Origo stove fuel

[YVRguy]

Has anyone experimented with different types of stove fuel for the Origo non-pressurized or similar? When I bought my boat the previous owner left me with a gallon jug of some clear generic alcohol and said that's all you need. On the other hand the marine store sells a blueish fuel that is advertised to be specifically for stoves. The guy there says it will burn hotter. Naturally it's way more expensive then generic stuff you buy at the hardware store. Any thoughts? My experience up to this point has been entirely with propane.

 

[sandpiper10471]

Methyl hydrate (methyl alcohol) works ok but has about 1/3 fewer BTUs than ethyl alcohol which is more expensive. Also, the methyl can give off a nasty gas when burning which can become a health hazard. I have purchased ethyl alcohol under various other names such as shellac thinner and it is far cheaper that way and works just as well as the "marine" brands. Unfortunately, I cannot obtain it in Ontario and try to remember to pick up a gallon or two whenever I am in the states. The stuff marketed to the boaties here ranges from $22 to $40 a gallon. Same stuff, different venue.

 

[Allan12210]

I've had access to methyl alcohol, denatured alcohol (with additives so you don't drink it) and isopropyl alcohol (not rubbing alcohol as that includes water). They all seem to work fine and are a lot cheaper than the blue stuff. If there is a difference in heat output it wasn't noticeable for the length of time needed to cook something.

They all seem to burn cleanly with no noticeable odors of one compared to the other, but we always leave the port over the stove or the hatch open for plenty of ventilation.

 

[tomgrigsby]

Just be sure and buy the pure stuff. Some stores sell it diluted with water - not so good for stoves.

 

[centerline]

the marine store sells a blueish fuel that is advertised to be specifically for stoves. The guy there says it will burn hotter. Naturally .

they get paid to tell you stuff so you feel like you need to buy their more expensive product...

100% alcohol is all it is.... "everclear" grain alcohol (ethanol) will also work cuz its 100% alcohol....
the blue stuff (and other colors as well) is denatured alcohol, (but it can also be clear) and has a small amount of another solvent added to it to make it unusable for human consumption so it can be sold on the free market for other uses, such as stove fuel.... methanol is the most common additive which also 100% alcohol but it is wood alcohol and is poisonous...
an alcohol that was denatured using acetone or MEK can give off more smell as it burns, but can be used.

the burning of 100% methanol can give you a severe headache so its not recommended to use it as stove fuel, but the small amount that is added to the grain alcohol is in such dilution that there are no worries of headaches unless you have an abnormal sesitivity to it...


sandpiper10471....
I am surprised you cant buy generic denatured alcohol in ontario. it is such a common solvent for all different type of uses. all hardware stores, home improvement stores, walmart type stores and a lot of grocery stores carry the stuff here in the states.... rubbing alcohol (denatured with isopropal) can also be used as stove fuel, but it usually has a higher percentage of water added for dilution, which isnt so good, but sometimes it can be found at 100% alcohol... (Isopropal alcohol is a much better solvent than the other two, as a cleaning product)
methylated spirits is always ethanol with methanol added as the denaturing agent.... its the second best type of denatured alcohol on the market over using pure ethanol (grain/drinking alcohol) for use as a stove fuel.