I was just looking over HikinJim's thread and fuel links.

The Klean-Strip Denatured Alcohol only comes in a quart container, as far as I've seen.

I would like to decant some of it into a sturdy, FLAT, preferably plastic, container of a smaller size, like 8-oz.

What would be a good container, one that would be guaranteed not to leak? Flat is better than round for my kits. A container that has carried another product would be do-able, too.

Sue

Vargo does a small 8oz bottle for carrying alcohol fuel

http://www.vargooutdoors.com/Alcohol-Fuel-Bottle

The Trangia fuel bottles are also very good being very tough and sturdy but might be to large @500ml.

http://www.gearforadventure.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=1226&click=16

Sorry, I forgot FLAT. Like a bar of soap.

I have a 2006 Suburban that has a hiding place* under the middle row of seats, but the newer ones have eliminated all the hiding places that mine have, and since mine has 364,000 miles on it, I have the feeling that they will be discarding it soon, and I'll have to deal with the newer, more poorly-designed ones (smiley w/tongue sticking out).

My crews' gear takes up all of the luggage compartment, and we aren't supposed to have any of our own gear loose inside, where it could fly around in an accident.

Sue

An 8oz Stainless steel hip flask is quite flat

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000000707...9961&sr=8-1

Here are some other options in other materials.

http://www.amazon.com/Primus-Flask-Oval-Drinking-Bottle/dp/B0024R1A8S/ref=acc_glance_sg_ai_ps_t_4

http://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-3406-FLASK-12-Oz-Flask/dp/B002PLUCEQ/ref=pd_sim_sg1

http://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-10-Oz-Flask/dp/B001LF3IGQ/ref=acc_glance_sg_ai_ps_t_5

http://www.amazon.com/BOTTLE-WITH-SPOUT-...0538&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003AWN1RY/ref=twister_dp_update?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I know it doesn't meet your consideration of being flat. But I have stored my Denatured Alcohol in cheap 16 oz plastic water bottles. Its not my usual carry for camping and day hikes but I've done it and stored it that way. I've also used the small rounder 8 oz plastic water/apple juice bottles (again, i know you're looking at flat) b/c they are a little thicker plastic.

Normally I use a 20oz MSR bottle w/ a cap has a independent little pour spout on it that you can rotate to open without unscrewing the entire cap. It helps me identify the fuel bottle by feel in the dark or deep in my pack.

Yeah, that ought to about do it.

I like plastic since it's light. I've seen the Nalgene one that AFLM linked to at REI. It looks decent.

Problem with a flask with alcohol is that people might think you were drinking the alcohol. I can just see a cop pulling you over: "Sure, that was for your stove, lady. Tell it to the judge."

I bought some little squeeze bottles at REI, but they're only 2 oz each, which is fine for a cup of tea or two on a day hike, but aren't going to last long otherwise. I can't remember what else they have, but it might be worth a visit if there's one in your area.

HJ

Am_Fear ... thanks for the recommendation on the hip flask. I've been meaning to pick up something like that. Jolly good idea, mate :-)

Pete2

How about this:

http://bepreparedtosurvive.com/Stoves%20available%20from%20Survival%20Resources.htm#

A little more than half way down the page is a flat Twin Neck Alcohol Fuel Bottle

Bill, that looks like a nice little bottle, storage and measuring, all in one!

HikerJim, I'm not afraid of a cop pulling me over for having it, but I do fear someone else drinking from it. My current alternate driver is a young male idiot. Need I say more?

Sue

Trangia do have a 300 ml (about 10 US fl. oz.) version of their bottle.

http://www.moontrail.com/trangia-fuel-bottle-300ml.php

Tough, with a good cap.

Yeah, I'm always a bit hesitant to use anything for fuel storage that looks like a drink bottle. "Bottled water" bottles are excellent, but I'm afraid that someone will take a deep gulp without smelling the contents or something like that. Having a young child at home only increases my fears.

I'd say it's a good idea to use a fuel bottle that looks substantially different than a drink bottle.

HJ

But isn't denaturated alcohol AWFULL to drink and smell? It is where I live, but regulations and products may be very different where you live. Where I live it requires the determination of a very alcoholic person to drink any denaturated alcohol.

