Alcohol and Acrylic Stems

[lightmybriar]

Interesting video, Sable! I would imagine that any bent acrylic stem would be considered heat treated, due to the heat applied to bend the stem? So would that make bent acrylic stems even more susceptible to alcohol damage than straight ones?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Probably, though since it's bad with or without heat, it's acadmenic, no?

I also offer some information of the causes of these sensitivities, how they can be lessened, and potential theories as to why they occur. If you want to skip all that though then I'll also post a few pictures on the next page of the various solvents effects after the Acrylic edges have been heat treated and left in them for 5 minutes each.

Yes, photos of damaged pieces of acrylic are there.
And

Side note, some other Brand Names for Acrylic that also are not safe to clean with alcohol:
"Acrylite®, Plexiglas®, Lucite®, Optix®, Polycast®, Chemcast®, Acriglas®, & Excelon®."

 

[lightmybriar]

Academic for sure...sorry for the somewhat irrelevant question haha. Fascinating stuff! :puffpipe:

 

[jpmcwjr]

Not at al!: lt seems irrelevant and irreverent is what makes this world go round....

 

[balkisobrains]

I checked out an acrylic windscreen manufacturers website, & they suggest Iso & water mixed 50/50 as one way to clean their product, so maybe that's a good answer if you want to use Iso. :puffpipe:

 

[crashthegrey]

Sable is correct. Acrylic breaks down in alcohol. It may not be readily apparent but micro cracks are going to form. I avoid it personally.

 

[dcon]

+1 to Sable. I read on a restorer’s sight some time ago to use Bar Keepers Friend on acrylics and especially Perspex. I have several estate GBDs where this has worked well in cleaning. I dip a pipe cleaner in just a little liquid BKF run it through, rinse, and then run dry cleaners and set.

 

[crashthegrey]

I have done many things but have not tried BKF. Thanks for the tip.

 

[mtwaller]

Yikes! I’ve been using Everclear on my beloved yellow acrylic stems. Thanks for the knowledge. Now I feel like I’ve been inadvertently poisoning the family dog. Guess I’ll switch to hot water for the stems.

 

[pappymac]

Sable, as usual, is correct. I used to just clean my acrylic stems with a pipe cleaner dipped in either Iso or Everclear and never noticed a problem until last year when a clear stem developed micro cracks along the airway. Now, if the stem is really gunked up, I use Barkeeper's Friend and then subject it to a good, warm water rinse. Haven't seen any adverse effects since the switch.

 

[elessar]

pappymac, your suggestion is a good one. Acrylic plastics will resist the oxalic acid in the barkeepers friend much better than they will alcohol (ethyl or iso). I use barkeepers friend for all kinds of stuff.

 

[mortonbriar]

And back to warm water for my acrylics!

 

[samuelgawith01]

I STICK TO ANY GRAIN ALCOHOL BUT EVERCLEAR FOR MY ACRYLICS.EVERCLEAR FOR MY VULCANITE STEMS