Forums > Technical Discussion > What is the best all around fuel

Posted: 14th Oct 2003
All fuels are dangerous, all fuels are toxic- don't breathe the fumes.

Paraffin is the safest.

Follow this link for the HOP article on fuels and safety: -

https://www.homeofpoi.com/fuel.htm

"You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it."

--MAJOR KORGO KORGAR,
"Last of The Lancers"
AFC 32


Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE!

Posted: 15th Oct 2003
Paraffin is the best all around IMO. If you are gonna be using towel, ya can try Coleman Fuel. It burns cleaner, bigger, and brighter than Paraffin but it doesnt burn as long. The towel wicks would somewhat counteract that as most towel wicks burn longer than Kevlar.

Let's turn those old bridges we crossed into ashes.
We'll blaze a new trail,
and torch the rough patches.

-Me

Posted: 15th Oct 2003
I second Royal's statement (just remember the towel, preferably damp in my opinion, with the coleman/white gas), and of course anything in the HoP article is bound to be accurate,

-v-

Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!

Posted: 15th Oct 2003
I was wondering about this too ... Is paraffin less/more toxic than coleman fuel? I read the fire safety stuff and didn't feel satisfied on this point.

It certainly SMELLS less nasty and leaves less black residue ... but are their health risks that just make it less worth the risk for folks?

Posted: 15th Oct 2003
repeating what I said KristieKB's intro thread (should have just posted it here in the first place):

as far toxicity of fuels, I'm pretty sure white gas is worse for you terms of skin contact - thinner, more volitile fuels have smaller carbon chains and can penetrate your skin faster.

as far as unburnt fumes are concerned, breathing anything fuel is not good, but again the thinner stuff is worse, this time because it will evaporate faster meaning there are more fumes around to inhale (and please don't dunk your hot wicks in fuel for this reason people - respect your poor lungs!).

Once it comes to burnt fumes, then it is a matter of how refined it is - i.e. how efficiently it burns into CO2 and H2O. White gas is very refined, and is indeed the best fuel to use indoors if the occasion ever calls for it (do talk to your fire marshal first though, so you don't wind up in jail!). White gas will not bother your indoor audience to any significant degree (just snuff your wicks before they start to smoulder). Ultra refined parafin comes in a close second, but it is expensive. Kerosene is nice and cheap and burns a long time, but rough on the lungs even when burnt, as a lot of it stays in long semi-burnt carbon chains (not an efficient burning fuel). Use in realy well ventelated areas only (and even then, preferably with a breeze).

-v-

Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!

Posted: 15th Oct 2003
I vote Shellsol TK. Similar properties to kerosene, but almost odurless

So much fire, so little body hair...

Posted: 15th Oct 2003
kero + colemans 50/50 = good feul

¿

Posted: 16th Oct 2003
the 50/50 combo mentioned above is very versitile - long burn with bright initial flame, and lights easily (getting your wicks started with kero can sometimes be a challenge, especially on a windy night!).

Just remember to use all the safety precautions as you would with coleman.

-v-

Wiederstand ist Zwecklos!