You people are giving me too much credit, what would be "normal cleaning" the dust/lube combo is identical to dark grey peanut butter.
Originally Posted by
AnkleWork
Alcohol is not "like" WD40 and there's no need for it (or drying). Just get everything as clean as you want with the WD or petroleum solvent, the lube as normal.
Isopropyl Alcohol is to remove WD-40
See rant bellow:
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WD40 is a mix of alcohols, hydrocarbons(solvents, light oils, degreasers, petrochemicals, and cleansers, it may or may not be the right application for cleaning my bike chains ... but it should be removed before using a different lubricant (not just bikes). WD40 will thin out/displace/or break down some components of other lubricants i.e. anything teflon, acrylic or silicone based wont be able to stick to the surface at all, other petrochemicals will either sit on top of it or right under it depending on density, old timey bike oil (3-in 1) are perfectly miscible with WD40 but the end result is a thinner oil offering less or shorter protections. I dont know if the difference or letting it stay is significant but there definitely is a difference, and no one has done an exhaustive study to know for sure either way.
IsoP-Alcohol is both polar and non polar it can completely remove everything in WD40. Acetone works too. Ethanol, Methanol, Toleune, Ethyl acetate are polar, it can dissolve most of the stuff in WD40, but youd have to let it dry then wipe with water to get all of it (order doesnt matter).