| Page 1 of 2 | 1 | 2 |
|
|
Methylated spirits/alcohol
Several have advised that I use 'meths' to conquer my mealybug
problem. My local hardware store had methyl hydrate rather than methylated alcohol. What is the difference? Can methyl hydrate be used in this case? Thanks Eric |
"Eric G" wrote in message ... Several have advised that I use 'meths' to conquer my mealybug problem. My local hardware store had methyl hydrate rather than methylated alcohol. What is the difference? Can methyl hydrate be used in this case? Try your chemist for methylated spirits. Franz |
Eric G wrote in news:sbhcs09d6nmptp9ujbgpf0vfaelm5c3f95@
4ax.com: Several have advised that I use 'meths' to conquer my mealybug problem. My local hardware store had methyl hydrate rather than methylated alcohol. What is the difference? Can methyl hydrate be used in this case? Thanks Eric Methyl hydrate is not the same as meths. It is sold as a paint stripper, but otherwise its more usual name is wood spirit or methanol. It's pretty nasty stuff and I don't think it will do your plants much good. "Meths", on the other hand, is 95% pure ethanol (grain spirit), to which chemicals have been added to make it unpalatable, to avoid tax on booze - that is why meths, which would otherwise be taxed at twice the rate of vodka, is so cheap. The main additive is methanol, hence the name "methylated" sprirt. Hope this helps, Peter |
"Eric G" wrote in message ... Several have advised that I use 'meths' to conquer my mealybug problem. My local hardware store had methyl hydrate rather than methylated alcohol. What is the difference? Can methyl hydrate be used in this case? Methylated alcohol, methylated spirit, meths, are mainly ethanol (the alcohol in alcoholic drinks) with a small proportion of methanol (the alcohol that can make you go blind), and often a bit of dye to colour it and something that tastes bitter to discourage you even further from drinking it. Methyl hydrate, which isn't sold under that name in this country afaik, seems from a quick google to be pure methanol. Try not to breathe in an excess dose of either, especially the methyl hydrate. I would guess that either will be instant death for bugs of all descriptions, and I'd also guess that using either of them neat you might have a problem with scorching the foliage. Does the advice for mealybugs involve watering the alcohol down with water before use? -- Anton |
On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 08:58:39 +0000 (UTC), "anton"
wrote: I would guess that either will be instant death for bugs of all descriptions, and I'd also guess that using either of them neat you might have a problem with scorching the foliage. Does the advice for mealybugs involve watering the alcohol down with water before use? When I had a severe problem with mealy bug I found that alcohol of any kind is a very efficient way of killing Streptocarpus, following from that I would say if anyone had any other Gesneriads, to do a small scale trial before treating wholesale with meths or whatever alcohol you choose. ================================================= Rod Weed my email address to reply. http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html |
On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 18:21:16 +0000, Rod
wrote: When I had a severe problem with mealy bug I found that alcohol of any kind is a very efficient way of killing Streptocarpus, following from that I would say if anyone had any other Gesneriads, to do a small scale trial before treating wholesale with meths or whatever alcohol you choose. I found that the Ultimate Bug Killer spray was also a good way of killing Streptocarpus. I asked at the Dibleys stand at the next show when I bought a replacement plant, and the chap said they use the Provado granules mix to treat their plants. Don't know if it works on mealy bugs, but I did have a few on other plants, and there's no sign of them now. (as far as I can see, which is not as much as most of you can!) It comes to something when gardening friends come visiting, and I ask them to check my houseplants for bugs! Pam in Bristol |
On 20 Dec 2004 08:15:42 GMT, Peter wrote:
Methyl hydrate is not the same as meths. It is sold as a paint stripper, but otherwise its more usual name is wood spirit or methanol. It's pretty nasty stuff and I don't think it will do your plants much good. "Meths", on the other hand, is 95% pure ethanol (grain spirit), to which chemicals have been added to make it unpalatable, to avoid tax on booze - that is why meths, which would otherwise be taxed at twice the rate of vodka, is so cheap. The main additive is methanol, hence the name "methylated" sprirt. Hope this helps, Peter Thanks Peter and Anton. I'm glad I checked with you folks before applying any methyl hydrate. I will search more thoroughly now for meth spirits. The methyl hydrate is pretty cheap, I hope the spirits are too (meth spirits that is). Eric |
If I remember correctly, Meths with a good slug of black currant juice was
known as "Black Biddy". -- David Hill www.abacus-nurseries.co.uk |
