Naphtha ?

[isaac3d]

If you live in California, pretty much everything is carcinogenic, at least according to the state authorities.
Any hydrocarbon solvent is not particularly good for you, especially in large quantities. So just use common sense; small quantities, wear gloves, well ventilated space, or a suitable mask (for removing hydrocarbons). Avoid the known nasty stuff, for example benzene was mentioned above. (Hmm... used to use benzene to wash nasty stuff off my hands... probably just dissolved it in to my skin instead... but it hasn't afffffeccted mmee att allll.

 

[Craig22]

Now Benzene really is nasty. It has carcinogenic properties. Back in the day this was not understood; we even used it in the school chemistry lab in about 1970 (holding the bottle up to our ears to listen to the benzene ring, ha ha).

But iso propyl alcohol is benign. Structurally it is the same stuff that is in alcoholic drinks, but with an extra carbon in the chain. That makes is poisonous to drink, but that is all. And like I said, it is the active ingredient in hand sanitizer, used throughout the world during Covid.

 

[Fergie 307]

If you want lighter fuel just go down to your local camping shop and buy a bottle of liquid Coleman fuel, same stuff but a lot cheaper. I think our American friends call it white gas, basically highly refined petrol. Good stuff for all sorts of things, but as others have said alcohol is probably better for what you want.

 

[stuart little]

Quick note on IPA: only use in well ventilated spaces or outdoors and try to avoid inhaling the fumes - you can get a seriously unpleasant pounding headache. Not nice at all.

IPA/isopropyl alcohol/isopropanol/propan-2-ol

In days gone by, a Dorset brewed IPA had the same effect!

 

[isaac3d]

I'm sure you are aware but it's worth pointing out that the solvent you use depends on what you are trying to do. Alcohols, like isopropanol (IPA) and ethanol (common alcohol) will certainly work for removing surface grease and light oils. However if you want to remove heavier oils from the surface, for example to ensure good glue or finish adhesion with oily timber then you might be better off using acetone as this is a very "aggressive" solvent and also evaporates from the surface quickly. Light hydrocarbons such as white spirits, lighter fuels etc (probably mostly hexane) will also work very well but don't evaporate quite as fast as acetone.
So, basically pick your solvent for the use you want. Availability and price are also considerations.

 

[isaac3d]

In days gone by, a Dorset brewed IPA had the same effect!

LOL... I had a home brewed beer once which had a similar effect, made me extremely tired after just one glass... too many fusel alcohols probably resulting from suboptimal brewing temperature.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I keep small jars for a lady who makes jams etc. to sell for local charities - quite large quantities. I try to get labels off as do many people save them for her. On one particular jar the adhesive just wouldn't budge - I tried IPA, white spirit, meths, acetone, boiling water ............ nothing. Then I remembered I had a can of Baufix (iirc) Lidl's thinners - it just wiped straight off. Amazing. I have no idea what's in the stuff.

 

[isaac3d]

I keep small jars for a lady who makes jams etc. to sell for local charities - quite large quantities. I try to get labels off as do many people save them for her. On one particular jar the adhesive just wouldn't budge - I tried IPA, white spirit, meths, acetone, boiling water ............ nothing. Then I remembered I had a can of Baufix (iirc) Lidl's thinners - it just wiped straight off. Amazing. I have no idea what's in the stuff.

In all probability the solvent was something chemically very similar to the glue itself, which is always the trick when choosing the best solvent.

 

[Fergie 307]

Cellulose thinners shift most things, just dont get it near anything plastic.

 

[BillK]

Panel Wipe is used to clean/degrease before painting, in the bodyshop world. It contains naphtha among other things far as I know. It cleans very well while not attacking paints or plastics etc. It can lift out colour from some bare woods like rosewood, padauk etc though.

I use it all the time not just for painting but general cleaning, removing traces of double-sided tape off plexi templates or whatever, the other day cleaning up the soles of planes after flattening them.
They're not all the same, there are waterbased ones I think and I did have one that was overly harsh, but Tetrosyl is one I use all the time.

 

[Sideways]

.... I try to get labels off as do many people save them for her. On one particular jar the adhesive just wouldn't budge - I tried IPA, white spirit, meths, acetone, boiling water ...........

I buy lighter fluid a few cans at a time on ebay (cheaper that way) and removing labels is what I mostly use it for. It softens the glue for just a few seconds allowing the label to be steadily pulled off as you drip the liquid into the peeling edge. It is kinder to most plastics than cellulose thinners.