Posted by Abner from adsl-64-170-116-217.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on March 27, 2001 at 22:19:13:
In Reply to: That's why I didn't buy "their" product. posted by Fall Guy on March 27, 2001 at 16:38:44:
Isn't that a Primus song?
Well, pure denatured alcohol would not be denatured, it would just be ethyl alcohol. :) And yes, it is an ideal solvent for shellac, but costs more because you pay a liquor tax when buying grain alcohol. That's where the "denatured" alcohol comes in- the chemical companies take some ethyl alcohol and add something toxic (usually acetone, but I guess in the case of ACE Hardware's supplier, something else) to it so it is useful for everything but drinking. It's "De-Natured", or no longer in a "natural" state, hence undrinkable, and tax-free. Except of course, if you live here in SF, in the PRK you will still pay an outrageous 8.5% sales tax! :) Heh heh, but that's a different story altogether....
Cheers,
Abner