Wood Alcohol is obtained in the dry distillation of wood. When wood is thus treated in closed retorts, the products yielded are acetic acid, tar and wood spirit.

The tar readily separates from the watery liquid containing the other products.

The watery liquid, or wood vinegar is distilled. Crude wood spirit first passes over and then acetic acid. The crude wood spirit is further purified by rectification. Wood alcohol is suitable for all purposes where grain alcohol is used in the paint and varnish industries, and can be substituted for it with advantage. The ordinary spirit is 95 per cent. pure.

Absolute wood alcohol is placed on the market under several names and differs from the ordinary-article in that, the little remaining water has been removed and the spirit deodorized. The only real advantage it possesses is the absence of odor and the fact that it dissolves resins somewhat quicker than when the ordinary spirit is used.