Well, first, I am NOT a medical professional of any kind let alone a toxicologist. If it were up to me, I would prefer fewer nasties in whatever it was that I were burning. The absolute cleanest you can get? Everclear, 190 proof. It's in drinkable form and contains no denaturants.

However, methanol actually burns pretty cleanly. You'd probably be fine burning methanol so long as the flame were blue.

The main thing about methanol is DO NOT DRINK IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Reasonable care in handling it is fine. It's not sulfuric acid or nerve agent or something.

HJ

Russ,

Excellent questions, but I don't have a definitive answer (yet). I've got anecdotal indications that a mix of ethanol with water without some of the denaturing agents found in denatured alcohol will burn cleaner. However, I'm not quite ready to "publish" that yet until I've been a little bit more thorough.

A mix of around 90/10 ethanol/methanol is supposed to be very clean burning according to people that I've talked to, but I haven't personally verified that yet. I've obviously got some more experimenting to do.

HJ

P.S. To the above. If you want a "lose, lose," try isopropanol which is frequently sold as "rubbing" alcohol in the US. From what I've read (again, I am NOT a medical professional), it's more toxic AND it produces more soot when burned. Yep, here's the fuel you really (don't) want.

This is anecdotal, but a friend of mine was doing tests in his garage with isopropanol. He had to stop because he was feeling ill. He didn't feel 100% for a couple of days.

Therefore, last choice, emergency use only: Isopropanol.

HJ

We are grateful, HJ, that you are attending to these burning issues.....

Careful. If you make "flame" posts, the moderators will be all over you.

HJ

P.S. You were one of the people who encouraged me to start taking up alcohol stove issues. So, I know you're interested... or are you getting burnt out on this topic?

We can safely say that this rare issue is well done.....

I gotta say, my jokes can't hold a candle to yours...

HJ

but your comments are matchless...

It always gets interesting when I strike up a conversation with you.

HJ

Thats the spirit!