Canadian Everclear Alternatives?
- Thread starter Bassman65
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About anything will do. Vodka works. Rum's little sweeter. Whiskey's good, but I would rather drink it. Rubbing alcohol.. They put stuff in it so people will get sick if drank.
You can get Everclear online, BSW. There is also a vodka called Spirytus Gdanski that is 76%abv, works well and sold at lcbo.
I dont know if you have it in Canada but the hardware stores and grocery store cleaning isles in France carry alcohol for cleaning. Its not rubbing and not wood alcohol. Its Ethanol, the same alcohol one drinks but its not made for human consumption. Its 99 percent and it is used to degrease and use in kitchens a lot. Drinking it would rip your guts out at that strength. It evaporates quickly.
I'll typically use a little 99% isopropyl, although I'm beginning to hear that you shouldn't use any alcohol at all on acrylic...so I don't know, lol. I have never had an issue, personally. The 99% stuff evaporates extremely fast if used sparingly 
According to people who know more than I, Alcohol degrades acrylic over time causing micro cracks. I dont use it. I have seen damaged acrylic stems that are damages for no aparent reason...it might be alcohol
In Quebec you can buy 94% alcohol at the SAQ. I thought that other provinces would have an equivalent.
I use a peach eau de vie - a clear, unsweetened fruit brandy. Leaves a nice note behind when it evaporates. Which does not linger.
Any clear spirit eg vodka or white rum will do
Any clear spirit eg vodka or white rum will do
I went into the BC liquor store a while back just for this purpose. The highest proof they had was Lambs Navy Dark Rum 151 proof (75% alcohol). It works okay and the Rum tends to leave a slight pleasant ghost.
Edited to add, the cheap high proof rum is pretty rugged for drinking, it's best used for pipe cleaning!
Edited to add, the cheap high proof rum is pretty rugged for drinking, it's best used for pipe cleaning!
We used to take shots of 151 mixed with red sour puss every time the 49ers scored a touchdown...over time it became any points scored. We called the drink a Red Dragon.
Bassman, since I don't know what province you're in .... I can offer a couple of ideas, being based in BC. IF you have a good relationship with your pharmacist, you might be able to convince them to let you have a small amount, since they use it. In BC you can arrange to purchase Everclear through the liquor control board, but ... the last time I checked, you need to apply to purchase, and go through their hoops.
I've always used rubbing alcohol for a deep clean of the air channels.
Would you mind me asking what you use for your acrylic?
I use a product that is only in the EU but its probably just over priced soapy water. If I didnt have it Id just use a pipe cleaner and some warm soapy water. I dont have much issue cleaning stems since I use a filter pipe and there isnt much to remove. Microfissures...that was the word I was looking for in the earlier post regarding damge by alcohol.
It really doesnt take much to clean acrylic
It really doesnt take much to clean acrylic
We drank a lot of 151 in college. More bang for the buck.
I've only seen issues using Everclear on Perspex ( clear ) acrylic stems. Oddly enough, not on all Perspex stems though. It's hit and miss .... or ya just never know if it will "craze" the material, or not.....
Another plus for rubbing alcohol 90%. Don’t use it on acrylic stems though. It doesn't leave any odor or taste. Don’t waste your booze on your pipes.