That being said, I'm all for keeping fuel in containers not mistanken for drinking bottles.


Ingest a small amount of denaturated alcohol and you spit it out - nothing bad happens. Ingest a very tiny amount of kerosene (parafin) and you spend hours and hours in squatting in what we call the Jockey's position, wishing very dearly for the comfort of walls and a toilet seat. Don't know about white gas, but I don't think it has the same effect as kerosene - at least not in the tiny quantities you're bound to absorb in the tiny microsecond before you spit it out (or vomit).

You would think that, wouldn't you? But I've read that ingestion of fuels is a big problem in places like South Africa where fuel is often placed in drink containers. Apparently one has to bring one's own container to purchase fuel. SA has a lot of poverty, and drink containers are often plentiful and already on hand.

HJ

Methanol eats the fatty tissue surrounding the optic nerve.

Very dangerous!.

Lee

Keeping anything non drinkable in a container that can be mistaken for a drinking container is just asking for trouble....

I can hear the comments now - "Stupid! Idiots!", etc... and you would have a point.

Can't help but think all this talk about using plastic water bottles the last few days was stirred up by me, as I mentioned I've done it in the past.

I said its not my usual carry but I've done it. Disagree if you want. Think its inappropriate if you want. All you who think as such are right, but I don't live in a world of rainbows and unicorns. I live in realityville. It's expedient, it's UL. It works. No one I hike with brings 16.9oz water bottles so its a unique item in the group. Plus it's well marked. And 9 times outta 10 the leftover gets poured back into the original can or my MSR bottle.

My kids, if they ever got into my gear cabinet, which they don't, would never confuse it for an old half full water bottle and drink from it. And they've been raised well enough (or spoiled enough, hmmm) to not drink out of a water bottle that they don't know who drank from it or how long it sat out. I have Denatured alcohol in a MSR bottle that is not otherwise labeled as fuel, and I drink from other stainless bottles around the house. My kids have never thought one was the other.

I wouldn't be surprised if systematically alternating between using a bottle for drinking water and the same bottle for fuel would cause some health issues.

Accidental sipping from the wrong bottle ONCE isn't quite the same thing.

Yes, I've also used PET soda bottles for fuel (clearly marked, mind you). Do I recommend it? No. Do I want to make it a regular routine? No.

Auto shop HEET gas anti freeze should fit your bill.

Consider recycling a Purell (or equivalent) container. They are available in various sizes. The original contents (62%) burn just fine in alcohol stoves and thus have a double use.

The Nalgene 250ml bottles w/flip top work really well. Guaranteed to be leakproof I think.

I got a 12oz clear plastic (nalgene) hip flask from MEC (similiar to REI but Canada). I use it to transport drinking alcohol (usually rum) when I am out camping. It has an outer blue container that is supposed to guard against UV light affecting the contents. Simply marking the flask or even painting it red (hint: put a strip of tape on the side before painting then you will have a strip of clear plastic to guage the contents level easier) should be sufficient to prevent its use as anything but a fuel container. The lid is designed to be leak proof in the first place. In my personal experience, the alcolhol has always never dripped and found its way to my mouth with no loss!

Of course you could also buy some alchohol in similar plastic hip flasks from the store and just reuse them as well.

Correction: MEC used to sell these. But I am guessing with the BPA scare that they've been taken off the market. Too bad because they stow a lot more efficiently than a round bottle.

Roarmaster,

Those are good flasks, and still to be found in the states. I always thought the blue hard slip cover was for when packing it externally on a backpack and it was crushed into a hip bottle pocket you could just lift the bottle out, the slip acting as a holster. Didn't think about UV.

I used that for trail hooch but then gave it to my kids. Wasn't big enough for the drinking we do out there. hmmm.

I also like that there is a 1oz plastic shot glass fitted to the cap. It's very sturdy, never once thought it would pop off.

The twin neck bottle bill suggested is not to much unlike most fuel mixture bottles found in most gas stations / Stores that sell lawn mower and chainsaw type equipment. Dont know the costs of most these products but you wouldnt be paying S&H.