What is the best one? according to zenstove site HEET (Methyl Alcohol) is very poisonous "you should consider the health concerns of this fuel if you decide to use it long term" and pure ethanol could be very toxic. Currently i am using 95% ethanol (methylated spirit for burners) which also has toxic mark on it. Is it exaggerated or there is real health hazard of alcohol fuels?

The best is Everclear (Pure Grain Alcohol), which is 95% Ethanol, but it is expensive and not available in every state. For the "best" cheaper alternative, Sunnyside Denatured Alcohol Sold at True Value Hardware stores is supposed to be the best of the Denatured.

There are health considerations when burning most liquid fuels including white gas, kerosene, methyl, ethyl, etc. To reduce any potential health risks you need to take the proper precautions when using these fuels, such as proper ventilation, and minimizing skin contact.

Personally I burn whatever is available (yellow HEET or denatured) and avoid the burning vapors.

Edited by hammer-one on 11/14/2009 08:27:47 MST.

If you're using 95% ethanol, you're using just about the best stuff you can. The reason it's marked as toxic is that it's been denatured... basically, they don't want people drinking it, so they put poisins in. Government couldn't get tax revenue from the stuff if it wasn't sold as an alcoholic beverage. Weird logic, but... 95% Everclear, if available in your state, is the "purest" stuff, but pricey.

Edit: Good call by George above... even burning Everclear, IIRC, has formeldahyde as one of the by-products. Burning any fuel can release stuff you don't want to go out of your way to ingest, but the 95% etoh is arguably about the "cleanest" you'll find.

Edited by 4quietwoods on 11/14/2009 08:35:27 MST.

Mika,
Where are you finding 95% ethanol?

Thanks.

At every petrol station in Australia for $4.95.

It looks like this:
http://www.recochem.com.au/files/products/cache/Methylated_Spirits-155x325.jpg

Hi Mika

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