is shellite the same as lighter fluid?

[skibug]

Hello everyone (especially Roger, who I've aimed this at),

I have a small catalytic handwarmer (Dehoo brand, a knock off a
Peacock) which I plan to use this winter (actually the wife, on a ski
trip), and the instructions say to use lighter fluid as the fuel. I
can get small bottles (200-300ml or so) for $8 at the tobacconist, or
1 litre bottles of shellite at Bun__ngs for about $7. Does anyone know
if the shellite will work satisfactorily as the fuel, ie. not damage
the wick? Should I instead use white gas, naptha or something else?
And if so, where would I source it by the litre?

TIA,

Doric

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Doric

> I have a small catalytic handwarmer (Dehoo brand, a knock off a

> can get small bottles (200-300ml or so) for $8 at the tobacconist, or
> 1 litre bottles of shellite at Bun__ngs for about $7.

Me, I'd try the Shellite first.

Cheers
Roger

[glenbadd]

http://www.fyregear.com/index.php/faq/
says
Coleman Fuel and Lighter Fluid, such as Zippo, consists of shellite
(naphtha) with various additives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtha
says
Shellite (Australia), also known as white gas (North America), white
spirit (outside the UK) or Coleman fuel, is a white liquid with a
hydrocarbon odour. Shellite has a freeze point lower than -30 °C (-22
°F), and a boiling point of 47 °C (117 °F). The composition of
shellite is 95% paraffins and naphthenes, less than 5% aromatic
hydrocarbons and less than 0.5% benzene. It is highly flammable and
due to its low flashpoint is used in many low pressure camping stoves.
Shellite is also a fast drying solvent used for cleaning metal, hard
plastic and painted surfaces. Ronsonol is a brand name used in North
America, for a product marketed principally as a refill fluid for
cigarette lighters and having a flashpoint of about 6 °C (43 °F).

HTH, Glenn.

[David Morrison]

In article
<f2aee6ad-364a-4c1e...@m17g2000prl.googlegroups.com>,
glenbadd <glennb...@yahoo.com.au> wrote:

> On Jun 30, 7:53 pm, "Roger Caffin" <r.caf...@tpg.com.au> wrote:
> > Hi Doric
> >
> > > I have a small catalytic handwarmer (Dehoo brand, a knock off a
> > > can get small bottles (200-300ml or so) for $8 at the tobacconist, or
> > > 1 litre bottles of shellite at Bun__ngs for about $7.
> >
> > Me, I'd try the Shellite first.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Roger
>
> http://www.fyregear.com/index.php/faq/
> says
> Coleman Fuel and Lighter Fluid, such as Zippo, consists of shellite
> (naphtha) with various additives.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtha
> says
> Shellite (Australia), also known as white gas (North America), white
> spirit (outside the UK) or Coleman fuel, is a white liquid with a

> hydrocarbon odour. Shellite has a freeze point lower than -30 嚙瘠 (-22
> 嚙瘤), and a boiling point of 47 嚙瘠 (117 嚙瘤). The composition of

> shellite is 95% paraffins and naphthenes, less than 5% aromatic
> hydrocarbons and less than 0.5% benzene. It is highly flammable and
> due to its low flashpoint is used in many low pressure camping stoves.
> Shellite is also a fast drying solvent used for cleaning metal, hard
> plastic and painted surfaces. Ronsonol is a brand name used in North
> America, for a product marketed principally as a refill fluid for

> cigarette lighters and having a flashpoint of about 6 嚙瘠 (43 嚙瘤).
>
> HTH, Glenn.

I bought a bottle of Coleman Fuel to use in my MSR Whisperlite. I found
it to be rather sooty and did not work too well. It had a pink colour,
which isn't what I would have expected in a shellite equivalent.

In NSW, white spirit seems to be always labelled "Lighter Fuel". In
other states, it has other names.

David

[fergo747]

Where were you able to get Coleman fuel. I have been trying to track
some downforce a while. I have always found it to be excellent with my
whisperlite

[David Morrison]

In article
<2708d50c-51de-4b03...@w15g2000pro.googlegroups.com>,
fergo747 <ferg...@gmail.com> wrote:

It was at the local Camping World store. It is in a dark pink plastic
bottle, and described as "Premium Blend Fuel". It cost $6.99 about 18
months ago.

[lee.s...@boroondara.vic.gov.au]

Hello. This is an old thread that I've landed on -- but maybe people are still listening.


I've been using the gaz stove that takes the disposable canisters that you screw-pierce (ie: as distinct from the more expensive ones that incorporate a valve). There are supply problems at present -- my local camping goods store is still selling stoves, but can't get the gas! I find this unbelievable, and wonder what I would do if I were touring through Castlemaine, counting on getting a new bottle here (not an unreasonable expectation!). On two long bicycle tours through third world countries, I carried an MSR whisperlite 600 stove, running it on petrol. It's a messy business -- you always end up with sooty hands and the smell of petrol. It's difficult to set the thing on simmer, adding to frustration. However, you have no problems with fuel supply, anywhere.

Lately I've been having another look at the stove, wondering if I could bypass the need for these over-priced gas canisters. I'm about to try running it on kero to see if that's any better, and am also wondering about other fuels such as shellite. What is your favourite, and what jet do you use with it?

I would also like to improvise some sort of heat diffuser to assist with simmer, but don't know what material to use. Any ideas?

[Adrian Jansen]

Shellite is simply petrol without all the nasty additives, so will work
perfectly in a petrol stove.

Kerosine will not work unless your stove is designed specifically for kero.

Neither will work in a gas burner, without major changes to the burner
jets and fittings.

Petrol and shellite need a way of pressurising and vaporising the
liquid, which you cant normally do in a gas burner, since the gas is
already pressurised.

Kero needs both those too, and usually a preheat as well.

But you can buy stoves which will accept shellite ( petrol ) and kero,
( and even diesel ) by changing the jets.

Another alternative is the Trangia, which normally works on metho, but
you can get a gas burner attachment which allows use of the MSR threaded
canisters. And you can get an adapter which fits to the very cheap
butane cylinders as used in those Chinese single burner stoves. You can
buy that in most hardware stores. At least then you can always fall
back to metho, which you can get anywhere.


--
Regards,

Adrian Jansen adrianjansen at internode dot on dot net
Note reply address is invalid, convert address above to machine form.