Model Railroading > What is Windex and rubbing alcohol ?

Hello !
What is Windex ? In a Model railroaders weathering article they used Windex to wipe out stains of paint. (here in Sweden Windex is a wind direction device in the top of a sailboats mast)
Rubbing alcohol, what is it ? Is it isopropylalcohol, isopropanol ?

Windex is just a brand name for glass cleaner and yes, rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol.

-Justin

To be precise, Windex is a brand name for an Ammonia-based glass cleaner. You should be able to find something similar in your shops - Windex refers to their active ingredient as "Ammonia-D", but I have no idea if that's a proprietary or a generic name.

Rubbing alcohol is 70% - 99% isopropyl alcohol, available from your friendly chemist.

Leaving my windows clean and streak-free, I remain:
B-Dubya

http://www.windexglasscleaner.com

jb

Thanks !
Yes we have a similar bottle here as the Windex come in but it have a different name.
I think that Ajax Fonsterputs that I use to clean windows is nearly the same, it smells amonia.

If you use diluted white glue to hold down your ballast and spray the ballast with water first, put a spoonfull of Windex (Fonsterputs?) in the spray water. The glue will go right down through the ballast.

jb

PS
Some terms I have heard: Water + Windex added = Wet water
Diluted white glue = Pigeon milk.

Hi!

> Rubbing alcohol is 70% - 99% isopropyl alcohol,


My bottle of 90% alcohol is only marked
isopropyl alcohol. Isn't rubbing alcohol
70% only? Anything stronger is jut too
harsh on skin, hence you couldn't use it
for "rubbing".

An internet definition:
RUBBING ALCOHOL - An alcoholic mixture intended
for external use; it usually contains 70% by
volume of absolute alcohol or isopropyl alcohol;
the remainder consists of water, denaturants
(with and without coal tar colours), and perfume
oils; used as a rubefacient for muscle and joint
aches and pains.

It's that 30% "other stuff" that makes it
inappropriate for cleaning model train
wheels and track. The 90% isopropyl is
much better.

*** Do not touch plastic shells with 90%
alcohol unless you really wanted to strip
your paint job off the shell ***

Tony Burzio
San Diego, CA

Whups. My bad. Higher concentrations are simply labelled "isoproyl alcohol" or "isopropanol" and are sold as disinfecting agents, not rubdown media. My bad!

Wrong again, I remain:
B-Dubya

Actually, diluting white glue with either isopro OR rubbing alcohol will "wet" it better and dry faster.