Spilled Rubbing Alcohol in stringer and left it and purple dots are appearing

[Andyroo10567]

Basically, the title says it all. I was cleaning my clamps and such until i spilled my Rubbing Alcohol into the tray on the stringer and a purple substance is showing up.... Its expanding pretty fast and is looks pretty bad. I took these pics during the beginning and its been expanding for quite a long time now.

Immediately after it started :



a couple seconds after :



Funky stuff going on.... Not a big fan of science

[Lakers4Life]

I think it's pen ink that is desolving in the alcohol.

[Andyroo10567]

Err. I've never had a pen near the stringer. It looked completely normal before and had no signs of pens or ink nearby. As of right now, the whole puddle of rubbing alcohol is purple.

[pvaudio]

Well, assuming you don't store psychedelic mushrooms in your stringing tray, I would presume that your tray was made with some form of a fumarate. Fumaric acid is used to make some polyester resins, which, when combined with isopropyl compounds creates a purple-blue substance. Since your tray looks like it's rather old, I would presume that's what happened.

[Andyroo10567]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

Well, assuming you don't store psychedelic mushrooms in your stringing tray, I would presume that your tray was made with some form of a fumarate. Fumaric acid is used to make some polyester resins, which, when combined with isopropyl compounds creates a purple-blue substance. Since your tray looks like it's rather old, I would presume that's what happened.

Boom. Looks like the right answer. Indeed the tray is pretty old. Is this dangerous in any way?

EDIT : Never mind. Wikipedia solved my question.

[Lakers4Life]

Fumaric acid is also used in dyes. My money is still on some type of pen ink. Like a Sharpie for example.

[pvaudio]

^^^Indeed, even if you can't see it, the reaction is strong.

And yes you're correct andy, it's perfectly safe.

[Andyroo10567]

Ok good. Because i was using my bare hands to sort of feel the substance and it stained on my skin for a bit. Hm. I'll investigate a bit on the ink problem! Winter season doesn't bring me much racquets to string up so i might as well work on the stringer before having my customers back.