Observation of US vs. UK Meths....

[Spule 4]

All-

I just bought a very nice Mamod SLK1 from Simon Whenmouth at Anything Narrow Gauge.  It was a nice and easy transaction and no problems with shipping to the USofA(from his shop to me in less than 48 hours?).

It has received many Mamodifications including meths burner, upgraded SV, Goodall, lubricator, upgraded cylinders and some cosmetic improvements including a nice pair of builder's plates.

Anyhow, while poking around and performing some Minor Mamod Maintenance (MMM) tasks, I happened to notice the bottom of the boiler.

The bottom was more carbonized than my outdoor cast-iorn grill from burning hickory wood and animal fat.  The buildup is very thick and difficult to brush off.

THe only thing I can think is it is from by-products in the meths.  Compared to two boilers here that have seen US sourced meths, they are both just "sooty" without the buildup.

I guess now I understand why many UK forum members complain about meths including smells and quality from this observation!

[Narrow Minded]

Yep, you've got it!

We can no longer buy "clean" meths (BP) over the counter - a typical move by our Nanny State government. I understand that the rogue drug addicted element of our society used it to process their chemicals, and so to protect us all it has effectively become a "controlled substance"

Some of our local high street outlets will now only allow you to purchase 1 can of gas per visit - obviously because of the "sniffers".

[MDLR]

You CAN get a permit to buy "medicinal" meths but you have to apply to Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs for a permit and have to jump through a number of hoops with regard to storage - I think the maximun you are allowed to store is 5 litres.

The forms are available here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/16mmngm/files/meths/

[TonyW]

5 litres is correct Brian, and my licence also says "No more than 20 litres per annum". The other problem with The Good Stuff is the price. The last lot I bought in April 2010 was £13.50 for two litres, and I know it has gone up again since then.

[PeachBottom]

I guess now I understand why many UK forum members complain about meths including smells and quality from this observation!

TommyDodd loves his meth-fired locos and loves the smell....I think there's something wrong with him. Then again, he did marry *me*.....

[Keith S]

Can you purchase gas-line antifreeze at the automobile stores in the UK? It's the stuff you use to remove ice crystals from your petrol tank in cold weather. It's pure methanol, I think. I once made one of those little camp stoves that burn alcohol and it was recommended for that.

In North America it goes by all sorts of trade names. "Heet" is one of them. If you can get the stuff in the UK it would probably work very well in your locomotives. Perhaps I'm being naive however. The government has probably already thought of this and banned automobile fuel additives.

[Spule 4]

Keith-

Good observation, per Heet's MSDS (soon to be SDS, thank you UN ) it is 99% Methanol and 1% proprietary blend (often nothing of concequence.

Will have to give it a try one day!

[TommyDodd]

A few years ago in SMT I remember someone talking about "Alcohol a Bruler", which was sold in French supermarkets for use in camping stoves. Possibly made from the European wine lake, it was reportedly both better and cheaper than the purple industrial byproduct commonly sold here. Anyone tried it, and how practical is it to get hold of?

[GardenRail]

5 litres is correct Brian, and my licence also says "No more than 20 litres per annum". The other problem with The Good Stuff is the price. The last lot I bought in April 2010 was £13.50 for two litres, and I know it has gone up again since then.

Coal is nice and cheap however Tony :-)

[Keith S]

5 litres is correct Brian, and my licence also says "No more than 20 litres per annum". The other problem with The Good Stuff is the price. The last lot I bought in April 2010 was £13.50 for two litres, and I know it has gone up again since then.

Coal is nice and cheap however Tony :-)

Yes, indeed. If you used meths, at 20 litres per annum, at the above price, you would be up to the price of a nice new coal boiler for your loco after only 20 years!! Coal practically pays for itself!

[Spule 4]

The positive for me is if poor quality meths become the norm in the US, through my position at work I have befriended three paint manufacturers in this state, so I could always buy directly from them.

20 years of meths = coal boiler, sounds like a justification I would try and make!