Members Bob O'Brian Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 Thinking of heading to the beach tonight, have briquettes but no fluid... and being a Sunday I can't get hold of any. However I do have some methylated spirit. Will I singe off my eyebrows if I use it?What's lighter fluid made of anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 My gut feeling is no, not a good idea - alcohol evaporates WAY faster than charcoal lighter fluid, so it probably will react differently - and *might* even be dangerous to attempt to use it in that manner... I could be wrong, though... - georgestrings PS - If you do try it, please have someone film the process - the footage might help with the mdical expenses... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob O'Brian Posted August 5, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 My gut feeling is no, not a good idea - alcohol evaporates WAY faster than charcoal lighter fluid, so it probably will react differently - and *might* even be dangerous to attempt to use it in that manner... I could be wrong, though... - georgestrings PS - If you do try it, please have someone film the process - the footage might help with the mdical expenses... Yeah I'm not too sure whether it's a good idea Might just have to do it the slow/hard way with some kindling Damn I'm getting hungry though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members justinbass Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 newspaper + matches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members justinbass Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 lighter fluid tastes gross, you should never use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hawkhuff Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 I would do it but do it gently and if you want to keep your brows, don't put your face over it as you light. If you use lots of alcohol then run by as you toss the match to light it. You have to do it quick because if its methyl or ethyl it will evaporate quickly. Good luck and enjoy your meal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 lighter fluid tastes gross, you should never use it. If you don't overuse it, and let the coals burn down enough before cooking, I can't detect any taste from it's use... - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fireball_73 Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 Depends if it is pure alcohol. Then yes. If it is just cheap beer then no... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members birdboy7007 Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 Depends if it is pure alcohol. Then yes.If it is just cheap beer then no... From Wiki:Methylated spirit (Meths or denatured alcohol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 ) is ethanol which has been rendered toxic or otherwise undrinkable, and in some cases dyed. It is used for purposes such as fuel for spirit burners and camping stoves, and as a solvent. Traditionally, the main additive was 10% methanol, which gave rise to its name, but this is not always the case now. There are diverse industrial uses for ethanol, and therefore literally hundreds of recipes for denaturing ethanol. Typical additives are methanol, isopropanol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, denatonium, and even (uncommonly) aviation gasoline.As used in the phrase denatured alcohol, denatured means "a specific property of ethanol, its usefulness as a beverage, is removed". The ethanol molecule is not denatured in the sense that its chemical structure is altered.Go ahead and do it, just be very careful. The stuff will go up, and fast. It will also evaporate quite quickly, as has been said. Don't light it with a cigarette lighter, and I'd even be cautious with a longer BBQ lighter. The further away you are from the BBQ the better.Don't use too much, and use common sense. Be careful and it should work out. This sounds reasonable to me. It's used as fuel for bunsun burners, camp lanterns and stoves, and table-top hobby steam engines. It will probably take more alcohol than lighter fluid. I would say dowse it with alcohol, wait five minutes, then dowse it again, so that the charcoal absorbs some. But, it may burn off quickly, so, it wouldn't hurt to mix in some dry kindling wood to help catch and get the fire started. BTW, make sure that it is 100% alcohol, and not diluted with water in any way. If it is diluted, the alcohol burns out, leaving the water, which puts out the fire. I found this out trying to use some denatured alcohol on my early steam engine attempts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crescent Seven Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 Just use {censored}in' gasoline. C7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Trauma_Luna Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 i dont think so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MrJoshua Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 Will it burn hot enough to get the charcoal started? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super_Donut_Man Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 Depends if it is pure alcohol. Then yes.If it is just cheap beer then no... Beer wheter cheap or not (from my experience) don't burn. I'd just try it. if it don't work, then you are out a couple of shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pbass_groovin Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 newspaper + matches always works for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roguetitan Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 old Boyscout trick I have never used charcoal starter fluid to light charcoal no Lighter fluid required just stuff a couple of pieces of news paper underneath the chimney and light with a match. the charcoals will be ready in about 15 minuites without all that lighter fluid aftertaste. balling up newspapers and stacking the charcoals in a pyramid shape on top of the papers will also work. the gasoline suggestion is probably the most dangerous and idiotic suggestion that I have heard. no offence C7 but I have seen some pretty bad accidents concerning morons with gasoline and matches:freak: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crescent Seven Posted August 5, 2007 Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 no offence C7 but I have seen some pretty bad accidents concerning morons with gasoline and matches:freak: None taken. It's not the gasoline's fault, it's the moron's fault. Gasoline doesn't ignite children, children ignite children, and what have you. And I don't know what Boy Scouts you were in, but we never dicked around with bull{censored} charcoal lighting devices, it was a soda can full of Coleman white gas or gasoline tossed right onto a burning pile of newspapers. C7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob O'Brian Posted August 5, 2007 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2007 UPDATE: Well I'm alive, I've eaten, and I have retained my eyebrows. The alcohol I was using was actually stuff I bought in France last year- 90% ethanol. A splash of it over the charcoal, and a screwed up ball of paper soaked in it, and it lit straight away. The alcohol seemed to burn for much longer than I expected, too. Had salmon steaks while we watched the sun setting over the Atlantic. Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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