Rubbing Alcohol

[Mark5]

Pedro: Ouch!

[peteski]

I visited my local Ace Hardware store. They had several gallon-size tin cans of 99% IPA, for $38/gal.  Denatured was about half the price.

[Chris333]

So I was just at the Walmart and looked down the alcohol isle. They were jamb packed so I picked up 4 quarts of 91%.

New to my Walmart they had 1 gallon bottles for $39. I pulled it out to see what was so special about it and is was just regular 70% isopropyl. On the other side of the 91% quarts were 70% quarts for $2.18 each. Four quarts is a gallon, four bottles come to $8.72 

[CBQ Fan]

I did find 7 bottles at CVS of 70% so I picked up one.

[Chris333]

On the other hand I'm hearing that certain areas are out of toilet paper again 

[peteski]

On the other hand I'm hearing that certain areas are out of toilet paper again 

And other areas are getting low on paper towels (Bounty).
2nd wave?

[mmagliaro]

The paper towels and TP have had some sudden depletions here for me too (Oregon), but it's not like back in March, at least not yet.   The shelves of a store will empty out, but then refill the next day, and we haven't had those insane situations where every store is out for days or a week at a time.   I needed some of both and was able to just swing by a department store today and get them with no problems.

[Trnsrus]

I have used 91% isopropyl or cigarette lighter fluid to remove dealer price stickers, tape etc. from clear styrene loco and car jewel boxes. When left on the box long enough to release stubborn old stickers, I find that both these solvents tend to fog the styrene with which they come into contact. Surprisingly, the area that had been under the sticker is not fogged.  Has anyone else had this problem?

[wazzou]

I've just used Goo Gone for that type of thing.  It's cheap and that's what it's for.

[peteski]

I have used 91% isopropyl or cigarette lighter fluid to remove dealer price stickers, tape etc. from clear styrene loco and car jewel boxes. When left on the box long enough to release stubborn old stickers, I find that both these solvents tend to fog the styrene with which they come into contact. Surprisingly, the area that had been under the sticker is not fogged.  Has anyone else had this problem?

I agree that lighter Fluid (Naphtha) after prolonged exposure will dull/fog the surface of polystyrene (especially clear polystyrene).  But short exposure (like minute or two when removing stickers) doesn't seem to affect it.

As for 91% IPA it does nto seem to dull/fog the surface or any polystyrene.  Again, during short exposure.

By "short" I mean up to couple of hours, because that is how long it takes for  the IPA to soften the dried up adhesive on old stickers.

Why the area under sticker is not dulled? I suspect because the adhesive acts as a barrier and protects the plastic surface underneath it.

I always thought that even 99% IPA was safe for polystyrene/ABS, even in long exposures, but photos in this thread tell me otherwise (I still have my doubts though). I should do my own test using some old loco shell.

[Steveruger45]

For removing stickers I use WD40

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[nkalanaga]

WD40 is also what I use, when I bother to remove the stickers.  It will also remove tar from your vehicle without damaging the paint.

WD40 itself is supposedly nontoxic, but the propellant in the cans may not be.  For removing sticky stuff, WD40 is also available as liquid at many hardware stores.  The plant I work at buys it in 5-gallon cans.