BajaNomad

Denatured alcohol

woody with a view - 8-23-2011 at 07:55 PM

perhaps they use propane like the rest of us campers.... ever watch man vs. wild? pretty easy to bring a fire source and scrounge for something to burn. if all else fails, eat your roadkill cold.....:light::lol:

DENNIS - 8-23-2011 at 08:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
if all else fails, eat your roadkill cold.....:light::lol:


YUMMY...........:barf:

Oddjob - 8-23-2011 at 08:31 PM

chrisx, you aren't attempting to cook up some meth are you?

bajamigo - 8-23-2011 at 08:33 PM

:lol:

tripledigitken - 8-23-2011 at 08:54 PM

Makes a good c-cktail too.

Loretana - 8-23-2011 at 09:05 PM

Home Depot in the US has it.

BajaBruno - 8-23-2011 at 10:28 PM

chrisx, I'm not sure where you are. If you are still in the U.S., Lowes has stove alcohol. Crown brand will work, as will Klean-Strip. If you are in Mexico, I would try a hardware store and look for a shellac thinner--you should find what you want.

Maderita - 8-24-2011 at 12:25 AM

Chrisx,
Is this for your Sierra San Pedro Martir trip?
A few of my climbing partners use Trangia alcohol stoves. Super simple and weigh next to nothing. They kick ass. You might want to check out Trangia. I don't know if it is available without the complete (and expensive) cook kit.
http://www.libertymountain.com/shop/search.asp?q=trangia&...

This might be a good alternative to the Trangia:
http://www.libertymountain.com/shop/product.asp?p=4450&p...
or
http://www.libertymountain.com/shop/product.asp?p=5088&p...
I'm still a long time fan of MSR stoves, multi-fuel type, though I use white gasoline (aka Coleman stove fuel). Alcohol stoves have their advantages in weight saving by several ounces. As a safety issue, I will never let anyone light an alcohol stove anywhere near my tent or in the van.

[Edited on 8-24-2011 by Maderita]

wilderone - 8-24-2011 at 08:57 AM

I bought some at Southwest Marine and at Lowes - S-L-X Denatured Alcohol by Klean-Strip, 32 oz can. Works great in my alcohol stoves. You can put it in small plastic travel containers or plastic hair shampoo containers, etc. Make sure your alcohol stove setup fits your pans. It is essential to have a windscreen which, by design, supports your cooking utensil - your pot diameter may too small to be supported. I used the components of two different alcohol stoves to come up with a combination that works for me. Another solution is to take 3 metal stakes - like long nails - as a support for pans. That way you can adjust them as needed.

chrisx - 8-24-2011 at 10:01 AM

Yes, Sierra San Pedro is a long ways up.
So I will have to be a lot more weight conscious for this trip. Cooking on a fire is the lightest way to go. Little alcohol stoves make a good backup plan. They are not really for daily use, because they are not fuel efficient. For daily cooking an MSR multi fuel stove would be better, because they are more fuel efficient. Fuel is heavy. Especially if there is a lot of coffee in your pack.

I think Trianga wants us to buy an expensive cook kit. An Alcohol stove is very easy to make and very cheap. I still have the first one I made a few years ago. http://royrobinson.homestead.com/Cat_Stove.html I use 3 rocks for a pan supporter, and a natural wind block. Another time I made one with a pocket knife.

I intended to bring the Dragon Fly, but grabbed the XGK by mistake. I wont be lugging it up a steep mountain. When the witch of November comes stealing, or at a high altitude the XGK will continue to work after all the others fail.

Quote:
Originally posted by Maderita
Chrisx,
Is this for your Sierra San Pedro Martir trip?
A few of my climbing partners use Trangia alcohol stoves. Super simple and weigh next to nothing. They kick burro. You might want to check out Trangia. I don't know if it is available without the complete (and expensive) cook kit.
http://www.libertymountain.com/shop/search.asp?q=trangia&...

This might be a good alternative to the Trangia:
http://www.libertymountain.com/shop/product.asp?p=4450&p...
or
http://www.libertymountain.com/shop/product.asp?p=5088&p...
I'm still a long time fan of MSR stoves, multi-fuel type, though I use white gasoline (aka Coleman stove fuel). Alcohol stoves have their advantages in weight saving by several ounces. As a safety issue, I will never let anyone light an alcohol stove anywhere near my tent or in the van.