"Eric G" wrote in message ... Several have advised that I use 'meths' to conquer my mealybug problem. My local hardware store had methyl hydrate rather than methylated alcohol. What is the difference? Can methyl hydrate be used in this case? Thanks Eric You should be able to buy Methylated spirits in any DIY or hardware store .........its used for all kinds of things from removing ballpoint pen stains to rubbing down the surface of polished furniture |
On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 19:50:54 GMT, Pam Moore
wrote: I found that the Ultimate Bug Killer spray was also a good way of killing Streptocarpus. I asked at the Dibleys stand at the next show when I bought a replacement plant, and the chap said they use the Provado granules mix to treat their plants. Don't know if it works on mealy bugs, It should work on mealy bugs. The commercial preparation containing Imidacloprid that we use certainly saw our mealy bugs off the premises. That is applied as a drench to the compost (not to the foliage, though you can't avoid wetting at least some leaves) I wonder how and under what conditions you applied the spray? Streptocarpus really don't like their leaves wet, especially in bright sunshine, also I wonder about the carrier used in the spray on preparations. Sometimes it's the carriers and solvents that damage the plants rather than the active ingredient. Incidentally it was at Rex Dibley's suggestion that we tried the Imidacloprid drench. ================================================= Rod Weed my email address to reply. http://website.lineone.net/~rodcraddock/index.html |
In article , wrote:
I'm still having a heck of a time trying to track down some meths here in Guelph Canada. Maybe I should move to the UK? Nah. I would give a lot to live that far south of here. Most people/stores I've called have never heard of the stuff. I've called paint stores, hardware stores, chemical stores, pharmacies. Hardware stores carry methyl hydrate but not methylated alcohol. That is probably the same stuff. As names fly across the pond, they often mutate. Rubbing alcohol consists of isopropyl alcohol here, 70% isopropyl ISP. Could isopropyl alcohol be used instead of methyl alcohol to kill these mealybugs? Yes. And so could medicinal ethanol. It is the dessicating effect that kills them, not the particular chemical. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 17:51:18 +0000 (UTC), "nambucca"
wrote: You should be able to buy Methylated spirits in any DIY or hardware store ........its used for all kinds of things from removing ballpoint pen stains to rubbing down the surface of polished furniture I'm still having a heck of a time trying to track down some meths here in Guelph Canada. Maybe I should move to the UK? Most people/stores I've called have never heard of the stuff. I've called paint stores, hardware stores, chemical stores, pharmacies. Hardware stores carry methyl hydrate but not methylated alcohol. Rubbing alcohol consists of isopropyl alcohol here, 70% isopropyl ISP. Could isopropyl alcohol be used instead of methyl alcohol to kill these mealybugs? Eric |
|
Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , wrote: Most people/stores I've called have never heard of the stuff. I've called paint stores, hardware stores, chemical stores, pharmacies. Hardware stores carry methyl hydrate but not methylated alcohol. That is probably the same stuff. As names fly across the pond, they often mutate. Unlikely in this case more like they stayed the same and ours evolved. The problem is that to communicate chemicals by common names in the colonies you need to know what Elizabethan alchemists called the stuff. According to Henley's (ca 1921) even if he did find "methylated spirits" in the USA/Canada it would be impure methanol or wood alcohol. Same for methyl hydrate only more so. Pure methanol is too phyto-toxic to use. It will certainly kill the mealy bug but probably the plant as well. What we call meths they call something like denatured (pure) spirit or grain alcohol. (NB *not* petroleum spirit). I'd expect any half decent chemist to have impure alcohol spirit for use in spirit burners. I expect it is residual fallout from the days of prohibition that ethanol is so hard to find on sale over there. Rubbing alcohol consists of isopropyl alcohol here, 70% isopropyl ISP. Could isopropyl alcohol be used instead of methyl alcohol to kill these mealybugs? Yes. And so could medicinal ethanol. It is the dessicating effect that kills them, not the particular chemical. Just be careful handling isopropanol that you don't get it in your eyes. It is a severe eye irritant. Regards, Martin Brown |
In article , wrote:
Well I have since learned that methyl hydrate is methanol whereas methylated alcohol is 95% ethanol and 5% or less of methanol. So they aren't really the same. Well, if you were buying from a chemical warehouse, that might be true. But I doubt very much that what is called methyl hydrate really is pure methanol. You could test its density and check. Part of the reason is the toxicity (to humans) of pure methanol. It really is very dangerous indeed. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:53 AM. |
|
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter