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very silly question about meths
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) |
very silly question about meths
In article , May wrote:
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) It burns very well.... Eg. http://www.trangia.se/ Gordon |
very silly question about meths
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May" wrote:
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) It depends who "they" is. Traditionally it was claimed that tramps drank it, but I've never believed that. For household use: - Cleaner for glass etc. - Spirit burners in fondue sets - Burners in model steam engines ..andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl |
very silly question about meths
In message , May
wrote What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) An additive in wine? -- Alan |
very silly question about meths
Removing some types of self-adhesive label glue remnants. White spirit is also
useful. Removing biro ink. Degreasing microscope slides. -- M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK www.megalith.freeserve.co.uk/oddimage.htm "May" wrote in message ... What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) |
very silly question about meths
"Alan" wrote in message ... An additive in wine? Nawwwww, that's antifreeze |
very silly question about meths
Meths drinking indeed was quite common,amongst alcholics in scotland in the
50,s and 60,s can not vouch for anywhere else |
very silly question about meths
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May" made
me spill my meths by writing: What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) Some info he http://www.birdbrand.co.uk/meths.htm I used to use it in the burners of small steam engines but mainly now only for a Trangier Stove. Adds a certain piquance when the meths bottle has been stored in the cook set for a while :) I suppose it had many more domestic uses back in the days when dustbins used to contain mostly ash and we stood up for the National Anthem at the cinema. All the best -- Wayne Davies - Mobile 07989 556213 - Harrogate, N.Yorks, UK |
very silly question about meths
In message , Fred
writes "Alan" wrote in message ... An additive in wine? Nawwwww, that's antifreeze You mean ethylene glycol? Gives it body -- geoff |
very silly question about meths
May wrote:
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) Used to use it in the burner that came with my chemistry set when I was a kid! ;-) -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
very silly question about meths
"May" wrote in message ... What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) Usually for burning or as a solvent. It is highly flammable, so a small amount can be used as a starter for paraffin in primus stoves or the like. With a dash of washing up liquid, it makes a good additive to a car windscreen washer bottle. Colin Bignell |
very silly question about meths
"Andy Hall" wrote in message ... On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May" wrote: What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) It depends who "they" is. Traditionally it was claimed that tramps drank it, but I've never believed that. T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. Another tramp favourite was coal gas bubbled through stolen milk. You used to look for lead gas pipes that had been cut, then folded back on themselves, when checking derelict houses to see whether they were being used by dossers. Colin Bignell |
very silly question about meths
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May" wrote:
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) Lots of things it's not desperately good for. Meths is: - mainly ethanol (drinkable) - methanol (not drinkable - makes you sick, blind, mad and dead in about that order) - pyridine (stinks) - purple dye (just to annoy french polishers) It's not hard to get clear meths. It's increasingly hard to get unstenched meths, but you still can. If you're working with it all day in this summer's heat, you'll be glad you bothered. It burns easily and the combination of vapour pressure and flash point mean that it's very safe to do so. Unlike petrol, it won't produce a fireball. Unlike paint thinners or paraffin, it won't stink if you use it to light a barbecue. It's a fairly poor cleaning solvent, but handy. Acetone or isopropanol are usually better. Most of mine gets used as a solvent for shellac in french polishing. |
very silly question about meths
"Matt" wrote in message ... "Alex" wrote in message ... Meths drinking indeed was quite common,amongst alcholics in scotland in the 50,s and 60,s can not vouch for anywhere else My physics teacher many years ago claimed tramps mixed it with tomato ketchup to make it more palatable. Having tasted a fingertip dipped in neat meths I have trouble believing that. He said they called it "jemmy" or was it "jimmy"? Matt I remember watching two wino's in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, being over the moon when they scraped together enough money to buy a pint of milk to mix with their small bottle of meths. Funnily enough both had perfect white teeth and a full head of thick hair and I don't know if it was all down to being pickled from the inside out, or if it was just because they were young and looked a lot older. (?) Anyway. Meths can be used as a very good cleaning solution on many things and is great for getting particularly greasy marks off. I've also seen it used as a thinner for thick metal paints and coatings, and also as a primer for old paraffin fuelled blow lamps when a cloth was dipped in it and wrapped around the burner tube to preheat it. Burned for quite a while if memory serves right. |
very silly question about meths
May wrote:
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) French polish thinners is one that springs immediately to mind. Starting old Primus stoves and blowlamps is another. Also general purpose cleaning, tho isopropyl alcohol is now more common. |
very silly question about meths
"nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ...
