[pct-l] HEET

[Jim Marco]

HEET *yellow* is one for alcohol stoves. It's pretty pure methanol or methyl alcohol ("wood alcohol".) It is fairly toxic, fumes can be bad, but it burns cleanly. It is preferred for higher altitudes because it lights a bit easier. 

Ethanol is the drinking kind of alcohol. In higher percentages it is not real great to drink and can burn your throat, mouth, and stomach linings, usually above 120 proof(60%.) Also called "grain alcohol." The gov'ment tends to frown on people that make their own, calling them "moonshiners." 'Corse, no one here would do such a thing. Makes a great fuel when you can get it in higher percentages (80-95%.) It burns clean, is not toxic, and it has OK heat density. 180proof or 90% is good, and can be mixed with fruit flavored waters as an OK social drink. Preferred for the dual use properties...

Denatured Alcohol has ethanol (ethyl alcohol) as the primary component. Most of the exact percentages are unknown as they are not required to be listed. Generally, it makes OK fuel, but you have to be careful. Some of the cheaper stuff uses octane, or mineral salts and water, or some really dangerous things (benzene) as denaturing agents. Kleen Strip SLX is a good one and is known to contain about 50/50 methanol/ethanol. Generally, the can will state "Marine Fuel" somewhere. Always look for that. 

Most other alcohols will not burn in a stove without special tweaking...
 
HEET *red* is usually isopropynol (isopropyl alcohol) and doesn't burn cleanly. Fumes are very toxic. Also known as "rubbing alcohol."  

Common names can be misleading, though. Check the contents. Some "rubbing alcohols" can be ethanol mixed with all sorts of things, about the same as denatured alcohol. 


-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of surferskir at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 9:51 AM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] HEET


---To all you with experience with alcohol stoves:

I understand that there is HEET in the YELLOW container;
and there is HEET in the RED container.
What is the difference?  I hear that there is some kind of additive in one of them that gives off toxic vapors?? TRUE??

If I just went down to Home Depot and bought a gallon of denatured alcohol, would it be the same as the YELLOW or RED HEET?

--D--
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