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Emmett
Member
Post Number: 92
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 11:11 am:
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I acquired a nearly full 1 gallon can of Sterno gel for one dollar at a going-out-of-business sale a catering company was having. Anyone know if there is a problem with simply squirting a tablespoon or two of Sterno down into a lump-loaded K and lighting it?
I know the Sterno would do a great job of getting the fire started, but my concern would be if, after it has burned off and the fire is cranking, there is harmful/toxic residue that would taint the meat.
Any thoughts?
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Jiarby
Member
Post Number: 135
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 19, 2002 - 9:10 pm:
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I'd scoop a little into a small can and put it under a chimney (as if it was a regular sized can of sterno) When the lump is lit you can pull it off the sterno. I wouldn't glop it inside the K....sounds too much like dousing with lighter fluid. |
Emmett
Member
Post Number: 93
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 3:16 am:
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I don't want to start my charcoal in a chimney. For hot cooks I want to start a few large chunks at the bottom. I've used Sterno under a chimney - it works fine for smaller chunks that congregate at the bottom of the chimney, but not great on big hawnks in the chimney.
Lighter fluid has definite nasty smells and leaves residue - partly as a result of soaking in. Sterno is gelled alcohol and burns very cleanly. It doesn't soak in, but, rather, adheres to the surface. If restaurants used lighter fluid under their chafing dishes you'd be aware of it throughout your meal. Sterno is entirely different stuff. Unless you watch it being lit you are generally not aware it is there at all. |
Jiarby
Member
Post Number: 137
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 4:46 am:
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I guess you are right about the chemical composition! Give it a go & let us know....I have a case of sterno gathering dust since the flame thrower came in! |
Emmett
Member
Post Number: 94
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 6:37 am:
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I just looked at the MSDS for Sterno and the only toxicity issues were associated with ingesting the stuff directly - its basically rubbing alcohol. But all that burns off.
I'll give it a try and report back. |
Dickenjb
New member
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 8:08 am:
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Give it a lot of air. Sterno is basically gelled denatured alcohol (Ethanol + denaturing agent, probably methanol or isopropanol). All of these substances form smelly/toxic stuff if underoxidized - ethanol forms acetaldehyde, methanol formaldehyde and ipa goes to acetone (nail polish remover).
In the presence of lots of oxygen they burn clean and should cause no problems.
BTW i am a PHD chemist |
Jiarby
Member
Post Number: 140
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 8:44 am:
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Hey Dickenjb,
What is it that makes the sterno gel up? Some kind of binder? |
Jiarby
Member
Post Number: 141
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 8:49 am:
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Hey AlanZ..
Anyidea why my posts are double-posting since yesterday??
(Message edited by jiarby on May 21, 2002) |
Alanz
Moderator
Post Number: 347
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 9:14 am:
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I've seen a couple of double posts... from different users.
Not sure why it's happening, but I'm deleting them when I find them (I think users can delete their own posts, too) |
Emmett
Member
Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 11:44 am:
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Last night I filled a squeeze bottle with Sterno. I laid several large chunks of lump in the firebox and filled in the gaps with some midsized chunks. I then squirted about 3 tablespoons of Sterno over and between this bottom layer of lump and lit the thing. This seemed to be enough Sterno to get plenty of lump going pretty quickly. Once this layer was burning nicely I put the rest of my lump in. There is no question that the Sterno was all consumed long before the K was ready to put food on it.
With the restaurant supply house price for a gallon of sterno about $9, that gallon should light around 64 fires for about 15 cents apiece. That beats Weber cubes, hands down. |
Dickenjb
New member
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 5:23 pm:
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In answer to Jiarby's question, yes it is some sort of thickener or binder which is used to gel the ethyl alcohol to make Sterno. Dow Chemical used to make a similar product called Napalm, which was gelled gasoline - i believe the gellant was Sodium Palmitate, Na is "chemist" for sodium thus the name NaPalm. I have made my own paint stripper by gelling solvent blends with Dow's Methocell which is methyl cellulose, it is also used as a thickener in McDonald's "milkshakes". I don't know exactly what is used to gel the Sterno but it is probably innocuous and used at low levels. |
Johnwilliams
Associate Member
Post Number: 18
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 10:44 pm:
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FYI, more about Napalm:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/mk77.htm |
Johnwilliams
Associate Member
Post Number: 19
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 21, 2002 - 10:55 pm:
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More info on Sterno and related products:
http://www.ccaipg.com/msds/msds0001.htm
http://www.ccaipg.com/msds.htm |
Emmett
Member
Post Number: 96
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - 2:53 am:
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From the above link: "(Napalm) dissolves grease and oil but will not dissolve polystyrene by itself, more benzene must be added to it."
I recall that, when I was a kid, we would dissolve styrofoam in gasoline to make what we called napalm (not knowing how really close we were). It created a taffy-like substance that worked as an excellent fire starter when camping as it would burn well even when wet. But I don't have an inclination to try it for starting my K. |
Sterno