I've noticed something about the Home Bargains meths: it's really hard to get going when I use it to pre-heat. I have to keep the flame on it for quite a while before it catches and it doesn't really get going until the meths begins to boil. I wondered if it had been watered down to save them money.... anyone else notice this?
Source of Aspen 4, North Staffordshire: PJS Machinery Ltd, Pearl Mill Buxton Road Leek Staffordshire ST13 6EJ Telephone 01538 371 335 Aspen 4: 1 litre, £6.50; 5 litres, £19.50 (£3.90 / litre) That's little more than half the price of Colman fuel, collected from a stockist - and there are none anywhere near where I live - and typically a third the price of a litre of Colman fuel, delivered. Pre-Pac Paraffin: 4 litres, £7.24 (£1.81 / litre) Gunner
@Marc Thank you, Marc - the last few months have been a bit of a rough trip, but I'm gradually getting myself together. Don't take any polystyrene nickels, eh? With best regards, Gunner
Hurrah! Last year my local Sheetz changed their kerosene pump to K-2. Although I use the high priced stuff sold at Home Depot for my stoves and lanterns, about $9.20 per gallon, I find that a bit expensive for my garage kerosene heater. I have not been able to find a good on line source of information for finding K-1. Today I left home with kerosene can to search for K-1. Before I left town I decided to check the Sheetz to see if they still sold K-2. Eureka, they are back to clear undyed K-1. It was $4.16 per gallon, which is not cheap but seems to be my best option. Perhaps I was not the only unhappy customer last year. Brad
From the ongoing discussion about which alcohol fuel to buy, I had purchased from on line a case of bioethanol. Although it burns nice and hot, it stains my pots. I have relegated its use only to the boat, where it will be burned in a more confined space. For all other uses I am sticking with the 50-50 denatured methanol-ethanol which burns completely clean.
@Gray The names “white spirit” and “white spirits” have varying and confusing meanings depending on location. For example: “white spirit” in New Zealand, sometimes in Australia, and elsewhere in the world is used for gasoline (Coleman fuel, naphtha etc). But, in Australia you can buy a commercial product called “White Spirits” that is a synthetic turpentine and not at all suitable for stoves and lanterns. It always pays to check the data sheet for the product you’re buying... Cheers Tony Edit: I don’t think I’ve ever seen “white spirit” refer to kerosene. Gasoline and synthetic turpentine, yes; kerosene, no. See the fuel name information here (in Tech & Info): http://www.pressure-lanterns-il.com/
Of all the local nomenclature for fuel, "white spirit" seems to be the most confusing. Here at CCS there was a sort of evolution in early days from "paraffin" to "kerosene", and from "gas(olene)" to "petrol". From Brit to Yank usage in one direction, the opposite in the other. "Petrol" of course because North American "gas" is gasoline, yet when it comes to stoves, is very misleading internationally, because after all gas is not a liquid. As for kerosene, it was a term widely used around the world, as well as being understood in Blighty. To Yanks, "paraffin" means what Brits call "paraffin wax". And "paraffin" had that insular English sound to it, like "lorry" and such.....
For alcohol stove users, my local Walmart here in Oregon has four packs of yellow Heet 12oz bottles, 48oz total, for $5 and change. This makes it slightly better pricing than buying denatured alcohol by the gallon.
thanks Marc. I'm a little surprised how much Heet I use. And I have yet to be bit by the Trangia bug, unlike some I know. Ivan
Other styles are available. https://classiccampstoves.com/threads/optimus-no-91-purple-flame.722/ Also the Aldi/Lidl versions aren't too bad for any European readers here.
