Members Mack Posted February 17, 2011 Members Report Posted February 17, 2011 in most instances, I've never found the need to 'preclean' the leather I'll be dying. Lots of advice to this but basically, if used responsibly, i.e. plenty of ventilation (that goes for your dyes as well as the alcohol by the way) and don't make a point of splashing it all over your skin in large amounts. Small amounts are fine and safe (It is called RUBBING alcohol btw) if you follow the directions on the bottle. wearing gloves, I find is a big help with dyes (not worried so much with the alcohol) but what you should be worried about is breathing the fumes. Make sure to have plenty of ventilation for dying , etc. if you think alcohol gets into your blood stream fast through skin absorption, that's nothing compared to how fast it's absorbed by your lungs. Use the stuff responsibly, follow the bottle direction guidance (as it pertains to exposure) and have lots of ventilation and you'll be fine. When cleaning your leather prior to dyeing or antiquing, do you use Isopropal Alcohol or Denatured Alcohol? David Theobald Quote
Members Spinner Posted February 17, 2011 Members Report Posted February 17, 2011 (edited) Isopropyl Alcohol as others have said is synthetic and usually a 70/30 mixture, the 30% being water. Denatured Alcohol (Ethanol) is considered a purer alcohol at 95%-99.5% content. The main difference is that Iso is considered safe for use externally in medicinal purposes (aka Rubbing Alcohol) whereas Denatured is ethanol which has had a poisonous component added to it during it's creation to make it unsuitable for further distillation. Some of the chemicals that ethanol is combined with to make Denatured Alcohol are: gasoline, isopropyl alcohol, tertiary butyl alcohol, etc. which can cause cancer, liver damage, blindness and/or death if consumed. Long story short, they both work but Isopropyl is generally less harsh on skin (and leather) and has a somewhat smaller concentration of bad stuff. In either case, wear gloves, eye protection and work in a ventilated area. Side note - I use Denatured as most commercially produced dyes are formulated with it versus Isopropyl. I find that I have better results by being consistent in the solvents to thin & clean, especially when I'm airbrushing. Edited February 17, 2011 by Spinner Quote Chris Three Mutts Customs Leather - http://www.threemuttscustoms.com
Contributing Member Ferg Posted February 17, 2011 Contributing Member Report Posted February 17, 2011 Isopropyl Alcohol as others have said is synthetic and usually a 70/30 mixture, the 30% being water. Denatured Alcohol (Ethanol) is considered a purer alcohol at 95%-99.5% content. The main difference is that Iso is considered safe for use externally in medicinal purposes (aka Rubbing Alcohol) whereas Denatured is ethanol which has had a poisonous component added to it during it's creation to make it unsuitable for further distillation. Some of the chemicals that ethanol is combined with to make Denatured Alcohol are: gasoline, isopropyl alcohol, tertiary butyl alcohol, etc. which can cause cancer, liver damage, blindness and/or death if consumed. Long story short, they both work but Isopropyl is generally less harsh on skin (and leather) and has a somewhat smaller concentration of bad stuff. In either case, wear gloves, eye protection and work in a ventilated area. Side note - I use Denatured as most commercially produced dyes are formulated with it versus Isopropyl. I find that I have better results by being consistent in the solvents to thin & clean, especially when I'm airbrushing. I cannot let this go past without telling what we use "rubbing alcohol" for. I get leg cramps from working on a concrete floor or climbing around on the roof of our home, usually well into the night. IF I can get my body out of bed my wife rubs the alcohol on my legs. Sops it on would be a better explanation. Isopropyl Alcohol is a mild anesthetic. Do I need to go any further? BTW: Been dong it for over 35 years, I still have my liver. LOL ferg Quote
Members Spinner Posted February 17, 2011 Members Report Posted February 17, 2011 I cannot let this go past without telling what we use "rubbing alcohol" for. I get leg cramps from working on a concrete floor or climbing around on the roof of our home, usually well into the night. IF I can get my body out of bed my wife rubs the alcohol on my legs. Sops it on would be a better explanation. Isopropyl Alcohol is a mild anesthetic. Do I need to go any further? BTW: Been dong it for over 35 years, I still have my liver. LOL ferg Makes sense Ferg, as I posted above, Denatured is the one with the 'bad' stuff... Quote Chris Three Mutts Customs Leather - http://www.threemuttscustoms.com
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