Sterno, what do we know about it?

Yes, it does. Serno is actually just alcohol mixed with a gelling agent. The agent forms a solid 'sponge' which makes the alcohol take longer to evaporate (but not that long). The alcohol used is denatured, so it is toxic if consumed, and like any flame, it produces carbon dioxide and monoxide. I can't remember how to make the stuff, but we did it in chemistry class back in high school.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Yes, yes, yes.

It produces enough heat to fry eggs or hot dogs but the time to boil a quart of water is approximately infinite.

I used Sterno when I was a teenager and didn't have the money to buy a real backpacking stove. I am very glad I have a real stove now....
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-Cougar :{)
 
I believe that Sterno uses wood alcohol (methanol) rather than denatured alcohol (ethanol mixed with methanol). I think it is less likely to put out carbon monoxide than most fuels.
 
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