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#136651 - 07/22/10 06:29 PM Know Your Stove Fuels!
Canyonero Offline
member

Registered: 07/18/10
Posts: 28
Loc: Four Corners, Colorado, USA
After doing some testing with a home-made alcohol stove, I'm convinced, and I'm making the switch from my trusty ole MSR Whisperlite.

I went to my local small town hardware store for some fuel. I had done my testing with yellow Heet (methyl alcohol), so I knew that worked well. As I was headed into the store, I was met by a new guy, and I told him what I needed. He started leading me to the solvent and chemical aisle.

Just as we got there, one of the experienced guys met us. I told him I needed methyl alcohol, and he handed me a can of METHYL ETHYL KETONE! I asked him "Is this the same stuff as methyl alcohol?" He said "Yup, that's it!"

As some dim memory in my head conjured up a vision of my campsite disappearing in a ball of flame, I looked at the shelves, and saw a can labeled "alcohol appliance fuel". I said "Oh, I guess this is what I actually need", paid and left.

The "alcohol appliance fuel" I got is also labeled as denatured alcohol, 4% methanol, also known as methylated ethanol. I read that this is also one of the preferred fuels.

When I got home, I Googled Methyl Ethyl Ketone, and confirmed that it is a volatile, toxic and highly flammable solvent. I'm thinking the results from using it in a little alcohol stove might not be pretty! I don't expect it would do well carried in a plastic drink bottle either. I'm glad I did my homework on this one.

I'll post up a review of my new White Box Stove later.


Edited by Canyonero (07/22/10 06:46 PM)

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#136657 - 07/22/10 10:15 PM Re: Know Your Stove Fuels! [Re: Canyonero]
hikerduane Offline
member

Registered: 02/23/03
Posts: 2124
Loc: Meadow Valley, CA
Good you went armed with some knowledge. Us bpers are a tiny minority and most folks have no idea what we need, use or do.

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#136672 - 07/23/10 01:42 PM Re: Know Your Stove Fuels! [Re: Canyonero]
Rick_D Offline
member

Registered: 01/06/02
Posts: 2939
Loc: NorCal
Good lord, that guy could have kaboomed you. Ah, retail, where college educatin' just isn't needed.

sheesh
_________________________
--Rick

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