<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"> <DIV> <DIV>In a message dated 5/14/2006 7:30:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time, KeyKat88@aol.com writes:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT face=Arial size=2>  Is denatured alcohol the same as Ethanol alcohol that is available in drugstores? ...or so I use straight stuff from the state liquor store?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Methanol = methyl alcohol = wood alcohol. Simplest of the alcohols, more rapid evaporation than ethanol, highly toxic.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Ethanol = ethyl alcohol = grain alcohol (distilled from sugars in fermented sugar cane or grain). Next more complex alcohol; the kind people drink. (Everclear = 95% pure grain alcohol)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Denatured alcohol = usually ethanol base, "denatured" with unpleasant tasting or toxic substance, often methanol, therefore avoids taxation and regulation of drinking alcohol. Poisonous to drink, but less immediately toxic to use than methanol. Otherwise, similar properties to ethanol. Available as "Shellac Thinner."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Rubbing alcohol = usually based on isopropyl alcohol, an isomer (structural variant) of the third alcohol in the chain (propanol); also often contains much water, perfumes, oils, etc. Generally unsuitable for piano work.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Bob Davis</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>