Methanol? (WHY?)

[David Skolnik]

I'm still unclear as to the preferred reply format, that is, whether to
reply ABOVE or BELOW  the post being referred to.  In any event,  addressing
the cost and availability question,  I have obtained anhydrous ethyl alcohol
from a local chemical supplier:               CITY CHEMICAL CORPORATION
                            100 Hoboken Avenue
                                Jersey City, NJ 07310
                                800 248-2436
                                fax 201 653-4468
Current price for one gallon - $35.00 (plus shipping, plus $10 per item
hazardous materials charge (United Parcel)).  Does seem like a lot until you
compare it to price of collodian @$77.00 per gallon.    

David Skolnik


At 12:30 AM 1/15/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Tim Keenan writes about methanol:
>
>> Be aware that it is toxic, 
>>and absorbed through the skin and lungs, not just by the gut.  It will
>damage your liver and your nerves with 
>>prolonged exposure.  You don't have to drink it to go blind, it just takes
>a lot longer by other routes.
>
>Given this information, I tend to be confused as to why so many of us spend
>so much time and effort trying to get hold of the stuff. It's all going to be
>used indoors, with some skin contact, and the vapors will be in our shops
>or living areas. Ethanol as Everclear at 190 proof can do the same jobs with
>much less toxicity, and the only argument I hear against it is expense. How
>many gallons is everyone planning to use? And how much is your liver worth?
>Compare the cost difference with how much health insurance costs, and all it 
>does is pay your bills when you are already sick.
>
>Sorry about the soapbox, but this has been a pet peeve for quite awhile. By
>the way, when I ask at a hardware store for "methanol" or "methyl hydrate" they
>sell me "denatured alcohol solvent", which says it's a "shellac thinner,
>alcohol appliance fuel, and marine stove fuel." It has denatured alcohol and
>not more than 4% methanol in it. It still has beaucoup warnings about the
>vapors, both as a health hazard and a fire hazard. It's already a lot better
>than pure methanol, but why not use ethanol instead?
>
>Your far too earnest
>
>Susan
>
>Susan Kline
>P.O. Box 1651
>Philomath, OR 97370
>skline@proaxis.com
>
>"The more I learn about light, the more I think we're all still completely
>in the dark."
>			-- Ashleigh Brilliant
>
>
>
-----------------------------------------
David Skolnik
Manhattan School Of Music
dskolnik@msmnyc.edu
http://msmnyc.edu
212-749-2802 Ext. 455