is meths meths?

[daveyboy]

Hi all,
I put together my hobo stove today.A caddy from Dunelm, Trangia burner and Zebra billy can. I tried various distances from top of burner to bottom of can, the best distance seemed about 35-40mm. Anyway I new it would be slower than a gas burner but it did seem to take ages to boil 2 mugs of water, about 8.5-9 mins. The billy can also sooted up quite a lot after a few boil ups. The flame from the burner seemed longer than on some of the youtube videos I have seen so I am wondering if meths can have differnet properties depending on brand?
There was a small amount of flame licking up and out of the hole I cut in the side of the billy, could this effect boil time much?

Any advice much appreciated

Dave

[Dr Gonzo]

I think all meths is the same...as for the boil time if the 2 mugs add up to a pint its about the right time and sooting is normal.
I made a small pop can meths stove and it took about the same time to boil a pint

[Mr Happymoose]

If you want to improve the efficiency and cut down on the sooting, as odd as it sounds, you can add some water to the meths. If you google around for it you'll find the correct ratio easily enough. It's been a while since I've played with meths so I can't remember off the top of my head but it does work.

[Dr Gonzo]

Adding water to the meths might cut down on the sooting but I'm sure it will affect the burn time...adding water to fuel makes no sense at all to me

[Mr Happymoose]

Adding water to the meths might cut down on the sooting but I'm sure it will affect the burn time...adding water to fuel makes no sense at all to me

Google it, trust me I did used to know the reasons why, but as I say, it's been that long since I've used meths that I have forgotten it all

[Martyn]

If you want to improve the efficiency and cut down on the sooting, as odd as it sounds, you can add some water to the meths. If you google around for it you'll find the correct ratio easily enough. It's been a while since I've played with meths so I can't remember off the top of my head but it does work.

The only thing adding water does, is reduce sooting. It definitely doesn't improve efficiency, it makes the stove run cooler and the boil times are longer.

[Martyn]

Hi all,
I put together my hobo stove today.A caddy from Dunelm, Trangia burner and Zebra billy can. I tried various distances from top of burner to bottom of can, the best distance seemed about 35-40mm. Anyway I new it would be slower than a gas burner but it did seem to take ages to boil 2 mugs of water, about 8.5-9 mins. The billy can also sooted up quite a lot after a few boil ups. The flame from the burner seemed longer than on some of the youtube videos I have seen so I am wondering if meths can have differnet properties depending on brand?
There was a small amount of flame licking up and out of the hole I cut in the side of the billy, could this effect boil time much?

Any advice much appreciated

Dave

All sounds about right to me.

[Ben_]

Adding water to oil makes a ridiculously hot flame according to SAS Survival handbook.

Unrelated to meths but interesting nonetheless.

[daveyboy]

Thanks guys, at least I know now that the stove I have put together is working as well as it can do.

Cheers

Dave