Hi, I'm a newbie when it comes to stoves. I gave a Trangia and I just recently acquired a Svea 123 and an Optimus 8. I have a question regarding fuel for the Trangia. Up until now I've used swedish "T-röd" which is denatured ethanol. Effective but quite expensive. However, I can aquire something called Ecosolv for free from my job. It's a 70/30 mixture of ethanol/isopropanol (rubbing alcohol). Many seem to consider isopropanol a poor fuel, but perhaps this mixture could be of use (and free!)?
Read this article on the use of alcohol in a stove. There are dangers in the type of alcohol you use. Like deciding the type of alcohol used can poison you and the air temperature can start an invisible run away fire. If I lived in Sweden I would head on down to the local Mariner's supply store and purchase the fuel they use in their marine stoves. The wrong fuel is dangerous and could cost you more if there happens to be an accident. http://adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com/2011/08/alcohol-as-stove-fuel.html
About the only issue I have read about is that isopropanol can soot more than other fuels. Opinion seems to go back and forth about which one does soot more. A simple cure is to add about 10% water to the fuel. You lose a little "mileage" but sooting is much less. Ethanol, methanol and isopropanol in the Trangia, it is a matter of opinion which is best. Unless the fuel had poisonous vapors or melted my stove, free is a very good price. Good Luck, Jim Henderson
By the way... Isopropanol is typically called rubbing alcohol in the USA. You can buy it at any drug store but it usually has either 30% water or sometimes 10% water added. Jim Henderson
Isopropyl Alcohol has the highest heat content, Ethanol is second, and Methanol is third. Methanol has the highest vapor pressure, Ethanol is second, and Isopropyl Alcohol is third. The problem with Isopropyl Alcohol is that it burns dirty which will offsets the advantage of getting it free. Cost aside, Ethanol would be the best choice for warm weather and Methanol the best choice for cold weather. Denatured alcohol is a combination of ethanol and methanol and may contain isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, pyridine, benzene, diethyl phthalate, and/or naphtha. The exact content varies by brand so you never know what you're getting or how cleanly it will burn. Ben
Maybe it would be good to check that fuel that you get for free from your company is free of any impurities. If it's sold as a solvent or cleaning liquid maybe it's not pure so maybe it might generate some harmful substances when it's burned. Here also "stove alcohol" is a bit expensive compared to times 10-15 years ago. Shops have notices that they can make money of it since there is no competition... I have bought T-Röd from Bilhell in 4 liter canisters, that price is lowest that I can find here: http://www.biltema.se/sv/Fritid/Friluftsliv-och-camping/Gasol--och-stormkok/Rodsprit-2000021819/
impurities is one issue how it burns is the other. Isopropyl isnt that poisonous (dont drink it) Our fibre guys at work have hands soaked in it most days (you cant wear gloves splicing fibre If they could it would be to control the fibre not the alcohol) Iso is sooty The ethanol might be enough to control it If its at least 97%alcohol try a small amount. Do it outside the first time though. Less than 97 I wouldnt risk it
One type of denatured ethanol may be relatively additive free. SD or SDA(Slightly Denatured Alcohol) number 40 is common in USA. I. E. SDA 40, used in mouthwash, hair tonic, aftershaves etc. SDA 40 is denatured with one of a handful of bitterants, in the USA. It is not typically denatured with a poison since it is used in mouth products. Many winos and stupid kids use it to get a buzz when nothing else is available. You'd have to drink a fair amount for serious damage. SDA 40 is MUCH cheaper than drinkable alcohol(ETHANOL) and is made to get around the very high alcohol taxes here. Don't know if you can get it where you are but it is often found where other bulk alcohol is sold. Petroleum product distributors are a good source in USA. We use it in some of our operations because it has much less smell than other alcohols and is not poisonous. Other countries may have different denaturants. UK even calls it specially instead of slightly. Actually I think I am using an old fashioned name ie 'slightly', seems "specially" is quite common. An informative but lengthy handbook on alcohol is here... http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...LRajACBQeRSNgfbWTB5zkg&bvm=bv.108194040,d.eWE Good Luck, don't drink Jim Henderson
It's a bit higher here for denatured alcohol, I'll see $6-7 per quart at the hardware stores, cheapest is using methanol sold as fuel line anti-freeze, about $1.75 for a 12 -16 ounce bottle in the form of HEET, or a similar product. Murph
Thanks for the link @Jim Henderson Jim have you a list or ideas where in the USA one would find it? Ken in NC
Dr_Rob, There likely is no danger in trying the alcohol with 30% isopropanol from work (unless you get busted for theft) to see if it burns clean enough to use. You could also cut it with denatured alcohol to reduce the isopropanal some more. But I would probably burn some in a small cut-off aluminum can first just to make sure it doesn't leave some unexpected residue. Ken -- I think you need a permit to buy the special denature alcohol (SDA), but not sure.
Itchy is right. A special permit is needed to buy the SDA. At least in the US. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/product/sial/793124?lang=en®ion=US We're getting away from Dr_Rob's question. Is the 70/30 ethanol/isopropanol safe to use in a Trangia? I'd say have a look at the manufacturer's safety data sheet and if it looks OK give it a try. It seems there's enough ethanol content to cancel any negatives from the isopropyl. It's free so there's nothing to lose by experimenting. Outdoors of course. Welcome to the forum Dr_Rob.
I use this stuff I get at the local marine store in a gallon size. You can also look for Bio-fuel or Eco-fuel which code for ethanol fuel like this LINK or this LINK. Ethanol burns very clean as long as the denaturing agent doesn't create soot.
Thx for the replies! I'll go ahead and test the mixed fuel and see what the results are, but I'll test it in a small metal cup first, just to get a feeling for how it burns. My main concern was if someone knew that isopropanol in a Trangia would yield problem X (apart from soot which seems to be the drawback). And no, I won't steal the fuel. We use tons of the stuff so the manager said it was fine if I took a few litres... There is really no problem with using swedish "T-röd" as fuel. It burns really nice. Any problems at all with the mixture and I'll keep using T-röd. "Free" is just such a lovely word...
SDA or various ethanols and alcohols are available from Petroleum distributors. Places where you can buy bulk oil, fuels, solvents etc. It is used as a solvent in many cases so a solvent distributor might be helpful. I'd have to look up my files at work, but they are local to the Los Angeles(Irwindale) area in anycase. Shell oil is the brand we often buy, yes they sell ethanol too. I think in the USA if you buy less than 5 gallons per year you don't need a permit. Since we are "qualified" users we never have a problem but I think it is the same for the public. Ask around. Such a distributor will have other fuels of interest and other stuff that is quite useful and not usually sold at retail. Good Luck, Jim Henderson
Ordinary hardware store denatured alcohol by the gallon. It's always worked, it doesn't soot. It's fun to talk about fuel complexities, but really it's simple in practice.
Which one are you using? Sunnyside Denatured Alcohol: 49% Ethanol Klean Strip Denatured Alcohol: 50% Ethanol Klean Strip Green Denatured Alcohol: 90% Ethanol Crown Denatured Alcohol: 25% Ethanol Lynsol Denatured Alcohol: 87% Ethanol
Klean Strip Green is only available in the 1 quart size. Sunnyside and Klean Strip Denatured are available in a 1 gallon size. Both burn fine in a Trangia or Turm.
