I'm very new to this site and want to say hello to all. My question is, what is the best Alcohol for the Soda Can Stoves that I've been studing up on and looking forward to making.

If by "best" we mean a combination of easy availability, lowest cost, reasonable heat output, and fairly clean-burning, then good old denatured alcohol, available by the quart or gallon at Walmart or any paint or hardware store, is undoubtedly the best.

Some people prefer the more expensive "Heet" brand gasline deicer (Yellow bottle). I have tried both and usually go with the cheap stuff. After all, we're not drinking it [hiccup!] :o)

Michael

Hi Justin,

The best alcohol is the Denatured Alcohol with the highest Ethanol content,in OZ the std Denatured (Methylated Spirits) alcohol has 95% ethanol but in the US it can vary from 50% up. This can be found out by checking the MSDS.

Methanol is the poorest performer.

Tony

Just south of Atlanta GA, the Walmart charges 5.68/qt for denatured alcohol, and 1.07 for 12oz of yellow bottle heat. So in my neck of the woods, the heat is the better deal. I cant tell any difference in my stoves.

If I'm at home I'll buy a large can of denatured alcohol. If I'm on a long hike I'm usually burning the yellow bottle HEET because it's available, and comes in a smaller amount. (I don't need to carry a full quart or give away or waste some of it.)