Where to buy denatured alcohol in lower mainland
- Thread starter bMcN
- Start date
Olde School
Well-Known Member
Methyl hydrate is toxic.
bMcN
Active Member
Yes, looks about 1/4 the price of ethanol, but with the kids on board I'd rather pay a bit more for something less toxic.
NootkaSounder
Active Member
Do they make a conversion stove over to 0ropane?
wolf
Well-Known Member
And alcohol or gas isnt??
Foxsea
Well-Known Member
The chemistry of ethanol (pure denatured alcohol or Everclear) and methanol (100% methyl hydrate) is similar - both are alcohols. When burnt in an open flame, as in a stove, the emissions are CO2 and water vapour.
The toxicity of methanol becomes an issue if you handle it, inhale it or drink it. In quantity, ethanol is also toxic when consumed. Because burning any alcohol consumes oxygen, adequate ventilation should always be assured. Canned heat such as Sterno uses methanol as a denaturing agent. The problem with denatured alcohol is that there are no standards for what constitutes denatured alcohol. In fact, some denatured alcohols are less than 50% ethanol, the remainder often cheaper methanol. In addition sometimes nasty stuff is used to denature the alcohol (render it undrinkable), like methyl ethyl ketone with fumes you also don't want to breathe.
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is out as a fuel because it burns incompletely and creates a sooty mess.
The toxicity of methanol becomes an issue if you handle it, inhale it or drink it. In quantity, ethanol is also toxic when consumed. Because burning any alcohol consumes oxygen, adequate ventilation should always be assured. Canned heat such as Sterno uses methanol as a denaturing agent. The problem with denatured alcohol is that there are no standards for what constitutes denatured alcohol. In fact, some denatured alcohols are less than 50% ethanol, the remainder often cheaper methanol. In addition sometimes nasty stuff is used to denature the alcohol (render it undrinkable), like methyl ethyl ketone with fumes you also don't want to breathe.
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol is out as a fuel because it burns incompletely and creates a sooty mess.
Last edited:
