[Londoner]

What is this isopropanol? I did enough chemistry to know its an alcohol but where do you get it? I'll give it a try.

[NWH]

As we speak i`m trying to find the details.

[frames to panes]

Isoproponol is commonly used in lithographic printing. If you find a print supplier they sell it in 20l containers. We used gallons of the stuff.

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

Right,DJW,you say Isopropanol soon evaporates,virtually straightaway,
Is that right? Nigel ( NWH) you `swear` by the stuff for making window glass
More hydrophilic than hydrophobic , right? And your convinced it`s the Isopropanol?
It can`t be anything else? If this lot turns into `flame war` blame me,I hold my hands up now !

Lewis Doubtfire Gleem Clean ( The Blade Runner )

[Londoner]

Isoproponal is commonly used in lithographic printing. If you find a print supplier they sell it in 20l containers. We used gallons of the stuff.

You mean like the stuff for cleaning the rollers etc?

[frames to panes]

No not a solvent for cleaning rollers. It's a clear liquid with a high alcohol content used specifically in the print trade to reduce the surface tension of pure water and other additives to enable the lithographic printing process to use less water. In effect it makes water "wetter"by flattening out the water droplets (reduced surface tension) and making it more controllable on the printing plate. It evaporates very quickly and so is normally cooled. It also is a health hazard and burns much like meths or petrol.
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/PR/2-propanol.html

[Wayne Thomas]

Is this product similar to nail varnish remover?

[L.Doubtfire - The Blade Runner]

Whatever it is,if it does work like Nigel says,on the dilution rates that he also
Gives users to use it as,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,It`s hellish good stuff,,,,,,,,,,,and some!

[frames to panes]

Mmm i'm not convinced it's good stuff to slosh around the windows and into the air or that in the tiny amounts NWH is using that there would be much benefit. It's a bit like the acetone in your deisel debate if you think it will work then it usually does but i would doubt it would alter a panes characteristics but i'm no expert and am happy to be proved wrong.
I've just googled it and apparently it is commonly used as a solvent and is found in loads of other products.

[stevekennedy]

I have tried a product marketed as Flash car cleaning solution. It has a rinse aid in it. I have cleaned windows that bead with this stuff and they sheet off when you rinse. They continue to sheet afterwards for many, many cleans (2 years). I thought it was a fluke. I will try it out again if it is still for sale.

There is also a product that is put in car wash rinses that makes the water run off. I think this may work too.

[NWH]

JB has tried rinse aid i beleive without much luck,but it`s worth a try.

[Jeff Brimble]

It may or may not help water sheet but the few makes we did try did not reduce spotting which is what we are tring to acheive ?

[jikwan]

.

[frames to panes]

Just a thought - if ypu put a small amount in a glass of water and leave it, does the isoproponol seperate? If it does then you could end up with it at the top of your tank. In the printing process the water mixture was constantly cooled and circulated. Just a thought.