SD Alcohol 40-b (denatured alcohol)

Hey all,

I have one of those ridiculously expensive (although they are a bit cheaper nowadays) Braun 360 complete electric shavers that have the built in cleaning system. The unit works well for me but I am fed up with paying about $15 for the cleaning fluid approx once a month (if cleaned daily as suggested). And thats ebay prices, the retailers charge close to $30!!

Now it says it contains SD alcohol 40-B and Perfume. Its just a small plastic container that prior to install you pull off the cap and it leaves a few holes in the right places for the unit to do its thing when I press the cleaning button. I cannot see any reason why it cannot be refilled. It only holds 170ml and as mentioned lasts up to a month. I cannot seem to find denatured alcohol to purchase anywhere (I would say we are not allowed in Oz?), but wondering if 'Isopropyl' alcohol would do the same thing since I could refill them at less than $4 each by using 'Isocol'!! The unit basically sprays the heads with the fluid and warms it up to dry etc.

Any suggestions? Alternative alcohols?

Thanks.

Bugger me!!! I'd hate to be drinking alcohol at those prices.

Now I know why I don't shave....(21 years so far)

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Originally Posted by watson

Bugger me!!! I'd hate to be drinking alcohol at those prices.

Now I know why I don't shave....(21 years so far)

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Yes, I'd be better off buying a bottle of Vodka and using that!

Denutured alcohol is metho, about 96% or Ethanol ,100%

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Originally Posted by abitfishy

Yes, I'd be better off buying a bottle of Vodka and using that!

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And you wouldn't need Listerene

Sorry Officer, I haven't been drinking, just cleaning my shaver!!!

You don't have to do it every day, every second day is good enough according to the lady that sold me mine. That gives you 2 months of use which is as long as you're supposed to keep the stuff (or the alcohol evaporates according to the manual which as we all know is the font of all knowledge and never errs on the side of caution or marketing lust). I paid $20 at my local shaver shop for a pack of two refils - at two months a refil, that's $5 a month.

One of us is doing something wrong - I hope it's you :cool:

The other point is that the cleaning liquid is supposed to have some oils for the shaver blades ... according to that affore mentioned manual :oo:

The question is - how guillible am I being?
I'm new to this electric game. The blades finally got to the point where they were as much trouble as standing for an hour grinding away with an electric. No, I wasn't using one of these stupid five blade jobs either, a good old safety razor with a carefully refined technique :D

The electric isn't proving to be any better (just different) and nowhere near as hard on my neck.

Richard

My new beard is proving to be much easier on my neck than shaving with anything :)

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Originally Posted by Daddles

You don't have to do it every day, every second day is good enough according to the lady that sold me mine. That gives you 2 months of use which is as long as you're supposed to keep the stuff (or the alcohol evaporates according to the manual which as we all know is the font of all knowledge and never errs on the side of caution or marketing lust). I paid $20 at my local shaver shop for a pack of two refils - at two months a refil, that's $5 a month.

One of us is doing something wrong - I hope it's you :cool:

The other point is that the cleaning liquid is supposed to have some oils for the shaver blades ... according to that affore mentioned manual :oo:

The question is - how guillible am I being?
I'm new to this electric game. The blades finally got to the point where they were as much trouble as standing for an hour grinding away with an electric. No, I wasn't using one of these stupid five blade jobs either, a good old safety razor with a carefully refined technique :D

The electric isn't proving to be any better (just different) and nowhere near as hard on my neck.

Richard

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Hi mate, thanks for your response.

I probably don't have to do it daily, but I purchased this as it was supposed to be the ants pants in low irritation. I have crook skin and blades were making it raw, rashy and irritated (no, it was not my technique) even with the fancy expensive 5 blas, lubricating strips bla bla bla and even a mid range phillishave electric wasn't great. Although not completely stoked (for the price I expected to be), its probably as good I think I will ever get, although I must apply soothing creams after shaving still. The point I was trying to get to is that because of the irritation I like to keep it fully charged which keeps the motor running at full speed whilst shaving, and spotlessly clean, which should help too.

I find it 'very good' for the face, to 'acceptable' on my neck, in particular just either side of my adams apple, no matter what angle or pressure I use I cannot get that area anywhere near as good as the rest, which means I still irritate it, although not as much as blades.

It seems I am overpaying for the refills, even on ebay. I think now its not a just released model the refills through the retail outlets must have dropped in price as I just checked and even at the shaver shop they are $19.95 for 2. I guess $120 a year to keep it spotless I can live with. Thanks for pointing it out.

I agree, standing there for an hour grinding away is a chore, and if it wasn't for irritation I'd go back to blades in an instant. I'm 32 now and have been shaving since my early teens (seems the generations back 'italian' starting coming out in me early) :U so you would think all those years of blades would 'harden up' the face a bit, but it seems not.

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Originally Posted by Gingermick

My new beard is proving to be much easier on my neck than shaving with anything :)

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I tried that too, but even with some length on it I found all it did was make me itch. :doh:

You should have felt the pain when it eventually all came off. :o

(I assume 'gingermick' refers to your hair colour? I'm a fellow 'fantapants' myself') :U

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Originally Posted by Gingermick

My new beard is proving to be much easier on my neck than shaving with anything :)

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After 20 years of shaving every day....sometimes twice.....I have had a beard for over 20 years. Beards are GOOD!
No scrape....no itch....the odd nesting bird.....but GOOD!

... yeah, catches the soup dribbles nicely too ;-}

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Originally Posted by abitfishy

(I assume 'gingermick' refers to your hair colour?

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My old man used to call me that.
but fantapants is one I've not ever used, I'm sure swmbo will love it.

Here we can buy Denatured Alcohol at any home center. (Home Depot, Lowes...) Have you tried your Bunnies in the paint department?

It seems to me that there are a number of beard prep products out there that would meet the bill as a cleaner substitute. I have one of those demanding German made Braun shavers also. I don't know why. :doh:
I prefer the modern safety razor, especially those new ones made by Gillette with the multiple blades that vibrate if you push the button on the handle. Anyway, I was investigating the same issue and found this link.:2tsup:
making perfume / cologne

That might help. However, there are products such as Letrashave and such that would seem to be approximately the correct product and as they have been used successfully for years by men trying to prep their faces for a closer shave when using electric shavers, and they probably won't be as irritating to your face.

The products might not treat your shaver as gently but I doubt the fluid will harm the steel shaver if it doesn't hurt your your tender skin.:B

I think I am going to try the Everclear route with the addition of a little face oil and some water. The "B" in the denatured alcohol 40-B indicates it has a chemical called Bitrex added to make it bitter and supposedly undrinkable. (The denatured part).

Since I am not making the stuff for other than my own use, not for sale or distribution, I am not concerned about adding the Bitrex. If you want to drink dirty alcohol with water, go for it. I plan to pour the used stuff down the drain after the dominatrix in the shaver indicates the fluid requires changing.:o

If you want to have drink of the concoction before you put it in the plastic container for the shaver, that would be a better plan but if you are that hard up for a drink, just get a second bottle of the Everclear and make some Mohitos or something.:no:

Have fun,

Jim