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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on July 02, 2008, 09:04:31 pm

Title: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: ftp on July 02, 2008, 09:04:31 pm
Anyone still using it? - it's gone very quiet lately.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: Dean Taberner on July 02, 2008, 09:06:06 pm
What is it?
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: macmac on July 02, 2008, 09:19:01 pm
I inhale it if i've had a bad day, puts a smile back on my face! :o

Tony
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: Dean Taberner on July 02, 2008, 09:32:06 pm
What is it then?

Does it stop the water from freezing?
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: RPCCS on July 02, 2008, 11:15:28 pm
Thats all it does ,anti freeze for window cleaners basically.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: michael papworth on July 02, 2008, 11:31:31 pm
Thats all it does ,anti freeze for window cleaners basically.

I think there's a bit more to it than just the anti-freeze properties.

It reduces the surface tension of water and therefore makes the water less likely to bead on hydrophobic glass. It also helps dissolve oils.

Whether these are useful properties in the dilutions used by us wfpers is another matter.

Typical dilutions seem to be 1:1000 or greater.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: windowwashers on July 02, 2008, 11:32:59 pm
Thats all it does ,anti freeze for window cleaners basically.

I think there's a bit more to it than just the anti-freeze properties.

It reduces the surface tension of water and therefore makes the water less likely to bead on hydrophobic glass. It also helps dissolve oils.

Whether these are useful properties in the dilutions used by us wfpers is another matter.

Typical dilutions seem to be 1:1000 or greater.
Does this mean you do not know Wally ?
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: michael papworth on July 03, 2008, 01:01:52 am
I know about the properties of concentrated or slightly diluted IPA.

I'm not sure that they are very effective at the dilutions typically used by wfpers.

I think the reduction in surface tension is probably the most useful feature for window washing - and that might well be effective at quite high dilutions.

I certainly know someone who does know - he's my brother in law and he's a plate maker. He uses IPA by the bucket load for cleaning. I check with him - if I ever find him off-shift and awake.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: windowwashers on July 03, 2008, 01:20:26 am
dude get out of the teacher thinking give a straight answer, you dont know simple, if you dont know say I dont know thats not rocket science. Find out if you know someone that can give you the answer, you cant be clever at everything m8ty  ;) and there are many things in window cleaning that take a lot time to learn.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: [GQC] Tim on July 03, 2008, 01:34:08 am
dude get out of the teacher thinking give a straight answer, you dont know simple, if you dont know say I dont know thats not rocket science. Find out if you know someone that can give you the answer, you cant be clever at everything m8ty  ;) and there are many things in window cleaning that take a lot time to learn.

I'd rather have him talk that way, he's one of the very few persons on here that actually makes my brain tick, the rest of the posts are usually just moaning, off topic, or been there done that material.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: Neil271052 on July 03, 2008, 07:58:39 am
dude get out of the teacher thinking give a straight answer, you dont know simple, if you dont know say I dont know thats not rocket science. Find out if you know someone that can give you the answer, you cant be clever at everything m8ty  ;) and there are many things in window cleaning that take a lot time to learn.

I'd rather have him talk that way, he's one of the very few persons on here that actually makes my brain tick, the rest of the posts are usually just moaning, off topic, or been there done that material.

Ditto.

 Wallys posts are always interesting and  at least he knows how to spell and use grammar correctly.

Although his posts are often complex they are a pleasure to read with no deciphering needed.  ;)

Keep going Wally.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: ftp on July 03, 2008, 08:05:38 am
Blimey Ian, that's a bit rich isn't it?
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: windowwashers on July 03, 2008, 10:09:28 am
Blimey Ian, that's a bit rich isn't it?
Yes, sry wally  ;D
No deciphering needed on this post :P
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on July 03, 2008, 10:16:45 am
No WW is just jealous of Wally's name.  :) Joke.

Found this link on ebay

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120219814464&ih=002&category=11702&rd=1&ssPageName=mem_guide:3

interesting list of uses.  I think it would work out rather expensive in the long run though works out £20 for 5 liters and if Wally is right 1/1000 dilution then you are looking at £4 for every 1000L IBC tank, ouch.

Simon.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: Jeff Brimble on July 03, 2008, 12:13:58 pm
Ahh but ah wot about us minimalists  8) 1000L would last me 100 working days or more,so I dont use much Iso either.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: windowwashers on July 03, 2008, 12:27:05 pm
No WW is just jealous of Wally's name.  :) Joke. lol

Found this link on ebay

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120219814464&ih=002&category=11702&rd=1&ssPageName=mem_guide:3

interesting list of uses.  I think it would work out rather expensive in the long run though works out £20 for 5 liters and if Wally is right 1/1000 dilution then you are looking at £4 for every 1000L IBC tank, ouch.

Simon.
cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120219814464&ih=002&category=11702&rd=1&ssPageName=mem_guide:3
 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120219814464&ih=002&category=11702&rd=1&ssPageName=mem_guide:3
)
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on July 03, 2008, 03:37:11 pm
Ahh but ah wot about us minimalists  8) 1000L would last me 100 working days or more,so I dont use much Iso either.

10L a day = bucket mop and blade.  Yes?

Simon.
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: michael papworth on July 03, 2008, 04:26:09 pm

works out (at) £20 for 5 liters and if Wally is right   1/1000 dilution then you are looking at £4 for every 1000L IBC tank, ouch.

Simon.

I might not be right about the dilution. I was working from memory - notoriously unreliable at my advanced age.

Need others to come in here and say what dilutions they use.

SherwoodCleaning, have you tried IPA? Does it make the blade slide on the glass?

I've found that a blade slides fine in hydrophilic glass using pure water but sticks like glue to hydrophobic.

That is one thing that might get me using the stuff. I sometimes like to blade off after a quick wash.

(I've found that on a first clean with really dirty windows, a quick wash with pure water, a wipe with a microfibre and then a swirl with a squeegee followed by a wash and rinse with pure saves LOADS of time scrubbing. The only problem is that the blade sticks on the glass sometimes and makes me look like a right Wally!)
Title: Re: Magic Isopropanol
Post by: Sir Squeaky on July 03, 2008, 04:26:20 pm
It reduces the surface tension of water and therefore makes the water less likely to bead on hydrophobic glass. I
You can keep it then.

I love windows that bead off like water off a ducks back.
Perfect every time, and twice as quick as a big sheet that might not be clean.