T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. Another tramp favourite was coal gas bubbled through stolen milk. What's that all about then?! Do explain - never heard of this one! David |
very silly question about meths
"David" wrote in message om... "nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. Another tramp favourite was coal gas bubbled through stolen milk. What's that all about then?! Do explain - never heard of this one! Never tried it myself, but it is supposed to produce an inebriating drink, possibly one that was more palatable than meths. I came across it when helping out with a mass survey of the homeless in Glasgow. Hundreds of people were enrolled to visit derelict buildings across the city and the damaged gas pipe was one of the signs of habitation that we were told to look out for and record. Nobody actually expected us to find any homeless (we didn't) so their numbers had to be extrapolated from signs like that or the more obvious tatty mattress in an empty house. The Social Worker who briefed us said they were looking forward to the introduction of natural gas, which would end the practice, so I assume something in the coal gas was critical to the process. Colin Bignell |
very silly question about meths
"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message . .. "David" wrote in message om... "nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... The Social Worker who briefed us said they were looking forward to the introduction of natural gas, which would end the practice, so I assume something in the coal gas was critical to the process. Carbon monoxide? Matt --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 23/08/2003 |
very silly question about meths
"Andy Dingley" wrote in message ... On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May" wrote: It burns easily and the combination of vapour pressure and flash point mean that it's very safe to do so. Unlike petrol, it won't produce a fireball. This thread has led to quite a few memories for me of my school science lessons. Our chemistry teacher told us of an incident involving a pupil of his when he was a young teacher. The lad was lighting a bonfire at home but the bonfire wouldn't go well. So the kid went and got a can of parrafin, but it wasn't parrafin it was meths. The flame shot up the jet of meths and ignited the can in a fireball. He said he went to visit the child in hospital but there wasn't much point. He was so badly burned he didn't last long. He said the most striking impression was the bluebottles swarming over the netting around the bed. I remember little actual physics or chemistry from those lessons. Matt --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.512 / Virus Database: 309 - Release Date: 23/08/2003 |
very silly question about meths
The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ...
May wrote: What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) It's also a particularly useless fuel for camp stoves - obviously designed to make sure you've earned that lukewarm cup of tea after 20 minutes. |
very silly question about meths
|
very silly question about meths
"nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ...
"David" wrote in message om... "nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. Another tramp favourite was coal gas bubbled through stolen milk. What's that all about then?! Do explain - never heard of this one! Never tried it myself, but it is supposed to produce an inebriating drink, possibly one that was more palatable than meths. I came across it when helping out with a mass survey of the homeless in Glasgow. Hundreds of people were enrolled to visit derelict buildings across the city and the damaged gas pipe was one of the signs of habitation that we were told to look out for and record. Nobody actually expected us to find any homeless (we didn't) so their numbers had to be extrapolated from signs like that or the more obvious tatty mattress in an empty house. The Social Worker who briefed us said they were looking forward to the introduction of natural gas, which would end the practice, so I assume something in the coal gas was critical to the process. Actually, I was just thinking about this (and recalling my A-level chemistry N years ago...) wasn't coal gas methane (CH4)? And maybe methane is partially soluble in water (H20) to produce methanol (CH5OH), ie meths? Or did coal gas contain methanol vapour which condensed in the milk? I'm sure someone will have the definitive answer! |
very silly question about meths
|
very silly question about meths
"David" wrote in message om... "nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... "David" wrote in message om... "nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. Another tramp favourite was coal gas bubbled through stolen milk. What's that all about then?! Do explain - never heard of this one! Never tried it myself, but it is supposed to produce an inebriating drink, possibly one that was more palatable than meths. I came across it when helping out with a mass survey of the homeless in Glasgow. Hundreds of people were enrolled to visit derelict buildings across the city and the damaged gas pipe was one of the signs of habitation that we were told to look out for and record. Nobody actually expected us to find any homeless (we didn't) so their numbers had to be extrapolated from signs like that or the more obvious tatty mattress in an empty house. The Social Worker who briefed us said they were looking forward to the introduction of natural gas, which would end the practice, so I assume something in the coal gas was critical to the process. Actually, I was just thinking about this (and recalling my A-level chemistry N years ago...) wasn't coal gas methane (CH4)? And maybe methane is partially soluble in water (H20) to produce methanol (CH5OH), ie meths? Or did coal gas contain methanol vapour which condensed in the milk? I'm sure someone will have the definitive answer! More importantly, how did a presumably uneducated, penniless, homeless, alcoholic Glaswegian make this discovery. How many unpleasant gases did he have to bubble through how many different stolen drinks before he finally got to that Eureka moment? Rgds Andy R |
very silly question about meths
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very silly question about meths
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 00:29:11 GMT, "nightjar" nightjar@ wrote
