Diluting Alcohol-Based Dyes

[Sheilajeanne]

In the winter, I use methanol (methyl hydrate) to help me get my woodstove going. Can I also use it to dilute Fiebing's dyes?

[Mattsbagger]

I've useful denatured and isopropyl. Bikermutt uses water. I thing Fiebings will take just about anything. Lol. Try a sample keep records of dilution percent. 

[OLDNSLOW]

I don't know if I would simply because of the nature and danger of methanol, I also use denatured alcohol in measured parts depending on how strong or how far I am trying to stretch the dye.  But you can try anything as mentioned above others have selected a host of things to dilute with.

[Sheilajeanne]

Oldnslow, I'm not planning to DRINK it! How is it more dangerous than denatured alcohol?

[OLDNSLOW]

only from what I have read is that it very hazardous, has a low flashpoint, and if it were to catch fire it is hard to see the flame,  If all of that is true, why not using something less dangerous and has a proven track record in use as a proven diluting substance for dyes. 

[NVLeatherWorx]

The flammability is the issue here and it is well know how volatile methanol is.  Denatured alcohol and your everyday run of the mill rubbing alcohols are also dangerous but they have typically been blended down with water to make them less volatile and they evaporate very quickly; not a trait of methanol.  Besides, very harsh petroleum based products and spirits tend to suck the life out of leather so unless you are making stuff that is supposed to be looking like it came from the walking dead you probably don't want to use anything in a pure form.