RE: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise V1 #331

Mentholated spirits is treated with some nasty chemicals to make it
unpalatable to winos. It's usually pink and a distant relative to Sterno.

When I lived in South Africa, there were many homeless "Mountain people"
(Bergies) that drank Meths and were in very poor shape because of it. Even
today, I can't smell meths without being reminded of those poor people.
Again, the US version isn't treated the same way. Perhaps the soot is from
the flavouring.

cya

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Kruger [mailto:dkruger_at_pacifier.com]
> Sent: Friday, December 18, 1998 10:16 AM
> To: Bob Denton
> Cc: PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise V1 #331
> 
> 
> Bob Denton wrote:
> > 
> > We don't have Meths here in the States, but you can 
> purchase denatured
> > alcohol at any hardware shop or pharmacy.
> 
> (In response to Kevin:)
> > > But to talk about stoves... Trangias are well used here 
> in the UK.[snip]
> > > One
> > > downside is that the 'meths' fuel leaves a very sooty 
> finish to the pans
> > >
> > > When we visit the USA we don't bring the Trangia - we use 
> our MSR - as
> > > fuel is sometimes hard to find. [snip]
> > > Keith, Fachwen, North Wales.
> 
> Bob, I think "meths" is short for "methylated spirits," which is wood
> alcohol (aka methanol, aka methyl alcohol).  I believe you 
> can buy this at
> better hardware stores in the paint section.  It has some use 
> as a shellac
> thinner.  I suspect denatured alcohol (aka denatured ethyl 
> alcohol, aka
> denatured ethanol) would work in a Trangia, but have never tried it. 
> Normally, the stuff at pharmacies is isopropyl alcohol (aka 
> isopropanol,
> aka "rubbing alcohol").  I suspect it might not work too well 
> in a Trangia,
> but have no experience here, either.
> 
> FWIW, when any of the fuels suggested for the Trangia evaporates,
> essentially no smelly residue is left, more than I can say 
> for white gas!
> 
> Re:  the "hazard" associated with packing a clean, empty 
> white gas stove in
> one's airline luggage:  minimal, especially when you think of 
> it riding
> along, next to countless other pieces of luggage containing 
> pressurized
> canisters of deodorant (etc.), all with highly flammable, extremely
> volatile propellants (usually a butane/propane mixture).  Pretty
> inconsistent practices.
> 
> Please note, I am NOT arguing for allowing even "empty" white 
> gas stoves
> aboard airliners, just pointing out inconsistencies.
> 
> -- 
> Dave Kruger
> Astoria, OR
> who packs solid, "stick" deodorants on airline flights
> oh, my!  what a good guy!
> 
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