GermX hand sanitizer for alcohol stoves

[James Ennis]

Just wondering if anyone has used GermX as a source of fuel for their alcohol stove? I’ve used it to start fires, especially with wet wood, but haven’t had a chance to use it in a stove yet.

[Linsey Budden]

Not for alcohol stoves, but I’ve used Purell hand sanitizer instead of lighter fluid in my wood gasifier stove. It works better with magnesium shavings sprinkled on top, but either way it started my fire–well, that and the petroleum jelly coated cotton ball. Of course Zippo is a no brainer.

[Vick Hines]

Jim,
All the sanitizers are 35 to 40 percent water. The rest is ethanol, but the efficiency is very low… like Sterno. Pure alcohol is the more efficient fuel.

[Author]

Posts