Isopropyl Alcohol - a Shop Must Have
by Jason Bedard in Circuits > Tools
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Isopropyl Alcohol - a Shop Must Have
No, no. Not for drinking. Only Ethanol Alcohol is good for the body and even that statement is dubious.
Isopropyl Alcohol is amazing for it's cleaning properties and at higher alcohol concentrations it's safe with electronics.
Three of the best uses are:
Note of warning: Alcohol is flammable, 99% much more so. Use with understanding, caution, and respect.
Now, a heads-up if you plan to go buy some Isopropyl 99%, and I recomend you do. Isopropyl can be found in any drug or grocery store, however 70% is what you will find on the shelves. Isopropyl 99% is most often kept behind the pharmacy counter. This means having to ask the pharmacist for it. For adults wanting just one bottle this will not be a problem. Young adults or those younger still may have difficulity obtaining it.
Here's why Isopropyl 99% is guarded, and it's not because they're afraid you'll drink it. Isopropyl 99% is often used in drug production. I won't go into further detail, but now you will know why the pharmacist is sizing you up before fulfilling your request.
As a related aside, I was refused Isopropyl 99% by a phamacist and this was when I was 30 or so. Actually, the guy left me standing there for 10 minutes and when he returned he said they didn't have any in stock. The reason I believe is that I was wearing scruffy clothes because of work I had been doing in my shop. I then sent my wife to the counter and strangely they had it back in stock and she encountered no long wait time. How you present yourself really does make a difference in our society. Sad but true.
Anyway, buy yourself some Isopropyl 99%. This is a shop must have.
Bonus tip: Costco (if you have access to the store) sells four packs of isopropyl 99%, not behind the counter, and it's super cheap.
Isopropyl Alcohol is amazing for it's cleaning properties and at higher alcohol concentrations it's safe with electronics.
Three of the best uses are:
- Removing sticky residue left by labels and tape. This will save you a lot of time and frustration.
- Cleaning touch pad button contacts, like those found in cordless phones, etc. If a button isn't responsive anymore try cleaning with this.
- Cleaning solder flux off circuit boards.
Note of warning: Alcohol is flammable, 99% much more so. Use with understanding, caution, and respect.
Now, a heads-up if you plan to go buy some Isopropyl 99%, and I recomend you do. Isopropyl can be found in any drug or grocery store, however 70% is what you will find on the shelves. Isopropyl 99% is most often kept behind the pharmacy counter. This means having to ask the pharmacist for it. For adults wanting just one bottle this will not be a problem. Young adults or those younger still may have difficulity obtaining it.
Here's why Isopropyl 99% is guarded, and it's not because they're afraid you'll drink it. Isopropyl 99% is often used in drug production. I won't go into further detail, but now you will know why the pharmacist is sizing you up before fulfilling your request.
As a related aside, I was refused Isopropyl 99% by a phamacist and this was when I was 30 or so. Actually, the guy left me standing there for 10 minutes and when he returned he said they didn't have any in stock. The reason I believe is that I was wearing scruffy clothes because of work I had been doing in my shop. I then sent my wife to the counter and strangely they had it back in stock and she encountered no long wait time. How you present yourself really does make a difference in our society. Sad but true.
Anyway, buy yourself some Isopropyl 99%. This is a shop must have.
Bonus tip: Costco (if you have access to the store) sells four packs of isopropyl 99%, not behind the counter, and it's super cheap.