Reply to:   RE>killing jars revisited
 
Isn't methanol the same as wood alcohol, and if it is, try your local auto
repair shop, because its commonly sold as de-icer and is available copiously
in most hardware stores in the paint section.  Its the stuff that is poured
into the gas tank to absorb water from the gas tank.
 
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Date: 3/1/95 5:57 PM
To: Bill Fernihough
From: Discussion oB Biology
As you may remember, many months ago there was a thread on the best
chemicals to use in killing jars.  Now I must disturb the list with
more questions about this toxic and unuplifting topic.... please help.
 
The manuscript I'm working on is for laypeople. One of the chemicals
I wish to recommend to them is ethanol.  The problem is that it's hard
to obtain ethanol in the higher percentages.  Drugstore denatured is
only 70%; pure grain alcohol is illegal to buy in many areas.  One can
order ethanol from companies like Fisher and Sigma, but usually one
has to buy it in quantity or at high prices (relative to how much you
need and what it's worth for what you're doing - killing or cleaning
a few bees for a hobby).
 
So:
a) Does anyone know of any other ways someone who is not affiliated with
an institution (you know, a normal person :-)  ) can get pure ethanol?
 
b) A possible substitute is methanol. Nearly pure methanol is avail at
pharmacies.  Does anyone have any experience using this with bumblebees?
(Since there aren't any live ones out now for me to test it on.)
 
Thank you all for your extensive help in the past.
 
 
Liz Day
La Reine de la Cite' des Phoques
presently in New York City, USA
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(Please note my new email address. The gluon one is defunct.)