This post was deleted by Tedward

I am a chemist (biochemist, actually), and I could be willing to consult an MSDS if anyone would like my help. (message me)

In terms of MSDS, the source of the chemical is almost important as the composition. Some boric acid is 'food-grade', others will give you nasty contact dermatitis. Read the MSDS for the specific bottle or batch number, not just the MSDS for the same chemical from another supplier or product- each MSDS is for what is in the bottle, impurities included. It should also be noted that some MSDS list chemicals as more dangerous than they actually are, as testing is required to show them to be safe.

I would not recommend using anything but ethanol as a solvent, preferably lab grade 95% (190 proof, with the 5% being water).

Alcohol basics- ethanol cannot be distilled above 95% without addition of other hydrphobics, which in most cases are nasty (200 proof usually contains a small quantity of benzene). Ethanol can be made by fermentation-distillation, or from natural gas. Fermentation is preferable if you plan on breathing the fumes. Denatured alcohol includes methanol (basically everything one might purchase at a hardware store contains small quantities of methanol to prevent people from drinking it). It should also be noted that methanol and most alcohols are easily absorbed through the skin. Methanol is metabolized into formaldehyde in the body (humans and chimpanzees are the only animals that deal poorly with methanol, so rat or mouse MSDS data is useless- of note most methyl-ester biodiesel is wrongly listed as non-toxic for this very reason). Contact is to be avoided, though most people can handle small doses with no issue. Methanol is eliminated from the body only by excretion (kidneys to urine), and as the metabolic pathway that breaks methanol down into the toxic product formaldehyde is the same pathway that breaks down ethanol, high-dose exposure to methanol is treated by giving the patient large quantities of ethanol (please consult poison control).

My non-expert opinion is that the small quantities of methanol present in denatured alcohol present only a minimal health risk for use as a solvent fuel, though exposure should be limited, and this risk is likely to be less significant compared to the risks associated with the chemicals dissolved in this fuel. If possible, lab grade 95% ethyl-alcohol should be used, though it may be difficult to obtain. 100% lab grade alcohol should never be used as a solvent fuel.