Naphta in the UK

[Yellow Saddle]

Naphta, or Benzine in some countries, is the stuff my camp stove runs on but I can't find any such product in the UK. What is it called here?

 

[MossCommuter]

I Googled "NAPTHA UK" and found stuff

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sour...q=naphtha+uk&tbm=shop&spd=7538375386322048756

is that the right stuff?

 

[Profpointy]

naptha can mean a lot of rather different chemicals. eg I believe it's a synonym for methanol (an ingredient of meths, but not meths as such), or coleman fuel, which is basically petrol without the additives. I'm guessing you want the later - but ordinary petrol will do but will eventually gum up the stove. It's cheaper to gum up the stove and clean out or replace bits than buy coleman fuel. If it is a coleman stove it's the preheater pipe thing that gums up and can't really be cleaned out. The MSR or primus or optimus stoves can be cleaned out and will burn almost anything

Benzine proper is a carcinogen and not used much in domestic applications, but benzene as a word is again a synonym for various petrolly mixtures.

It is conceivable that you have a meths stove - eg something like a trangia where the fuel burns in an open container. Don't use petrol in one of these.

If it's a pressure stove, with a pump, then it's either petrol or paraffin (kerosene) - you need to know which as petrol in a paraffin stove is v dangerous. The other way round likely just won't work

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I Googled "NAPTHA UK" and found stuff

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sour...q=naphtha+uk&tbm=shop&spd=7538375386322048756

is that the right stuff?

Thanks. I guess the Coleman fuel would do the trick....duh me.

The problem is that naphta is not a universally-accepted name for a specific chemical formula. The stuff I used was dirt cheap and sold in supermarkets as a general cleaning product. I've found products here claiming to be naphta, including white spririts (a turpentine substitute) but it smells too oily. These stoves are finicky.

Most products containing "naphta" have it in various concentrations ranging from 12% to 25% but who knows what the rest of the stuff is in there.

But thanks. I'll find some Coleman fuel.

 

[Drago]

Benzine is indeed nasty, proper carcinogenic. So that's what they put in petrol to replace lead...

I was I GoOutdoors earlier today with Woman. I was perusing their camping gear, though not paying particular attention, and I'm sure they'll do something that'll work.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

naptha can mean a lot of rather different chemicals. eg I believe it's a synonym for methanol (an ingredient of meths, but not meths as such), or coleman fuel, which is basically petrol without the additives. I'm guessing you want the later - but ordinary petrol will do but will eventually gum up the stove. It's cheaper to gum up the stove and clean out or replace bits than buy coleman fuel. If it is a coleman stove it's the preheater pipe thing that gums up and can't really be cleaned out. The MSR or primus or optimus stoves can be cleaned out and will burn almost anything

Benzine proper is a carcinogen and not used much in domestic applications, but benzene as a word is again a synonym for various petrolly mixtures.

It is conceivable that you have a meths stove - eg something like a trangia where the fuel burns in an open container. Don't use petrol in one of these.

If it's a pressure stove, with a pump, then it's either petrol or paraffin (kerosene) - you need to know which as petrol in a paraffin stove is v dangerous. The other way round likely just won't work

Thanks but I believe benzene proper is C6H6 - the bad stuff you mention. The spelling differs all over the world, it seems.

Also, the benzine I used didn't smell like methanol. I'm very familiar with that smell, especially when burning it. This stuff - by benzine had a very distinctive smell when burning inefficiently before the carburetor kicks in.

 

[Profpointy]

Benzine is indeed nasty, proper carcinogenic. So that's what they put in petrol to replace lead...

I was I GoOutdoors earlier today with Woman. I was perusing their camping gear, though not paying particular attention, and I'm sure they'll do something that'll work.

have you got a picture of your stove. We can probably advise (or guess) better then

 

[Profpointy]

Thanks but I believe benzene proper is C6H6 - the bad stuff you mention. The spelling differs all over the world, it seems.

That is indeed benzene proper - I remember we only used it on special occasions in school and using Toluene as a substitute mostly (which is a benzene ring with a methyl group added). My teacher, only 8 or 10 years older said they use to wash their hands in benzene when she was at university !

I think the term (whichever spelling) can also be used for any old petrolish mixture too; or perhaps was in the olden days. at any rate.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

have you got a picture of your stove. We can probably advise (or guess) better then

I present you with the word's best compact camping stove ever.(but the damn picture keeps on going on its side. Dunno why).

 

[AlanTh]

Coleman fuel is stupidly expensive.

Try Aspen 4T. Lawn mower fuel - very clean and much cheaper.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Coleman fuel is stupidly expensive.

Try Aspen 4T. Lawn mower fuel - very clean and much cheaper.

Thanks, is this similar stuff?

 

[AlanTh]

Thanks, is this similar stuff?

I can't tell any difference at all and have used both.

A quick google should give you a local supplier.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

I can't tell any difference at all and have used both.

A quick google should give you a local supplier.

I'll do that but did you actually use it in the stove? As mentioned, the carburetor/gaseator thing gums up if you use the wrong stuff and they're quite expensive and kinda rare.

 

[AlanTh]

I'll do that but did you actually use it in the stove? As mentioned, the carburetor/gaseator thing gums up if you use the wrong stuff and they're quite expensive and kinda rare.

Yes. I have a Coleman twin burner. It will also run on unleaded, but that produces fumes and carbon on the bottom of the pans.

 

[AlanTh]

I have heard that some people use "Panel Wipe" I think it's called. The stuff car sprayers use to clean the metal before spraying.