Posted by Owen Roberts on February 06, 2008 at 08:59:03 from 91.125.76.78 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Re: Brand names - Meta Fuel posted by John Giddy on February 06, 2008 at 02:57:07:
I use some of these types of fuel in my collection of toy steam engines.
Most fuels need good ventilation otherwise the effects can be deleterious.
META (metaldehyde) is a solid fuel which can be dangerous to small animals and birds (including parrots) in enclosed spaces. Not usually known in a jelly form.
You can buy alcohol jelly fuel (known as Sterno in the US –I think), which is popular in Asia. This contains alcohols in a chemical binder. This may be what Roger found but AR might have thought Meta would be more understandable to UK readers as it was the common solid fuel brand in the 1930’s.
Trioxane is also used but you must wash your hands after touching it before eating. I understand that this was the standard US military solid fuel.
Most people in the UK used hexamine (popular brand name Esbit) as it is safer although not completely safe.
Most of the above fuels apart from the jelly come in a white crystalline tablet form that looks like Kendal Mint Cake - beware what you eat!
The main liquid fuel in the UK is methylated spirits. This is mainly ethanol with pyridine, which tastes foul can make you sterile and perhaps blind you, plus a violet colorant. Modern EU regulations insist that it now burns with a visible flame and paraffin and other items are added. It does spoil toy steam engines with excess soot and one has to obtains a licence from the Revenue & Customs to purchase industrial alcohol which is not so contaminated.