Originally Posted by ubeaut
Missed this when originally posted - For starters many things have different names or the names mean something entirely different here in OZ. White Spirits is basically USA speak for Mineral Turpentine. Slightly different formula but not by much, both share the same UN number. Mineral Turpentine is also known in Australia as Turpentine Substitute and Petropine, but the common name is Mineral Turpentine or turps. It is usually only marketed under the other names in bulk, to industry.
Don't believe everything in Wikipedia The Methylated Spirits bit is referring to UK and Ireland NOT AUSTRALIA where things can be a lot different.
100% IMS (Industrial Methylated Spirits) ETHANOL is 99.9% pure ethanol alcohol and .1% denaturant to make it unpalatable. There is no water in it.
Ordinary everyday Metho also called 95% and has up to 10% additives (as per Wikipedia) to denature it PLUS anywhere from 10% to as much as 40% water (sometimes even more) Don't believe the MSDS's, Many substitute water for alcohol in much greater rates than on their MSDS, water is much cheaper than ethanol and helps boost your profitability somewhat.
Had a case reported from Carba Tec Sydney last week where a customer purchased some cheap metho to thin his French Polish with and it went a white and milky colour indicating an extremely high proportion of water.
As a rule neither 95% or 100% Meths have colouring put in them in Australia. Never use coloured stuff for shellac.
Shellac - button, brown, white, blond, ultra blond etc is all shellac from the same source it is just refined in differing degrees. White that we supply is dewaxed white (bleached) shellac and is the highest refined shellac available. All shellacs can be used for French polishing. However, brown is the traditional French Polish and is the one that imparts the deep rich honey colouring to most antiques. The dewaxed white won't change the colour of timber any more than wetting it down with water. So if you want to keep white wood as light and bright as possible then the white is the answer and to a degree is about the only finish that will not discolour the timber including oils.
Shedhand Bad luck about the pathetic delivery service. Email or pm me your address and I will send you a 5 litre of 100% IMS as a gift from U-Beaut. You will have to pay freight and dangerous goods surcharge but not for the Meths. We use reliable 12st century freight methods. If the truck runs off the road en route then you had better forget French polishing with the good stuff as you will have had 2 signs that you aren't supposed to be doing it.
Cheers - Neil :)
PS this is a once of NOT TO BE REPEATED OFFER for shedhand only. So the rest of you DON'T EVEN BOTHER ASKING.
