I went to go and get some more panel wipe today and the supplier I go to has changed the brand they sell. In the past I've used the Tetrosyl panel wipe which burns just great. All I could get today though was what the supplier tells me is definitely panel wipe. It is something called Starchem PW-50. I can't find a data sheet on the 'net for it so I have emailed Starchem to see if they have one. It says on the tin it is petroleum distillate but that is all. Has anyone used this stuff? I haven't opened it yet so I thought I'd ask here before doing so. Simon.
Hi matey, it looks like it's sold as a de-greaser which is what panel wipe is. There site is here http://www.starchem.co.uk/products/chemical.htm HTH Si
Thanks Si. I'd seen the site, it's where I got the email address for Starchem from. Unfortunately I don't think it is as simple as it just being a degreaser, it has to be the right one. The data sheet for the Tetrosyl stuff shows it is 100% Hexane. It looks like Coleman fuel contains Hexane among other things. I'm no chemist so I can't really decipher it much more than that!
I've been emailed the MSDS for PW-50 and it looks like it is the right stuff. The Coleman MSDS says it is a 'hydrotreated light distillate', while PW-50 is 'naptha (petroleum), hydrotreated, light'. I wonder if Hexane is the same thing, any chemists here? Does anyone agree that it might be a good idea to keep a list of brands that people have tried and found to be the 'right stuff'? Simon.
....dragging up my school chemistry....25 years ago.... Hexane is an alkane hydrocarbon (formula c6h14 if that's any interest) which will be a liquid at room temp and will be quite volatile - more so than Octane (c8h18). Not sure about the hydrotreated bit, but Hexane is produced by distilling crude oil (actually fractional distillation of crude oil, but that's just the long name). It will be one of the component hydrocarbons in petrol.
Naptha is more a generic term and will usually include a number of different length hydrocarbons. I think the stuff Primus sells as "Powerfuel" is mostly heptane (C7H16). Hexane woould be more volatile than heptane, and heptane more than octane, etc. I bet the PW-50 will work fine. If you want to check for residue, pour a little into a clean glass jar and let it evaporate (not great for the environment but your contribution is insignificant). Good to hear that hexane worked for you in the past as I have a couple bottles of it, but have been reluctant to see how it works in a stove. Should be great for cold weather.
Hexane is even better than heptane for winter/arctic use! It's used as a component with diethyl ether for starting fluid here in the US, THAT should tell you something!!!!! Murph