"Andy Hall" wrote in message ... On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May" wrote: What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) It depends who "they" is. Traditionally it was claimed that tramps drank it, but I've never believed that. T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. (Another known favourite was aftershave -- we used to see empty bottles of Aqua Velva in the park next to where I took my grad degree in Toronto. Is that ethanol-based as well, or something else entirely?) The only time I've specifically needed meths for a diy project was for melting down old 78 records in it to produce black shellac for restoring some ebonised furniture. -- Cheers, Harvey |
very silly question about meths
In article ,
"Bob Eager" wrote: On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 11:42:49 UTC, (Rich) wrote: The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ... May wrote: What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) It's also a particularly useless fuel for camp stoves - obviously designed to make sure you've earned that lukewarm cup of tea after 20 minutes. I remember finding it indispensable for starting a Primus, though. I always used to use bits of broken up solid firestarter for that job. Peter -- Peter Ashby School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded. Reverse the Spam and remove to email me. |
very silly question about meths
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:19:41 GMT, Peter Ashby wrote
In article , Harvey Van Sickle wrote: The only time I've specifically needed meths for a diy project was for melting down old 78 records in it to produce black shellac for restoring some ebonised furniture. The latest Axminster catalogue has some black shellac, so any remaining 78s are safe. I'll bookmark that; at the time -- 15 or 20 years ago -- it seemed to be the simplest way to get a non-industrial-sized amount of the stuff. -- Cheers, Harvey |
very silly question about meths
In article ,
Harvey Van Sickle wrote: On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:19:41 GMT, Peter Ashby wrote In article , Harvey Van Sickle wrote: The only time I've specifically needed meths for a diy project was for melting down old 78 records in it to produce black shellac for restoring some ebonised furniture. The latest Axminster catalogue has some black shellac, so any remaining 78s are safe. I'll bookmark that; at the time -- 15 or 20 years ago -- it seemed to be the simplest way to get a non-industrial-sized amount of the stuff. An elegant solution indeed. Peter -- Peter Ashby School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Scotland To assume that I speak for the University of Dundee is to be deluded. Reverse the Spam and remove to email me. |
very silly question about meths
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very silly question about meths
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very silly question about meths
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:18:40 UTC, Peter Ashby
wrote: I remember finding it indispensable for starting a Primus, though. I always used to use bits of broken up solid firestarter for that job. I thought that was called 'solid meths' although I have no idea of its actual composition... -- Bob Eager rde at tavi.co.uk PC Server 325*4; PS/2s 9585, 8595, 9595*2, 8580*3, P70... |
very silly question about meths
David Micklem wrote:
In article , rnet[dot]co[dot]uk (Simon Gardner) wrote: It's impossible to buy it in the US, by the way. I think they call it Denatured Alcohol, and its certainly available some places. May be banned in some individual states? Not usually coloured purple in my experience though. I bought some denatured alcohol in New Jersey a number of years ago, to clean the innards of a knitting machine. It was clear and colourless. |
very silly question about meths
David wrote:
"nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... T'is true though. In Glasgow, when I lived there, you used to have to sign the poisons register to buy meths. Another tramp favourite was coal gas bubbled through stolen milk. What's that all about then?! Do explain - never heard of this one! My Glaswegian labourer is keen to extol its benefits. I'm unsure what reaction takes place but the milk allegedly becomes intoxicating. -- Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter. The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html |
very silly question about meths
Matt wrote:
"nightjar .uk.com" nightjar@insert my surname here wrote in message . .. "David" wrote in message om... "nightjar" nightjar@insert my surname here.uk.com wrote in message ... The Social Worker who briefed us said they were looking forward to the introduction of natural gas, which would end the practice, so I assume something in the coal gas was critical to the process. Carbon monoxide? That seems likly to be the most active ingredient in Coal Gas (I can't see the Hydrogen or Nitrogen or stenching agents being that reactive). -- Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter. The FAQ for uk.diy is at www.diyfaq.org.uk Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html |
very silly question about meths
May wrote:
What do they use meths for? (I've just found some in the cupboard.) I always keep a small bottle for degreasing/cleaning where I'm going to put sealant around a bath or basin. Isn't it recommended by the selant makers? Winos used to drink it along also surgical spirit which is essentially the same thing. However, its a killer if consumed and causes blindness. |
very silly question about meths
In message , Andy R
writes More importantly, how did a presumably uneducated, penniless, homeless, alcoholic Glaswegian make this discovery. How many unpleasant gases did he have to bubble through how many different stolen drinks before he finally got to that Eureka moment? One could ask the same question of many herbal remedies -- geoff |
very silly question about meths
In message , Bob Eager
writes On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 15:18:40 UTC, Peter Ashby wrote: I remember finding it indispensable for starting a Primus, though. I always used to use bits of broken up solid firestarter for that job. I thought that was called 'solid meths' although I have no idea of its actual composition... Metaldehyde IIRC -- geoff |
very silly question about meths
"Steve Firth" wrote
| It is hard to make ethanol 100% and harder to keep it there, you | have to use drying resins etc in the bottle. So we use 95% for | most things. | Yes, same here or was when I last worked with wet stuff on a bench. You | have to watch out for the sugar content of the 95% stuff though. I was going to say that if you're diabetic you probably shouldn't be drinking 95% alcohol anyway ... Owain |
very silly question about meths
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 22:30:15 +0100, "May"
wrote: What do they use meths for? Lighting Tilly lamps. -- Peter Parry. http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/ |
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