Water in alcohol question (was) RE: [at-l] Alcohol Stoves

[nealb@midlandstech.com (William Neal)]

I did not know that.  I'll stay away from it when I am looking for something
to use mainly for fuel.

But it still should burn. And it seems I remember using it for fuel in an
emergency.  And a clueless friend of mine poured it in her car (to get to
the next gas station or something) and "burnt" her spark plugs or something
like that -- this ocurred several years ago.  And how would that happen
unless the alcohol was burning at a "higher" temp?

It may take a long time, but since it's mainly alcohol, rubbing alcohol
would burn better than nothing.  And in an emergency (food and hot beverage
vs. sore muscles), I would try it.

Or am I thinking wrong, and it does not burn because of the water?  Has
anybody really tested it?

William, The Turtle

-----Original Message-----
From: J Bryan Kramer [mailto:jbryankramer@msn.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 5:04 PM
To: William Neal; Slyatpct@aol.com; AT-Mailing list (E-mail)
Subject: RE: [at-l] Alcohol Stoves


Rubbing Alcohol is 30% water, makes a poor fuel.

Bryan

> As for availability: Rubbing alcohol and other alcohols (even the drinking
> kind) can be found all along the trail.  Just remember that drinking
> alcohols and others are not necessarily 200 proof (100%): The
> additives may
> take longer to burn and increase your burn time.  Of course grain
> alcohol is
> nearly 200 proof, and when you mix lemonade in it...  Just be
> careful about
> drinking it.  Like when drinking shine, you're liable to see if that cloud
> cover at your feet is really solid.
>