Denatured Alcohol

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 14:09

I know that denatured alcohol is the best to use for an alcohol burner...but where do I get it? and will I be able to buy it (being only 16) ?

Thanks

**Dark Horse Dave** · 24-01-2010, 14:20

Just use methylated spirit - "meths" - which you can buy from hardware/DIY shops (like Homebase, B&Q etc).

I don't know about any age restriction to buying it I'm afraid, but you should be able to find out in the shop.

Read about it here if you like: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denatured_alcohol

Hope this helps

DHD

**Frazer** · 24-01-2010, 15:13

Hello, I just picked up a bottle of meths from B&Q the other day and hit the age restriction on the self serve tills - the new 'do they look 25' bit same as alcohol so I'm assuming it's an 18 limit.

EDIT: According to the B&Q website diy.com it's 21
You can always try smaller / independent retailers who won't have corporate regulations and what not.

**British Red** · 24-01-2010, 16:02

There has been laws in Scotland about selling meths since the 1930s

I recall being amazed by them thirty years ago

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 16:25

So I'd have to get someone older to get me it

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 16:33

how long do meths tend to burn for? for example say if i had a 1/4 of a pints worth of meths (first thing that came to mind) how long roughly would that burn for? just trying to get an idea of how efficient they are.

**Frazer** · 24-01-2010, 16:36

I still don't know - at 16 you can purchase petrol easily enough. From what I can see from a quick google the law in Scotland used to be 14 - but the act was repealed in '98 so uh fair game?

Try Hombase / Focus etc or as I say an independent hardware shop if you are still stuck for any one to buy for you.

EDIT: about 20ml boiled a mugs worth of water for me this morning in a coke can stove and burned out quickly after.
16 and thinking in pints? my my :P

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 16:45

Good example to use! im thinking of making one of those coke can stoves, look very interesting! and thanks, how long does it take to boil? and :P

I can assure you that it has NOTHING to do with the lager I'm drinking just after my sunday dinner

BUT i'm only having the one, dont worry

**Frazer** · 24-01-2010, 16:50

Lol, I won't say a thing.

it took about 9 minutes for it to boil using an Al mess tin with tin foil lid. I'm playing with different set ups atm, been on the energy drinks today to make a smaller one but I'm needing to make a wind-shield / stand / container. And then I'll be racing it against a SS Trangia

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 17:02

do you have one of those ikea cutlery drainers that everyone is turning into hobo stoves? I've done the same with mine but I was also thinking that I could quite easily make a platform halfway up that and use that as a windshield? reckon that would work? also, how far above the little coke can stove have you been putting the mug ? or do you just put it directly ontop?

**widu13** · 24-01-2010, 17:07

Instead of making the burner higher lower the mug. That's what I do anyway!

**Frazer** · 24-01-2010, 17:09

Tried sitting it straight on top with can-stove mkI but it just snuffed it so it has been sat about 20mm above or so. I've got a bit of experimenting to do still tbh.

Nope, not got anything like that - was eyeing up a kitchen caddie in pound stretchers though...

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 17:19

the cutlery drainer is definitely worth a purchase, if not for a windbreak it makes a great little woodburning hobo stove

and so easy to make!

**Shewie** · 24-01-2010, 18:37

Get 5L here for only a tenner
http://www.agwoodcare.co.uk/gbu0-pro...d_spirits.html

Better than £3 for 500ml at B&Q

**Bushcraftsman** · 24-01-2010, 20:16

Thanks shewie!

**Arri** · 24-01-2010, 21:16

I bought a Methylated Spirits bottle from B&Q and it clearly said "21+" not even 18! I thought that was very weird...

**Buckshot** · 25-01-2010, 07:33

You used to be able to get a licence to use DNA for camping.
They've stopped that now AFAIK so you can only use meths really
I'm told mixing with 10% water helps cut down on the sooting effect but haven't tried it.

Mark

**y0dsa** · 25-01-2010, 20:57

Its a bit before my time, but to buy meths in Scotland you used to have to sign a register. But that's a wee while ago now...

The trouble with the mineralised meths available in the uk is that the minerals (whatever they are) clog up a Trangia's burner holes.

I used to buy denatured alcohol (without minerals) from a chemical suppliers, the type of place that supplies university's. But now a friend brings it over from France: the stuff pongs but doesn't have minerals in it. The best meths ever was Swiss (typical, eh): it burned beatifully, didn't smell auful and was relatively cheap. It was hard to find in Spain.

I've always fancied making proper wood alcohol, but its pretty nasty stuff so not sure about handling it or using it to cook food from.

Just rambling,

y0dsa

**forestwalker** · 26-01-2010, 05:10

With a Trangia expect 1-1.5 L/week for normal cooking (1 L for all ready meals, 1.5 L for some real food as well).

**Overlander30** · 29-01-2010, 01:12

I bought some meths from B&Q near the end of last year. the conversation at the till went like this (true story):

till man: can I ask you, do you intend to either sniff it, drink it, or otherwise abuse it?

me: yes, I'm going to go back to my car, wrap it in a paper bag, then swig it furtively.

till man: £3.50 please sir

**Paul_B** · 29-01-2010, 14:27

I reckon the age thing would be less of an issue if you bought it from a small, local general store in the more hilly areas of UK. I know a lot of them do sell meths. There's one on the way to Wasdale in the Lakes for example that sells all the usual provisions plus outdoor gear, gas, stoves, meths and other stuff you might need such as ear plugs. As well as quite possibly being less stringent on the age requirement for meths camping fuel you would be supporting a local business which is very important in these more rural areas IMHO. IF they do prevent you buying it then just wait outside with your ruckack on and ask their next customer to buy it for you.

**Paul_B** · 29-01-2010, 14:32

AS far as height above can meths stoves is concerned, isn't it a case of the type of stove you've made, i.e. open or closed. One needs the centree opening to be closed off once it has bloomed to allow the jets to form. A good example is the whitebox stove. I have the AGG cookset which comes with a can stove that also needs the pot to rest over the opening. Other types need the pot to be held off the can.

I might be wrong as I'm no expert on them. There is an expert who regularly posts on a different outdoors forum who is kind of a UK expert on meths stoves, windshields and caldera clones, etc. He was the inventor of the squeezebox stove/windshield that won the Alpkit innovation competition at last year's Outdoor Show. I am sure if you find him out he would have answers to meths stoves questions. There is a US forum that is also full of stovies. BTW I'm not mentioning any forum names in case I upset the Bushcraft website ppl. Its especially important as I'm finding it more interesting than other forums I've been on for long time.

**nickliv** · 29-01-2010, 14:32

Possibly even cheaper here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Methylated-Spi...item1e599a9612

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