I recently had my ancient and venerable Optimus 111 Hiker re-built for alcohol-only burning (this is actually the second time A&H Enterprises has done it) I have my twisted logic behind the decision to use alcohol-only, but likely those circumstances will never apply to anybody else. There is a range of suitable fuel brands sold in the US, and I haven't really had the time -or inclination- to scientifically test them all. What would be the highest-quality/purest/most efficient alcohol fuel available in the USA? The point is just to use a fuel that is as efficient as possible, but also has the lowest content of "nasty stuff", ie poisonous combustion products like benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, heavy metals and whatnot. Especially whatnot. Price really doesn't enter the picture as a variable; I'll spend whatever is required, within the bounds of sanity. Thanks!
Pure grain "Everclear" if you want to be able to drink it as well. 190 proof which I guess is 95% pure... If you want IsoPropyl (toxic) look for companies that sell telecommunications supplies. Optical Fiber cable is typically cleaned with high grade alcohol. The electric arc used to fusion splice fiber will flash the water residue messes up the splice. Do a web search for "99% reagent grade isopropyl" . This can probably ONLY SHIP GROUND FREIGHT
I'll only say the highest grade ethanol you can get. We're lucky in the UK in that it's simple & hard to go wrong whereas in the US there seems to be a plethora of alcohols commonly available & we've seen here US folk not even being able to get a pan of water boiling due to poor choice.
Ethanol has more energy than methanol and 200 proof absolute Ethanol is as pure as it gets. However I'd go with @anlrolfe's suggestion and use 190 proof Everclear. A little for the stove and a little for daddy. Mix it with Tang and you can enjoy a "camp screwdriver" while your dinner cooks. Ethanol cannot be concentrated by ordinary distillation to greater than approximately 96% by weight because at that concentration, the vapor has the same ratio of water to alcohol as the liquid, a phenomenon known as azeotropy. The highest concentration of ethanol generally available for human consumption is 190 proof (95% alcohol by volume), which is about 92.4% ethanol by weight. (according to Wikipedia) Ben
Well, that's good and all but $69 for 500ml of 200 proof laboratory ethanol wouldn't be my first choice. Everclear 190 is illegal for sale in my state and probably yours too. Try Klean Strip Green, over 90% ethanol and easily available at Home Depot and other big box stores for around $7 a quart. Ray
From what I could find, for my area, Kleen Strip Green was the best option for fuel alcohol. Ideally, Everclear would be used, but for the price I could not bring myself to burn it Edit: My brother in law does do work with fiber optics, so now thanks to this thread I will be hitting him up for possible better fuel lol
Grain alcohol and ethanol are the same thing. Bio-ethanol (like Kleen Strip Green) is a mixture of ethanol and a small amounts of other chemicals like isopropyl alcohol, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and denatonium. Ben
I agree that Everclear is the cleanest, least toxic ingredients ethanol readily available. Out stores carry it in Tennessee. I also agree Kleen Strip Green is a good choice. The MSDS shows the formulation, which can change at any time. When last I looked it was 90 to 95 ethanol with the rest toxic chemicals.
But Everclear is subject to beverage alcohol taxes, which increases the price several multiples. I just bought a quart of Kleen Strip Green and am going to work on my Spiritbraenner....it cost $7.95. The quart, that is. I had to go to three stores to find the Green; Ace Hardware and Fred Meyer didn't have it; Home Depot did.
Methanol and ethanol are the only alcohols suitable for burning in stoves. Iso will smoke and generally gum things up. Methanol is very toxic as a liquid but its burnt products are safe. Just dont drink it sniff it or get too much on your hands. Ethanol is the good stuff but pure will be like burning greenbacks due to it being taxed for consumption. The likes of klean strip meths etc have chemicals added to make them pretty much unpalatable to all but the most seasoned drinker so avoid this tax. The chemicals mostly burn into harmless residues
I really appreciate the replies and info! The Everclear "dual use" fuel idea was passed on to me decades ago, by my Boss no less Unfortunately, my home is Minnesota, one of those self-righteous anal-retentive States who feel compelled to micro-manage its Citizens "for their own good"..... Everclear can only be had by a road trip to Wisconsin So, Kleen-Strip it is, readily available & fairly cheap through Home Depot. (I really wish I had access to a gas chromatograph or somesuch to analyze both the fuel and the combustion products.....it would be cool to know)
have you read the safety warning on that lab grade plonk? "Safety and Handling WARNING! Emergency Overview Flammable liquid and vapor. May cause irritation of respiratory tract. May cause central nervous system effects. Aspiration hazard if swallowed - can enter lungs and cause damage. This substance has caused adverse reproductive and fetal effects in humans. Substances known to cause developmental toxicity in humans. Use personal protective equipment. Keep away from open flames, hot surfaces and sources of ignition. Wash off immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Obtain medical attention. Rinse immediately with plenty of water, also under the eyelids, for at least 15 minutes. Obtain medical attention. Obtain medical attention. Move to fresh air. NFPA Health:2 Flammability:3 Instability:0" Those guys are no fun
Sound like the Swedish (Scandinavian even?) immigrants took the Nordic traditions with them and re-planted them in their new home state...
When I worked i the ananlytical undustry (Varian inc), We used bottles of 99.99% pure ethanol. Trouble was it started to be contaminated as soon as you opened it.(we used it as a solvent in spectroscopy). These days I use methanol. Yes its pos toxic. So is CF and kero. Just treat with respect. In tbe US you have a product called Heet. Yellow bottles are methanol. Red iso? If you know someone in the chemical industry. Then try what we call 'ims' (industrial metholated spirits).
I've primed with alcohol hand sanitiser gel! I have used IMS in the past. Basically ethanol. My 25L drums lasted a good while. No longer available to me now but bioethanol stuff is cheaper than the purple meths of old now so not the imperative to seek it out. From memory methanol, outside the toxicity issues, produces less btu.
Twice I have contacted Kleen Strip asking about the availability of gallon containers of the Green Alcohol. I have yet to receive an answer. I will keep trying.
@snwcmpr Ken, I contact them about once a year and gallon size is not yet available. We have to keep letting them know we want this product in gallon containers. Like all chemicals, the quart size is the least economical. Even the regular KS denatured is $6.50 a quart and $12 a gallon. Always a better deal on gallon size.
What about this stuff? http://www.modaflame.com/Moda-Flame-Ventless-Bio-Ethanol-Fireplace-Fuel--1-Gallon_p_109.html
Thanks Ross. This would work and looks to be available in many places. Since it's for indoor unvented alcohol fireplaces maybe there's less poison. Price is still slightly higher than buying 4 one quart sized KS Greens. What we'd like to see is KS Green at $7 a quart but $12- $15 a gallon like the other chemical prices. (I know I'm being fussy)
