is sold that is only 120 proof. The bottles are near identical, so don't go running out to your local liquor store just to plunk $50 down on a big bottle of un-drinkable swill that is useless for French Polish.
This happened to a "friend".


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Shop around for a good price from a local distributor for the SDA 23A. I pay about $95 for a five gallon pail of 190 proof at Gold Shield Distributors in Hayward, CA. I drive there and pick it up, so I don't have to pay hazardous shipping fees. The SDAs are federally controlled formulas, so you won't find the mix varying the way most commercial denatured alcohols do. SDA 23A 190 proof is 89% ethyl alcohol, 7% acetone, and 4% water--no methyl alcohol or MEK.

In denatured alcohols, the proof refers to the percentage of ethyl alcohol before the denaturing chemicals are added. I've encountered brands of "190 proof denatured alcohol" that were more than 45% denaturants. The MSDS that companies supply may or may not be up to date.

SDA 23A is also available in 200 proof. I find that difficult to work with for French polishing.