[Edited on 8-24-2011 by Maderita]

J.P. - 8-24-2011 at 10:26 AM

It will be cold up there at night.We used to make a Alcohol heater buy pouring alcohol on a roll of toilet paper placed in a coffee can it will burn for a long time and put off a amasing amount of heat. there are a lot of camping spots up on the summit where no fires are allowed.

chrisx - 8-24-2011 at 10:33 AM

At the moment I am attempting to find a way to resupply with denatured alcohol while in Baja. They sell it at Soriana, but it is only 70%. 90% or above works well, 70% works poorly. When cycling in steep terrain every pound counts. Just a few pounds makes the difference between riding or hike a bike.
I have used 3 tent stakes as a pot support before. Also bent spokes can be made into a nice pot support. 3 rocks used as a pot support fit my REI ti kettle, but not my Snow Peak cup. Mostly I use a natural element such as a large rock or fallen tree to block the wind. And don't carry the supports and wind screen. I have used the little alcohol stove in hotel rooms more than in the mountains. I don't think of it as a way to cook trail food, but as an emergency back up.
Eventually I will try it your way with a little wind screen, as many people report that they like this set up.
many people are making little stoves with a hole punch and reporting success.
http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html
the pot sits directly on the can.
For now I just want to carry a little 400 ml bottle and find an easy way to get more.
Cooking on the fire is the most weight efficient way to go.
Hopefully everyone knows how to keep their small little fire from blowing around and reproducing.

Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
I bought some at Southwest Marine and at Lowes - S-L-X Denatured Alcohol by Klean-Strip, 32 oz can. Works great in my alcohol stoves. You can put it in small plastic travel containers or plastic hair shampoo containers, etc. Make sure your alcohol stove setup fits your pans. It is essential to have a windscreen which, by design, supports your cooking utensil - your pot diameter may too small to be supported. I used the components of two different alcohol stoves to come up with a combination that works for me. Another solution is to take 3 metal stakes - like long nails - as a support for pans. That way you can adjust them as needed.

vandy - 8-24-2011 at 12:25 PM

Those little Mexican hardware stores often have it.
It may not be denatured, and it may be 95%.
I've seen it in what look like liquor bottles...no joke.
Usually in the paint section.

wilderone - 8-26-2011 at 08:37 AM

"I don't think of it as a way to cook trail food"
A little alcohol stove was my only stove on a couple multi-day trips - it is efficient, fool-proof , puts out the heat, and it's clean. It will perform for your main stove, but for peak efficiency you need the windscreen - too much wasted heat and fuel. I understand about the rocks and stuff, but a lightweight tin surround will provide what you need. I experimented with chicken wire as a pot support, but it weakened with the heat. There are some online instructions for a little wood-burning (stick-burning) stove made out of a coffee can that I never finished or used. You would usually have enough fuel laying about for it, and keep your fire contained and your pots clean. That original design might be impractical to carry around on a bike, but you could create a folding, stick-burning stove. Use tin sides, improvise the hinges, cut out vent holes at the bottom, and set a pot support on top - maybe fit into notches on the rim of the stove so they don't move around. Another back-up for your cooking needs.

Have you considered sterno?

Dave - 8-26-2011 at 08:50 AM

Equal in heat output and no mess.

Jack Swords - 8-26-2011 at 09:14 AM

Just returned from a week's backpack in the high Sierra (Ca). One guy had an alcohol stove, another a propane/butane stove, I had my old MSR Whisperlite. Propane stove would barely work at cold temperatures, was fine at noon in the sun. Alcohol stove was clean, took a while to boil cold water, affected by wind even with wind screen. Whisperlite (gas-Coleman fuel) fired up, very hot, boiled cold water quickly, AND the gasoline helped start the campfire in light rain with wet wood. That ability (fire starting) convinced me to stick with the Whisperlite. Alcohol wouldn't do it. I have made very small and light weight alcohol stoves from beer cans (Google it) and even a cooking pot from a Foster's can. Very lightweight, but under serious cold/wet conditions the gasoline is a built-in fire starter. This year big snow, postholing walking, high water crossings, wet meadows, trails under water, usual high Sierra thunderstorms. Wet, cold, need heat! So, still looking for the best lightweight stove. Over 10 backpacks in the Sierra this summer and the topic won't go away. Went ultra lightweight several years ago, but still sticking with gasoline fuel.

96% Denatured Alcohol in Cantamar

Gypsy Jan - 8-26-2011 at 11:07 AM

The liquor store sharing the parking lot with the closed Pemex gas station and the decaying lighthouse building sells "Alcohol Puro de Cana Michoacano, Alchohol etilico sin desnaturalizapse deje destapado 96 G.L."

Dave - 8-26-2011 at 11:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
Alchohol etilico sin desnaturalizapse deje destapado 96 G.L."


Grain alcohol not denatured. Mexican Everclear

Add a shot of coke and presto! a smoooth tequila.

Works in an alcohol stove, though.

Thanks Dave

Gypsy Jan - 8-26-2011 at 12:07 PM

I did wonder about the "sin" in front of the description of "desnaturizada"

Still working on my Spanish!

