Since the latest lockdown was imposed, I've not been able to collect my usual source of fuel for my Coleman Feather and Optimus 80s (Aspen 4 from a local garden centre) - and the shipping costs are horrendous. So, having read in a number of places that panel wipe can be used instead, I found a supplier on Ebay selling it for £17.50 for 5 litres including shipping (about half the price of 5 litres of Aspen 4 once you add in the shipping costs!), and gave it a try. I can't make any definite statements about the difference in using it, but my impression is that it takes the stoves a little bit longer to get up to full output on the panel wipe - and the Optimus 80s need the spirit cup well topped up - but it does the job. After firing up, the 80s seem to take a little longer to get into full 'Doodlebug' sound, but not to a problematic degree. Smell running on panel wipe? Not when running - just the faintest whiff when I shut the stove down. The supplier I bought from currently shows it as 'out of stock' but there are several adverts currently showing on Ebay, with it listed at £15-16 for 5 litres (inc. shipping). Re. panel wipe; it comes in two types - fast dry and slow dry, which clearly refers to the speed of evaporation. I made sure to get the fast dry type, on the assumption that it would vapourise more readily, and it certainly seems to have worked OK in practise. With best regards, Gunner
Water-based panel-wipe? Woa!! I didn't know there was such a thing - but it may explain why I saw some 5 litre containers for sale on Ebay at what appeared to be a suspiciously low price. Many thanks for the warning, John - I could have come badly unstuck on that! And best regards, Gunner
@Gunner Try "Holts Professional Brake Cleaner" a few people here have tried and it seems to burn ok. Link Here, Cheap too.
@richmay - many thanks for the tip, I'll give that a whirl when I need to stock up again. With best regards, Gunner
The problem of course is that retail or commercial product naming doesn't guarantee what's inside or that it won't change without notice. "New & Improved!" anyone? Brake cleaner can refer to all kinds of things. A little time digging for and poring over the MSDS or CAS # can help greatly in this regard. A CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) Registry Number is a unique identifier that tells you, for example, that acetone and dimethyl ketone are actually the same substance.
@Fettler - I always do consult the info on the MSDS on any product like this, before use. And if that info is not readily available, I don't buy it. Best regards, Gunner
I looked at this : Pro Range 5 Litre Fast Panel Wipe/Degreaser Paint Automotive Panelwipe | eBay And got the msds sheet for it, attached. What are your thoughts on this please. It burns somewhere between ASPEN4 and lamp oil, but much nearer to ASPEN4. Tried it in my Coleman 533 and it worked fine, just a little bit of yellow flame to begin with until the generator tube got up to full temp then ran just like Aspen 4. So once I run out of ASPEN4, I may use this Panel Wipe Currently using ASPEN 4 as I still have some left. If anyone in the UK has not tried this, then you should, it's basically petrol without all the additives, does not stink like petrol, does not leave a horrible smell on your hands if you get any on you and is cheaper than Coleman fuel. Did some quick tests in a silver metal lid, put a capful of ASPEN4 set it alight, where the fuel was remained clean, a light film of soot where the flames burnt. Pro Range Panel Wipe, same as ASPEN4 but more soot left behind. Lamp oil, Oh yes, black soot all over the surface where the flames burnt. Thanks.
@chocki - having used the panel wipe through this winter and spring, I've decided to switch back to Aspen 4 now my local supplier is open again, once I've used the last of the panel wipe. It does work, but I find it a bit erratic when lighting up - it takes longer to settle down to a steady burn in my Coleman Feather stove, and inclined to show yellow in the flame if I want to turn it high within a short time of lighting; I have to leave it running for several minutes at a relatively low heat before I can go to full throttle. The Svea stoves seem to need a bit more preheat with panel wipe than they do on Aspen 4 - though, again, once well warmed up they seem to run well on it. On balance, I prefer the Aspen 4; for the cost saving per litre, it doesn't seem worth putting up with the 'touchiness' my stoves show on panel wipe. HTH, and best regards, Gunner
Gunner, why don't you go ahead and get the Aspen 4 and mix it with your panel wipe to thin it down a bit. You'll get a better burn, not so much preheat time and faster full throttle burn. I'd suggest 3 to 1 mix, Aspen4 to panel wipe.
@Lance - that's a thought; I hadn't considered that, so I'll get some Aspen tomorrow, give it a go, and report back. Thanks for the suggestion, and best regards, Gunner
@chocki In the UK I favour UPOL S2001 Fast Panel Wipe. Burns nice and clean, no residue, have been using it the last 7 years or so. Alec.
Thank you guys, I'll probably stick to ASPEN4 because as stated by Gunner, it can be a bit erratic when lighting, not so bad in the middle of summer though, and have just managed to get a deal on a brand new MSR dragonfly for £40. Guy bought it but never used it, already got an XGK EX and a quietstove cap on the way which was going to be for the XGK, but as it also fits the Dragonfly, it will be going on this instead as it has the ability to be turned down to simmer.
