# Home made ethanol **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [March 16, 2021, 9:21am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691 "2021-03-16T09:21:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EddieM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/839c29/32.png) [@EddieM](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/EddieM)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 9:21am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/1 "2021-03-16T09:21:30Z")
I am finding ethanol difficult to purchase and was wondering if the alcohol by volume that I can produce in my reflux still would be suitable for conducting an alcohol wash when testing for Varroa. I can attain an ABV of 83% will that be strong enough? I understand that methylated spirits will do the job, but the purple makes mite spotting more difficult unless filtered through a piece of kitchen roll…also I can distill 5 litres for less than $20 ---
**Author:** ![chau06](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/chau06/32/25515_2.png) [@chau06](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/chau06)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/2 "2021-03-16T12:59:32Z")
70% denatured ethanol is what I’ve used. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/3 "2021-03-16T16:05:27Z")
You can also use Rubbing Alcohol (isopropanol). Anything above 60-70% is fine. Your home-distilled stuff would work too, again 60-70% is plenty high enough. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![EddieM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/839c29/32.png) [@EddieM](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/EddieM)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/4 "2021-03-16T18:31:36Z")
Thanks to all for your feedback, will get a brew going right away ---
**Author:** ![HappyHibee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/happyhibee/32/27808_2.png) [@HappyHibee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/HappyHibee)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 10:44pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/5 "2021-03-17T22:44:13Z")
Do you ship your moonshine to the UK 😉😜 at 83% I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![EddieM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/839c29/32.png) [@EddieM](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/EddieM)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 9:55am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/6 "2021-03-19T09:55:51Z")
Don’t want to end up in the Tower of London, so I guess not, also Still Spirits who makes the still insist that the percentage be reduced to 50%or lower to ensure the consumer can still breathe after drinking it 🤣You could always move to New Zealand, one of only two countries in the world to allow the production of Spirits for personal consumption ---
**Author:** ![Bianca](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/bianca/32/23486_2.png) [@Bianca](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Bianca)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 5:12am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/7 "2022-07-27T05:12:01Z")
I can’t help but wonder why clear methylated spirits isn’t more popular for alcohol wash? It’s much cheaper than Isopropyl alcohol, which is the most common recommendation I see. I’m wondering if I’m missing something… is it the smell? ---
**Author:** ![ABB](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/abb/32/24614_2.png) [@ABB](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/ABB)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/8 "2022-07-27T05:58:50Z")
People are simply spoiled with choices 😉 Any alcohol will do and is also unnecessary for this exercise. A cup of hot water (not less than 70°C) and 2-3 grams of washing powder to solve in it. Mites will be well visible against the white bottom of the cup. ---
**Author:** ![Dazs\_life](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dazs_life/32/27490_2.png) [@Dazs\_life](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dazs_life)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/home-made-ethanol/29691/9 "2022-07-27T21:23:08Z")
**Methylated spirit is commonly known as denatured alcohol**. [Difference between White Spirit and Methylated Spirit for DIYers and Professionals](https://chameleon-decorators.co.uk/blog/difference-between-white-spirit-and-methylated-spirit/#:~:text=Methylated%20spirit%20is%20commonly%20known,smelly%20and%20dangerous%20to%20consume).