DENNIS - 8-26-2011 at 12:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
Grain alcohol not denatured. Mexican Everclear



Yep...you're getting closer, but I think it's Cane Alcohol. Sugar Cane. Caña.
They still sell it in the grocery stores and other places with the first-aid products as well as in the liquor stores. You can drink it, but it needs to be cut substantially. It used to be the only type of alcohol available with wide-spread availablity for medicinal purposes.

Years back, when my buddy had a drug store in town, the truly pathetic river dwellers would come to his store on election days and buy Caña to drink as the liquor stores were closed for the day.
Where there's a will, there's a way.

Dave - 8-26-2011 at 01:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
You can drink it, but it needs to be cut substantially. It used to be the only type of alcohol available with wide-spread availablity for medicinal purposes.


It's produced to be drunk as well.

Denaturing ethyl alcohol simply makes it undrinkable. Done primarily for tax purposes. I don't know whether that's an issue down here. I know that many Mexicans drink it as it's the cheapest high available...Or, was.

chrisx - 8-27-2011 at 12:54 PM

As a pot support use broken bicycle spokes. A few used spokes should be free at most any bike shop. With a wind screen, just poke a few 1.8 mm holes on both sides of the screen. This spokes hold the over lap area together as well. A pot stand can be made with spokes as well. Use 3 spokes, bend in thirds tape the bent down ends together. A triangle pot support is created.

A spam can is the easiest alcohol stove to make. Remove lid eat spam. The unaltered can makes a low heat fuel conservative stove. Most any small can should work. More creative people cut holes to create air flow and increase heat output, which decreases fuel economy.

On a 3 day trip this is the lightest way to cook hot food. A person carrying supplies for a longer trip would benefit from an MSR stove. Manufactured stoves use far less fuel than home made stoves. Fuel is heavy. After ¿¿¿ days the increased weight of fuel would be greater than the increased weight, ( 8 - 16 ounces ), of the MSR stove.

In a winter storm. or as the song goes, ¨when the witch of November comes stealing¨, the MSR XGK, or Dragon Fly is worth every penny and every ounce. This is summer. That makes my gear 10 ¿ kilos lighter.

Every person should be able to build a fire with wet wood and snow on the ground.

Quote:
Originally posted by Jack Swords
Just returned from a week's backpack in the high Sierra (Ca). One guy had an alcohol stove, another a propane/butane stove, I had my old MSR Whisperlite. Propane stove would barely work at cold temperatures, was fine at noon in the sun. Alcohol stove was clean, took a while to boil cold water, affected by wind even with wind screen. Whisperlite (gas-Coleman fuel) fired up, very hot, boiled cold water quickly, AND the gasoline helped start the campfire in light rain with wet wood. That ability (fire starting) convinced me to stick with the Whisperlite. Alcohol wouldn't do it. I have made very small and light weight alcohol stoves from beer cans (Google it) and even a cooking pot from a Foster's can. Very lightweight, but under serious cold/wet conditions the gasoline is a built-in fire starter. This year big snow, postholing walking, high water crossings, wet meadows, trails under water, usual high Sierra thunderstorms. Wet, cold, need heat! So, still looking for the best lightweight stove. Over 10 backpacks in the Sierra this summer and the topic won't go away. Went ultra lightweight several years ago, but still sticking with gasoline fuel.

I cook on a fire when possible
A 10 day supply of fuel as heavy
a small supply of fuel as handy
Quote:
Originally posted by wilderone
"I don't think of it as a way to cook trail food"
A little alcohol stove was my only stove on a couple multi-day trips - it is efficient, fool-proof , puts out the heat, and it's clean. It will perform for your main stove, but for peak efficiency you need the windscreen - too much wasted heat and fuel. I understand about the rocks and stuff, but a lightweight tin surround will provide what you need. I experimented with chicken wire as a pot support, but it weakened with the heat. There are some online instructions for a little wood-burning (stick-burning) stove made out of a coffee can that I never finished or used. You would usually have enough fuel laying about for it, and keep your fire contained and your pots clean. That original design might be impractical to carry around on a bike, but you could create a folding, stick-burning stove. Use tin sides, improvise the hinges, cut out vent holes at the bottom, and set a pot support on top - maybe fit into notches on the rim of the stove so they don't move around. Another back-up for your cooking needs.

wilderone - 8-28-2011 at 07:47 AM

I like the bike spoke ideas - I experimented with a lot of metal - coatings burned off, smoked, they weakened, were too heavy; some not pliable - they snapped when I tried to bend them, burned up. I'll try these - there's a bike shop 2 blocks from me. Thanks - I think I'll try to finish my wood burning stove.