Sterno Fuel

[bigthaiboy]

Does anyone happen to know if there is any difference in formulation / heat output with the 7oz cans of Sterno Cooking Gel Fuel as sold in sporting goods stores and Walmart, and the 7oz cans of Sterno Gel Chafing Fuel as sold to the the food service industry? http://www.sterno.com/pro/pages/gel.html

The 7oz chafing gel is pink, burns for 2 hours and reaches 195F. I've tried boiling water with this stuff and it works OK. The reason I ask is, the 7oz chafing gel sells for $1.09, and the 7oz consumer cooking gel sells for $3.00+. I'm just wondering whether there is a difference in heat output, or is it the same product repackaged for the consumer market for more $$. I'm thinking of getting a few cans to keep for emergencies, and unexpected fondues.

[whytea]

No real difference. Both hit around 200 degrees, and last for the same amount of time. Keep in mind that they do evaporate, so they are not a long term storage solution.

Though you never know when an emergency fondue party might break out.

[ThemBastards]

Just a thought, I just picked up an alcohol stove from Mechanic Mike(ebay) and from what I have read it boils water a lot faster than sterno. Alcohol vapor burns at upwards of 700 degrees compared to the 200 w/sterno and the HEET fuel that is recommended comes in 12 oz sizes for $1.99 with only 1oz recommended per "cooking event" that's 12 meals/water boils for 2bucks.

I have yet to use the stove but from all the youtube vids I am sure it works.

[bigthaiboy]

No real difference. Both hit around 200 degrees, and last for the same amount of time. Keep in mind that they do evaporate, so they are not a long term storage solution.

Though you never know when an emergency fondue party might break out.

That's good to know. At $1.09 a can for the chafing gel, I think I'll grab a few. I remember reading some where, that they are good for at least a couple of years.

Just a thought, I just picked up an alcohol stove from Mechanic Mike(ebay) and from what I have read it boils water a lot faster than sterno. Alcohol vapor burns at upwards of 700 degrees compared to the 200 w/sterno and the HEET fuel that is recommended comes in 12 oz sizes for $1.99 with only 1oz recommended per "cooking event" that's 12 meals/water boils for 2bucks.

I have yet to use the stove but from all the youtube vids I am sure it works.

Yes, Sterno definitely requires a little more patience, but they are very convenient. I've got a couple of the soda can top and side jet alcohol stoves that I run off HEET, and I've just built a copper coil alcohol jet burner which I've got working pretty good. You definitely need to carry a wind shield with these types of burners though.

I pay $1.44 per 16oz bottle for HEET (yellow bottle from Walmart) compared to $5.95 for 32oz for denatured alcohol at Lowes / Home Depot, and they both burn just as well as each other, so HEET is definitely a great value fuel for burners.

[ThemBastards]

That's good to know. At $1.09 a can for the chafing gel, I think I'll grab a few. I remember reading some where, that they are good for at least a couple of years.





Yes, Sterno definitely requires a little more patience, but they are very convenient. I've got a couple of the soda can top and side jet alcohol stoves that I run off HEET, and I've just built a copper coil alcohol jet burner which I've got working pretty good. You definitely need to carry a wind shield with these types of burners though.

I pay $1.44 per 16oz bottle for HEET (yellow bottle from Walmart) compared to $5.95 for 32oz for denatured alcohol at Lowes / Home Depot, and they both burn just as well as each other, so HEET is definitely a great value fuel for burners.

Do you use the sterno for backpacking/camping? Why do you prefer it to the alcohol stoves? Just trying to gather as much info as I can. Thanks

[bigthaiboy]

Do you use the sterno for backpacking/camping? Why do you prefer it to the alcohol stoves? Just trying to gather as much info as I can. Thanks

No, I've been experimenting with alcohol burners as an ultra-light minimalist hiking stove, but I'm considering keeping some Sterno at home for emergencies, because it's safe to use indoors (no carbon monoxide), but more importantly, it is spill-proof. Also, I can use the same pot holder/ wind shield I've made for the alcohol burners.

[SVRider]

....and I've just built a copper coil alcohol jet burner which I've got working pretty good. You definitely need to carry a wind shield with these types of burners though.

I pay $1.44 per 16oz bottle for HEET (yellow bottle from Walmart) compared to $5.95 for 32oz for denatured alcohol at Lowes / Home Depot, and they both burn just as well as each other, so HEET is definitely a great value fuel for burners.

I've collected a couple of Heineken cans for just such a project (but no time to play with it yet). Please post some pics of your copper coil stove. I'd love to see it.

As for the HEET, I never thought about the cost difference between it and denatured. Does it have the same energy content as the denatured? I thought you could buy methanol cheaper if you got "racing fuel" from the car shops though....

[bigthaiboy]

I've collected a couple of Heineken cans for just such a project (but no time to play with it yet). Please post some pics of your copper coil stove. I'd love to see it.

As for the HEET, I never thought about the cost difference between it and denatured. Does it have the same energy content as the denatured? I thought you could buy methanol cheaper if you got "racing fuel" from the car shops though....

Yes, Heet and denatured alcohol gives exactly the same results. I tried 91% rubbing alcohol too, but that produced a yellow flame and was very sooty. I guess methanol will work but I have no experience with it.

Here is the coil jet in action. Took about 30 minutes to build. I used 1/4" copper piping filled with sand and plugged it, before bending the coil, to prevent the pipe from crushing and folding on itself. I soldered the pipes to the lid of a salsa jar. The jet hole is tiny, and there are small drain holes on each of the pipes just under the lid to prevent the alcohol being sucked up into the pipe and spraying out of the jet. I made two wicks from a M16 cotton pipe cleaner wrapped tightly with cotton wool, but I think I will change it out to two fiber glass 1/4" lamp wicks soon. It has to be primed, so I just put a small drop of Heet in a beer bottle cap under the coil to heat it and this will ignite the jet.





Next one I build, I am going with 3/8" copper pipe, a squatter jar and to fix the coil lower towards the lid (just enough space to slide a flaming beer bottle cap) just to reduce the distance the alcohol has to travel up the wick, as I think this will make it more efficient and produce a fiercer jet flame.

[SVRider]

Hmm....I thought HEET was methyl alcohol.

That coil design is pretty interesting. Got any drawings with the details?

[bigthaiboy]

Hmm....I thought HEET was methyl alcohol.

That coil design is pretty interesting. Got any drawings with the details?

Yes, the yellow bottle Heet is like 99% methanol (methyl alcohol). Where as red bottle Iso Heet is isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol, same alcohol as rubbing alcohol), which burns sooty.

I built the stove based on the design in this video: