Moda Flame is what I use. It's probably the 3rd purest ethanol available (behind 200 proof lab stuff and 190 proof Everclear). It is pure ethanol with isopropyl alcohol and denatonium added to deter drinking (see MSDS below). Denatonium is the most bitter chemical known. Dilutions of as little as 10 ppm are unbearably bitter to most humans. I bought a 6 pack of quart bottles for easy handling. California another self-righteous anal-retentive state that prohibits Everclear. A pity that. Ben
@Spiritburner @z1ulike Thanks, I will look for that one. So far, I have not found bio-ethanol in my area. Except for the canister for the bio-ethanol stoves. And that was way too expensive for my taste.
We are well off here in Norway as rødsprit – T-rød in Sweden – are commonly available. Not being much of a chemist, but having heard ethanol can be made without too much effort, what about setting up chemistry set at home? This will give full control of the quality of the product. Cheers and all the best, e
Our Safeway in Oregon sometimes sells 16 ounces of 99% isopropyl alcohol for about $2. It burns hotter and there's little soot than lower grades of isopropyl. What I don't know is the relative toxicity.
My Great-Grandparents came from the Uppsala region; they left to get away from the Aristocracy and Clergy and Laws...... I'm a lot closer to Anarchist than Socialist. I love the forested beauty of Minnesota and would never leave, but the Politically Correct nonsense I can do without!
And I put a gallon of the Moda fuel in my cart at Amazon; sounds like superb fuel- I'll give you all a report when my Optimus 111 stove returns from A&H Enterprises.........Bob tuned it to burn beautifully.
This is where my Optimus 111 Hiker really shines: Sioux-Hustler Trail in BWCA Minnesota. To me, the most beautiful area of Planet Erf I'm a convert to the use of small pressure cookers with my stove; saves fuel among other things.
Minnesota is great, and the only negatives I can think of are that it is flat and has no saltwater.... I have never hiked in Minn, but I have in southern Illinois and in Massahoochits. The Eastern hardwood forest is really beautiful, so different to one who grew up in the conifer forests of the West.
There have been 10,000 songs about the West, California and Colorado in particular, but natural MN doesn't seem to inspire that kind of enthusiasm........Could be put off by the Bloodsuckers: our ticks are the size of Volkswagen Bugs, and the mosquitoes the size of buzzards........
Pardon my stutter... Personally, I like the Everclear idea, although it's more expensive than good rum or Irish Whiskey. I have used its hootch equivalent. I once knew a lab guy who brewed his own medicinal high proof. He gave me a liter of it, and I used it in my Trangia, and also spiked my camp coffee. Thing to remember: it's twice the proof of drinking liquor, so pour accordingly. Sadly, that source dried up years ago. Last year, I bought a quart of KleenStrip Green. It seemed OK then. [I thought I saw it also in one gallon cans at Home Despot then, but wanted to give it a try first, so I only bought a quart. Don't know if the gallons of KSG are now in inventory] Today, while trying out a new Sarma folding stickwood stove with a Trangia burner to heat up some leftover curry for lunch [sorry no pix] -- I got really high [12''] flames using KSG and an early burnout. Had to snuff out the whole rig with an inverted 3 gallon pot, just to lower the Trangia to the stove floor off its tuna can step. On refiring it, I still got the same high flames, but it was more manageable but even with the simmer ring deployed, I had high flames and an early burnout. -- I once saw a Trangia Torture Test on YouTube where a guy tried gasoline in the Swedish spirit burner. The thing survived, but had very high flames and high temperatures and gave off a lot of smudge. Today's burn on KSG acted in a similar way, maybe not as high a heat, but somewhat smudgy, and an early burnout. -- So I added more alky -- making sure it was out with an IR thermometer -- and finished heating the rice. Usually I get a longer burn time, and lower flames. As for the Yellow Heet, I've used it on the road. It's available in all autoparts stores and nearly every gas station/convenience store in the Country -- for about USD $3 a 12 oz bottle. Burns good and clean. Beware the Dollar Store knock-off in the yellow bottle. It is NOT the same. The knock-off stuff was a murky brownish color, didn't burn well, and worse, gave off a fishy stink. Took a while to work that smell out of my burner. The dollar store used to carry a good stove fuel in a white bottle but they swapped in the fishy stuff in a yellow bottle about a year ago. The Right Stuff is in the taller, asymmetrical bottle. PIX, if I can locate them:
@tofta For anyone with time on their hands and an abundance of rotting produce, or a pickup truck bedload of sugar, CH Kadels, a US MilSurp retailer offers a 3 Gallon Copper Moonshine Still, handmade in the USA for $400. www.chkadels.com
Here in New Zealand I can buy a still down at the local home brew shop along with everything I need to run it. Last time I looked they had 2 models one produced 70% by volume the other just under 90 but they would only sell this to people that had brewing knowledge. Apparently above about 75% alcohol is classified as a poison because it is absorbed almost instantly in the gut so if you overdo it you cant regurgitate the extra. Also at 2 to 3 times the strength of regular spirits you dont need very much. Owning a still is completely legal here although only to make for personal consumption.
go to Lowes or Home Depot - you'll find gallon containers of alcohol in the paint department - ~$15/gal and i believe you can order 5-gallon drums willie on the warm Gulf of Mexico
In Germany I buy ethanol from Kremer Pigmente: http://www.kremer-pigmente.com/de/ethylalkohol-70800.html Kremer has also a subsidiary in the US, however, on their web-site this very pure alcohol is missing: http://shop.kremerpigments.com/en/solvents-chemicals-und-additives/solvents/ Perhaps you could nevertheless inquire this material there and see what the response is . Regards, Philipp
