California bans the sale of Denatured Alcohol

[Akafred]

A few months ago I purchased a new Dometic Two burner alcohol stove for my boat.. it’s the second one I’ve owned over the past twenty years and I love it. But today I got some very upsetting news.. After going to two marine stores and a hardware store and not finding any denatured alcohol fuel on the shelves, I found out that in the infinite wisdom of our California state assembly members, they have decided to ban the sale of denatured alcohol throughout the state.

I understand that our brilliant law makers feel they are doing good work trying to keep volatile chemicals from harming consumers but this is just seems over the pail. Gasoline and Diesel fuels have many more harmful chemicals in them but I don’t think we’ll ever see a ban on them.

In the meantime I’m now going to either be forced to drive to Nevada and buy a years supply at a time or burn isopropyl or vodka in my stove..

Thank you California State Assembly for turning me into a bootlegger at this stage in my life..

[HopCar]

That’s disturbing.

[Don C L]

I was just about to post on this too. I just went to the hardware store Sunday for alcohol and they said they haven’t had it for a month and it’s banned now. Well I missed that memo! But I walked over to west marine and they looked at me puzzled, went to the shelf and sure enough someone had bought them out. So I ordered it, and today they called to tell me it’s in. So I wonder if they are all allowed to sell off what they have? In any case, yes, for those of us with alcohol stoves, very disappointing.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I was just about to post on this too. I just went to the hardware store Sunday for alcohol and they said they haven’t had it for a month and it’s banned now. Well I missed that memo! But I walked over to west marine and they looked at me puzzled, went to the shelf and sure enough someone had bought them out. So I ordered it, and today they called to tell me it’s in. So I wonder if they are all allowed to sell off what they have? In any case, yes, for those of us with alcohol stoves, very disappointing.

drive to Arizona or Nevada and get a few 5 gallon cans at a paint store . Barter it at the marina for good rum.
While your at it pick up a few cases of plastic straws.

[Lake-Effect]

Is methyl hydrate (aka methanol or "wood alcohol") still available in CA? It's used to thin shellac and clean brushes, and also as a fuel in some chafing dishes.



In this discussion, one comment mentions using methyl hydrate in their Origo stove. But this Origo manual says not to.


Disclaimer - we have a butane burner on our boat. I don't have hands-on experience with alcohol stoves.

[newhaul]

Sounds fishy what about the ethanol ( featured alcohol) that the EPA says must be added to gasoline? Are they no longer doing that? If so that's a good thing . Adding alcohol to gas is a ridiculous rule.

[senormechanico]

The inmates are running the asylum. Not just in California.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

The inmates are running the asylum. Not just in California.

Yeah, and it's a happening spreading worldwide.

[Akafred]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I was just about to post on this too. I just went to the hardware store Sunday for alcohol and they said they haven’t had it for a month and it’s banned now. Well I missed that memo! But I walked over to west marine and they looked at me puzzled, went to the shelf and sure enough someone had bought them out. So I ordered it, and today they called to tell me it’s in. So I wonder if they are all allowed to sell off what they have? In any case, yes, for those of us with alcohol stoves, very disappointing.

I got the same thing at west marine. I don’t think the floor staff have been told yet.

[Akafred]

Originally Posted by newhaul

drive to Arizona or Nevada and get a few 5 gallon cans at a paint store . Barter it at the marina for good rum.
While your at it pick up a few cases of plastic straws.

Lmao. I told my brother we might start a new side gig bringing in a truck load from Nevada.. I’m ok with the plastic straw ban we don’t need anymore plastic floating around 👍

[JPA Cate]

Can someone tell us why one can't use isopropyl alcohol in marine stoves?

Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) used to be (critical words, I know) readily available.

Ann

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Can someone tell us why one can't use isopropyl alcohol in marine stoves?

Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) used to be (critical words, I know) readily available.

Ann

the 98% pure can be used however the lower purity stuff has to much water in it to burn cleanly.

[tsenator]

This is insanity. I swear to God there are window lickers that are running things in government. Of course they haven't banned drinking alcohol. Because they all sound drunk making these brain dead feel good laws . Like denatured alcohol for someones stove is the bane of man

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by tsenator

This is insanity. I swear to God there are window lickers that are running things in government. Of course they haven't banned drinking alcohol. Because they all sound drunk making these brain dead feel good laws . Like denatured alcohol for someones stove is the bane of man

actually using it as a stove fuel is not even .1% of its use .
First and for most it is a fuel additive either E10 gasoline( gasoline with 10% ethanol)
or E85( 85% ethanol and 25% gasoline e)
the other major use is as a paint thinner and cleanup .
Check your local Sherwin Williams store.

[ronstory]

First foie gras... and now this. Perhaps Banifornia would be a more apt name. (sigh)