Colvic Watson
Well-known member
You may want to keep the comforting smell but if not, meths for spirit fires is odour free, and a lot cheaper than the purple stuff.
PhillM
Well-known member
But you can now get virtually odorless "Bio Ethernol" from all large B&Q's. Burns slightly hotter then purple meths and is small free. Love it.
Aquarella
New member
I have had Origos on different boats for over 25 years and wouldn't use anything else. My experiences are: very quick heating when the container is just filled, after a week or so it gets a little slower. This is noticeable when trying to fry a steak ( it gets boiled instead) For cooking potatoes or stews I use a pressure cooker on it. ( cuts cooking time down to a third) Meths smell differently in different countries, Germany is worst. It's difficult to know what to ask for in different languages ( doesnt help with google translate!) I was paying a fortune for small bottles in Greece before I found out it was surgical spirit I was buying!
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andygc
Member
You might find this web site useful. It gives translations for different fuels used in lamps and stoves. http://fuel.papo-art.com
Aquarella
New member
Thank you, thats useful I'll keep a link to that. The Norwegian translation was not quite right though. It was translated to the Norwegian equivalent to Moonshine! Try asking for that at the local grocery store in Stavanger! :-D
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
And where's the fuel for distilling the potatoes coming from? Mind, a bonfire on the beach might be the best way - if you're worried about gas, distilling alcohol on board has to be a lot worse!
oldbilbo
...
Peat! That's what.... a peat stove! Just the thing. Cook the porridge overnight, and use the waster heat to 'still the liquor. Now why didn't I think of that.....!
Just recalling the old Appalachoon toon...
"Get you a copper kettle, get you a copper coil
Fill it with new made corn mash and never more you'll toil
You'll just lay there by the juniper while the moon is bright
Watch them jugs a-filling in the pale moonlight.
Build you a fire with hickory, hickory, ash and oak
Don't use no green or rotten wood, they'll get you by the smoke
You'll just lay there by the juniper while the moon is bright
Watch them jugs a-filling in the pale moonlight.
My daddy he made whiskey, my granddaddy he did too
We ain't paid no whiskey tax since 1792
You'll just lay there by the juniper while the moon is bright
Watch them jugs a-filling in the pale moonlight."
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Coaster
Active member
Any recommended suppliers?
I thought buying non-purple stuff was not permitted without licensing?
Colvic Watson
Well-known member
Lots on ebay and Amazon, we also used B&Q and it was about 20% hotter than local meths and almost 100% odour free. Search for bio-ethanol.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bio-ethanol-Fuel-12-L-FREE-Next-Day-Delivery-UK-Company-/191085434557?pt=UK_HG_FireplacesMantelpieces_RL&hash=item2c7d9456bd
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bio-ethanol-Fuel-12-L-FREE-Next-Day-Delivery-UK-Company-/191085434557?pt=UK_HG_FireplacesMantelpieces_RL&hash=item2c7d9456bd
PhillM
Well-known member
The B&Q stuff seems only to be in the bigger stores. For example, Hedge End Superstore has it but Eastleigh doesn't. At least, not last time I tried to buy it there. Worth checking before making a trip. Last year I borght three, put on in the boat one in the boot and one in the garage. I think I'm down to my last one now. Tha'ts using the boat most weekends in the summer and as a "shed" in winter.
Coaster
Active member
Thanks Lazy Kipper. I may give bio-ethanol a try.
rotrax
Well-known member
When I kept a 205 litre drum of Methanol handy for my Speedway and Longtrack bikes I would use it in our antique-well 45 years old anyway-fondue set burner.
Cheap-about £1.00 a litre then-no smell and seemed as good as Meths for control and heat.
IIRC its a little more expensive now, unless you can find some without the fuel duty-then its REALLY cheap!
Cheap-about £1.00 a litre then-no smell and seemed as good as Meths for control and heat.
IIRC its a little more expensive now, unless you can find some without the fuel duty-then its REALLY cheap!
mbay
New member
+1 for bio-ethanol, got the tip to use it last year from this very forum.........burns hotter, no smell, but for me the big plus is it does not evaporate as quick as the meths.
erbster
Member
B&Q website showing they don't seem to stocking the larger volume containers and my v large store had no stock at all. Seems amazon is best value ATM
aquaplane
Active member
They still had it in Huddersfield BnQ last night (Bio ethanol for fires).
dylanwinter
Active member
Banger of this forum brought 15 litres of the de-natured French Alcohol back from france for me - along with some boxes of wine
It was about 9 euros for five litres - the alcohol that is.
The wine was about the same price
I have an Origo 3,000 - and I have been running the port ring on meths and the stb ring on the French jollop
I cannot detect any difference between the two in heat output
the meths lights a bit faster
those who say the bio is odour free are telling the truth as they smell it - but for me they smell just as much as each other
the meths smell I do not mind (it reminds me of roneo machines and geography hand outs
- the bio smells a bit weird
however, you cannot argue with the price difference - £17 for meths in the UK - £9 euros for the ethanol from france
Banger is a frequent commuter and lives near me and has offfered to bring me back some more - both wine and burning jollop
I prefer the Origo to the gas - no messing with bottles, easier to store and you know exactly how much stuff you have left, it runs at any temperature
no grill though - but for the toast lovers I find a dry frying pan straight on the heat does a very good job of toasting bread
I have yet to work out how to grill those juicy rump steaks I eat for breakfast along with the jiddled kiddlies
Dylan
It was about 9 euros for five litres - the alcohol that is.
The wine was about the same price
I have an Origo 3,000 - and I have been running the port ring on meths and the stb ring on the French jollop
I cannot detect any difference between the two in heat output
the meths lights a bit faster
those who say the bio is odour free are telling the truth as they smell it - but for me they smell just as much as each other
the meths smell I do not mind (it reminds me of roneo machines and geography hand outs
- the bio smells a bit weird
however, you cannot argue with the price difference - £17 for meths in the UK - £9 euros for the ethanol from france
Banger is a frequent commuter and lives near me and has offfered to bring me back some more - both wine and burning jollop
I prefer the Origo to the gas - no messing with bottles, easier to store and you know exactly how much stuff you have left, it runs at any temperature
no grill though - but for the toast lovers I find a dry frying pan straight on the heat does a very good job of toasting bread
I have yet to work out how to grill those juicy rump steaks I eat for breakfast along with the jiddled kiddlies
Dylan
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oldbilbo
...
You wouldn't care to post a pic of the container label, would you. My execrable French extends to the colloquial ability to order wine and beer, after considerable practice. I shudder to think what might result if I tried to request some bio-ethanol....
rotrax
Well-known member
When we used the good old Primus stove for camping, it was not the heat provided that gave the paraffin taste to the food, but the residue on the hands after filling or even just handling the stove.
In those days campsite facilities were very primitive-if there was running water it was from a cold tap in the open.
IIRC, washing hands and personal hygiene were not all they might have been.......................................
jakeroyd
Active member
Apologies if mentioned earlier.
Go Outdoors sell bio ethanol in various quantities.
Burns nice and clean and smell free.
Go Outdoors sell bio ethanol in various quantities.
Burns nice and clean and smell free.
Nigel-in-Oxford
New member
Amazon have a good deal on the 3000, cheaper than the 1500.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002BVYK16/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2C08ZWSLE4QV7&coliid=I22A2RZ71CIBTY
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002BVYK16/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2C08ZWSLE4QV7&coliid=I22A2RZ71CIBTY