This is probably something I should know, but what is "denatured" alcohol? Can I use rubbing alcohol in its place?

I am getting ready to apply adhesive veneer to a project I'm working on and it says to clean the surface with denatured alcohol first. I'm trying to figure out if there's some chemical I already have that would do the same thing to avoid yet another trip to the hardware store.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Snappy

Not the same thing. Rubbing alcohol has oil in it that might screw up your adhesive.

Bit the bullet and head off to the store.

Sorry.

Denatured alcohol is ethanol with some small amount of poison added to it. Here's why:

Ethanol is grain alcohol, and is potable (you drink it in vodka, beer, wine, etc.) It is taxed by the government at the rate of just over $11 per gallon. To avoid the liquor tax on ethanol, which is the cheapest and safest alcohol to buy and use, manufacturers who intend it for finishing or cleaning instead of drinking add about one percent poison, thus changing its nature from potable to non-potable, and also non-taxable. Hence the name "denatured alcohol." The most common denaturants are isobutylisobutyrate, methylisobutylketone, and oddly enough, methanol, or wood alcohol, which unlike ethanol, is quite poisonous.

Rubbing alcohol is typically a 50/50 mixture of water and ethanol. Denatured alcohol is almost pure alcohol, and usually contains less than 5% water.

ADDY PROTOCOL: I am a former finish chemist and self-avowed finishing expert, with a handful of college credits in coatings chemistry.