On an earlier thread (can't find it) there was a discussion about adding 2 1/2oz of Methyl Alcohol to 5 gal. of Kero in order to help it burn more cleanly, etc. Advice was to ask pharmacist. I asked the pharmacist, who looked like I had grown a horn, said "that's poison and we don't sell poison"!! Any ideas of where to get it. Thanks

Bill

-- Bill (Bill@SHF.com), October 25, 1999

Answers

Add 1/2 oz. methanol to 5 gal, up to 2 oz. Try another pharmacist, and this time explain the reason for needing the methanol, and tell him you have been unable to obtain commercial branded methanol -- TM "Wick Cleaner" and "Kero-Kleen" from the suppliers. If no luck, try try again. Ask them to order for you. Every third thing a pharmacist sells is poison if used improperly: he just figured you for a flake. Mehtanol is no more poisonous than ethanol (is it? Dr. Schenker?) Best to be forthright and lay it on the line: to enhance the burning of my kerosene heater, prevent "dry burn" .etc. You may still be able to find a few bottles of the commercial brnads at your nearest farmers supply store. Grab the yellow pages and start dialing.

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@ excite.com), October 25, 1999.

From high school chemistry: "Ethyl alchol is the least poisonous of the alcohols". I suppose that's why it's more popular than the others.

Anyway, you don't have to buy Methyl alcohol (alias methanol or wood alcohol) at a pharmacist. It's a very common industrial solvent and you should be able to get a gallon at a time from a hardware or paint store. Barring that, water absorbing additives (dri-gas?) are mostly methanol and have other compounds to help make it mix in with fuel.

-- Duane K (dkucheran@creo.com), October 25, 1999.

Order the "Wick Cleaner" from here: http://www.kerosun.com/prod01.htm

-- Mitch (GettingReady@NEOhio.com), October 25, 1999.

Denatured alcohol in qt. size around $5.00, at wal-mart. Check in the paint dept. I use in small stove that very old.

-- && (&&@&&.&), October 25, 1999.

In a pinch, you could always use 190 proof rum...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), October 27, 1999.

NO!! Methyl anfd Ethy are VERY DIFFERENT IN HOW THEY get metabolized (*Methyl will KILL YOU but NOT fast, first you go blind then your liver packs up fairly quickly, and you kidneys follow suit. About 8+/- oz will do it over about 2 weeks,. It isn't pretty or fun for anyone. Ethyl is what you drink.) Methyl, in 0.5oz per 5 gal seems to clear out the burning odors. It is available as "CleanWick" etc at about $3. per 8 oz or as alcohlo stove fuel for $3. per quart. (Home Depot, it's in the thinners, but READ the LABEL to get the right thinner)

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), November 01, 1999.