Traveling with denatured alcohol

I’ve had excellent results with plastic bottles like this one. They come in either oval or round shapes — and in 1, 2, 3 and 4 ounce sizes.

The 1oz. bottles come with either screw-on caps or flip-top screw cap. The latter is good for dispensing alcohol. If you buy the flip-top version, MAKE SURE to do the squeeze test with the cap flipped down and closed — there should be no air coming out at all. About half of them fail the test!! However, for those that passed the test, I’ve never had any problems with leakage regardless of altitude / atmospheric pressure changes.

If you are paranoid, maybe buy the bottles with regular screw caps — plus an extra with a flip-top cap so you can use that cap for dispensing.

Not to hijack this thread, but what about keeping denatured alcohol in a hot car in the summer? Am I good up until its boiling point?

Chris, denatured alcohol is no more dangerous to transport than a bottle of high-proof rum. If the car is survivable for a human, it is survivable for a bottle of alcohol.

The small plastic bottles are OK, but some have leaky caps. A Sigg fuel bottle is indestructable, but heavier. I would avoid glass bottles.

–B.G.–

I have heard of older (presumably uncoated) plain aluminum Sigg bottles being corroded by alcohol. The anodized ones are I believe better as are the more modern ones that have some kind of epoxy coating.

I don't have any experience myself with Sigg bottles with alcohol, but I thought it might be important — and at least generate some discussion that might educate me.

HJ

I haven't found any of the old style Sigg bottles for sale in about ten years now.

I used to buy them at the annual REI Scratch & Dent Sale for $1 each, but I think that was back during the Carter Administration.

–B.G.–

Check eBay. I see 'em all the time. I've got quite the collection, lol, including the old ones with metal lids. They work although if you over pressurize them, the bottom will round out and become convex. They are lighter than MSR bottles which is why I keep a few around…

HJ

If you're flying, the TSA limits you to 70% alcohol = 140 proof. They consider 95%-100% alcohol (denatured or Everclear) to be a lot more dangerous.

Oops – missed the bus part. Never mind.

"They work although if you over pressurize them, the bottom will round out and become convex. They are lighter than MSR bottles which is why I keep a few around…"

Exactly.

Your folks didn't raise any stupid kids, did they?

On the old ones, if you caused the bottom to go convex, the capacity would increase slightly.

–B.G.–

OK, provocative title… Siggs are fine. But so are the plastic bottles linked above. I've been using them for years now without a single mishap. No guarantees in life… but IMHO, opting to house liquids in a Sigg "suit of armor" because one can't tolerate even a little iddy biddy chance of plastic mishap is akin to hauling a pack with 1000 denier ballistic nylon because — well, holes have been poked through Dyneema!!

Each to his or her own, of course, but are we interested in safe enough (plus a buffer) — or MAXIMUM SAFETY??

Edit: Actually, Sigg bottles (and ballistic nylon) aren't totally bombproof either.

The original poster was going to use this on a bus trip. You never know how some gorilla is going to mangle your duffle bag.

Once I actually head out on the trail on foot, I would carry denatured alcohol in some small plastic bottles, but I would not carry all of it in one bottle.

A Boston bottle is shaped rather round. A flask bottle is shaped much flatter so that it fits into a pocket better. Soft drink bottles and water bottles tend to have some reinforcements in the plastic shape. They all work. It's only the caps that you have to test.

Most of my aluminum Sigg bottles are thirty years old. I've never had one fail.

–B.G.–

Check with the bus company to see if traveling with denatured alcohol is even allowed.
Greyhound doesn’t allow it in carry-on or checked baggage.

I like the bottles Ben posted above, especially the oval ones. Never had one leak. Mailed several times via USPS Ground.

-Lance

When you get to the last town stop before you head out just buy a bottle of Yellow Heet at the gas station. Every single gas station in Colorado sells yellow heet.
One bottle lasted me for 10 days(10 fluid ounces) on the PCT cooking 1 liter a day on my Caldera Cone and 12-10 stove (Anti gravity Gear Heinekin).
I hiked for 1,200 miles using a coca-cola plastic half liter bottle to store my denat alcohol without incident.
Then i got real lazy and just started carrying the Yellow Heet bottle itself.
Yellow Heet Bottles are about as bullet proof and leak proof as you get and the narrow neck is handy for filling the stove.
At any rate, if you are a gram weenie: use a coca-cola 16 ounce plastic bottle..
If you want bullet proof: go with the Yellow Heet bottle.. it is made to safely contain that fuel afterall.
I suppose you could use a Sigg bottle but my god.. thats way old school heavy… "Not that theres anything wrong with that!" (-Seinfeld)

"The original poster was going to use this on a bus trip. You never know how some gorilla is going to mangle your duffle bag."

Haha… sounds just like the ad line from American Tourister!! :)

Bob,

Have you kept alcohol in the old, plain aluminum Sigg bottles for any length of time? I'd be curious as to your experience.

HJ

Sorry, not alcohol for any length of time. White gas, yes.

Auto leaded gas used to be very bad if you left it standing around for a long time. Gummy stuff would settle out and clog filters. Then auto unleaded gas was supposed to be different, although I have never had enough standing around for that long. White gas seems to be pretty clean, also.

Denatured alcohol, I would expect to be pretty clean. The denaturants in it might dictate how corrosive it might be on bare aluminum.

–B.G.–

Leigh, several people on those Dallas Sierra Club (been going since 2003) trips take alcohol stoves, so there should be no problem with taking it. When I use an alcohol stove, I package it into a 10 oz water bottle. You can duct tape the cap closed and place it into a quart freezer bag for extra security.

Any time you're changing altitude, it's a good idea to open the container periodically to let the air pressure equalize. If you're using plastic bottles, as you gain altitude the bottle will swell because the air pressure is greater inside. As you lose altitude, the bottle will cave in. The pressure differences could cause leakage. I've had this happen with water bottles, even Nalgenes.

I, too, would recommend buying the fuel close to the destination. Or, as suggested, take an unopened bottle of HEET which (if still sealed) won't be affected by altitude changes.

@John I considered a 10 oz drink bottle tonight when I was a the grocery store stocking up on stuff for next week's Spring Break trip. Good to hear a conformation.

@Mary, I was also thinking today, it would be a good idea to keep the fuel on board on the outbound trip so I could "burp" it from time to time.

Mary,

If a bottle has any air space in it, it doesn't matter if it's sealed or not; it will expand if you climb.

HJ

Bob,

It's my understanding that the alcohol itself is what corrodes aluminum. Just curious if experience bore that out. Not quite ready to sacrifice an aluminum Sigg just for the sake of science though.

HJ

Well I went out to the garage and grabbed my Sigg bottle with denatured alcohol in it. Been out there for 2-3 years. Looks just fine inside. Nothing out of the ordinary going on in there as fas as I can tell. Fuel smells the same and burns the same.

Ken, the question might be whether your Sigg bottle is the old type (no interior coating) or the new type (lacquer or epoxy coating).

–B.G.–

Bottle is pretty old. When did they switch to the coated type?

In the old days, almost all of them were uncoated. Then, little by little, the coated ones started showing up more and more. Now when I walk through an REI store, all I see are the fancy coated ones.

–B.G.–