[pct-l] Stoves, stoves and more stoves....

[JPL]

Probably worth noting that you can't responsibly toss an empty canister, but 
must carry it out like any other trash.  Not a show stopper, but just 
something else to factor in.  Of course, that may mean that depending on how 
close you can calculate, you may need to carry two canisters to be sure you 
have a full one when the first one is empty.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dennis Phelan
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2013 3:04 PM
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Stoves, stoves and more stoves....

Aside from weight one needs to consider availability.  On a long hike, one
needs to resupply;  Propane canisters and Esbit tablets are not always
available in small towns, while Alcohol (or its equivalent) can be found in
most stores.

Dennis


On Fri, Jan 18, 2013 at 11:31 AM, Daniel Zellman 
<danielzellman at gmail.com>wrote:

> Jim,
>
> Thanks so much for your detailed and wonderfully comprehensible comparison
> of the physics/chemistry of the different fuels. I've been looking for 
> this
> type of info online, but most of what I've been able to find has been a
> little too science-y for an English-major like me to really understand. 
> You
> lay it out in by far the most understandable way I've come across so far.
>
> Kudos!
>
> -dz
>
> On Fri, Jan 18, 2013 at 1:07 PM, Jim Marco <jdm27 at cornell.edu> wrote:
>
> > MendoRider,
> >         Yeah, propane as a fuel is not bad. It is slightly better than
> > white gas in energy content. However, the actual can for containing the
> gas
> > nearly doubles the weight. A typical 3.77oz can actually weighs close to
> > 7oz depending on which one you purchased. Because they come in
> incremental
> > parts, they tend to criss-cross back and forth with alcohol for best
> weight
> > for volume, provided you can toss an empty canister, immediately.
> > Anyway, Propane is about the best at 20,700 BTU/lb. Kero and WG are 
> > about
> > 180000 to 19000 depending on purity and mix. Methanol is only about 9000
> > and ethanol is about 12000 or so. I believe that Esbits are only 13000 
> > or
> > so.
> >         But after adding in for a can canisters and alcohol are about 
> > the
> > same. Esbits do not burn totally, leaving a film or residue, thus
> lowering
> > heat content. WG and Kero need heavy appliances to mix fuel before
> burning.
> > At the end of two weeks, they all come so close to being even (perhaps
> > three or four ounces different) that I just ignore the fuel wars that go
> > on. Alcohol/esbit is the heaviest initially, but lightest at the end. WG
> is
> > the lightest initially but heaviest at the end. But, that's at my
> > usage...about 2 quarts a day plus cooking. A 1oz soda bottle works for 
> > up
> > to 20floz of WG or Alcohol. The density is around .8, btw.
> >         My thoughts only . . .
> >                 jdm
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