Originally Posted by
cyccommute
Paint thinner is not alcohol based. Shellac thinner is but paint thinner is usually mineral spirits which should never be burned in alcohol fuel stoves. Other items that may be used as "paint thinner" are acetone, mineral turpentine (turps), true turpentine, naphtha, toluene, white spirit, xylene, or methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Not a single one of those would be appropriate for a mass burning stove like an alcohol stove. Each burns far too hot and could be an explosion hazard even upon ignition due to extremely low flash points.
hey, stu, you're out to lunch. I buy denatured alcohol in the paint thinner/solvent lineup at hardware stores all the time, dude! I said, "check the label" - your endless pimping of compact canister stoves as the ONLY CHOICE for cyclists is way over the top, terribly tedious and does not reflect the common experiences of many, many bike tourists and ultralite campers out there and the validity of alcohol burning stoves..
Originally Posted by wildergeek
You can find fuel at grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores, gas stations auto parts stores along the way.
absolutely, virtually universal availability at any hour day or night in the states if you are in a population center of virtually any size. any whistlestop with a 24 hour convenience store will have fuel for an alcohol store.
I will repeat this for cycocommute and the rest of the forum....... you can purchase fuel for an alcohol stove in EVERY 24 hour convenience store/gas mart in america.