On Aug 31, 8:21=A0pm, PatOConnell <gypkap.figureit...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> y_p_wwrote:
> > On Aug 31, 10:38 am, PatOConnell <gypkap.figureit...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >> TH O wrote:
> >>> In article <JcWsk.18991$cW3.17...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> >>> =A0"Bruce W.1" <n...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >>>> On a recent bicycle tour I came very close to running out of
> >>>> butane/propane fuel for my MSR Superfly stove. =A0These canisters
ar=
e not
> >>>> always easy to find in stores.
> >>> You might want to consider alcohol stoves. They are not as fast
burni=
ng
> >>> or convenient as canister stoves but the alcohol is easily available
=
in
> >>> hardware stores and some gas stations.
> >> Alcohol has a very low BTU content. That's what the problem is with
> >> trying to cook meals with Trangia stoves and Sterno.
>
> > And output control. =A0That's the real killer with most potential
users=
..
>
> >> Coleman Fuel is a lot easier to find, and contains more energy. That
i=
s
> >> the advantage with MSR and Svea gasoline stoves.
>
> > You mean the Coleman white gas or propane? =A0There's more energy per
> > unit weight for propane compared to alcohol. =A0Per unit volume is
> > almost the same. =A0And alcohol can be safely carried in a lightweight
> > plastic bottle.
>
> Any alcohol (by definition) has an OH radical on it that is like
> carrying along a molecule of water. That's why alcohol doesn't put out
> as much heat per mole as hydrocarbons like Coleman fuel. Avoid methyl
> alcohol as a fuel--toxic. Denatured ethyl alcohol is safer. Personally,
> I'd carry alcohol in a metal fuel bottle.
I've seen alcohol sold in plastic bottles.
> >> If you really like canister stoves, resign yourself to carrying more
> >> canisters.
>
> > It's not really a problem. =A0Canister stoves are the most convenient
> > and easiest to operate. =A0I've yet to have one leak, gum up, or fail
t=
o
> > light with a match. =A0There are always tradeoffs, and some people
don'=
t
> > want to overhaul their white gas or multifuel stoves when they clog.
> > Or deal with gummed-up white gas from storage.
>
> Well, Coleman fuel has a reasonably decent shelf life, but like any
> other hydrocarbon, gets gummy (long chain hydrocarbons) if it
> eva****ates. I'll guess shelf life of Coleman is about 2 to 3 years, but
> that's just a guess. When I used a Svea, I emptied out the tank between
> camping/hiking trips.
Want to amend that? ;-)
Methane, propane, butane, and other short-chain hydrocarbons don't get
gummy. They just eva****ate. It's the impurities that tend to gum up
white gas.
Ever tried using charcoal lighter fluid in a pinch?
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