Re-Using Sterno?

RedMF40 · Mar 11, 2021

I'm new to Sterno, so far happy with my experience. Had to keep a pan of water warm but no stove access. Sterno did the trick, but I only needed it for a short time and it says it's not meant to be re-used. For you campers, if I just put some foil over it and seal it up until next time should that do the trick? Thanks,

Gerrit

BillinCentralMO · Mar 11, 2021

I never used it. Its probably a safety issue. Storing an open container of canned fire.

showcrop · Mar 11, 2021

(quoted from post at 10:18:15 03/11/21) I'm new to Sterno, so far happy with my experience. Had to keep a pan of water warm but no stove access. Sterno did the trick, but I only needed it for a short time and it says it's not meant to be re-used. For you campers, if I just put some foil over it and seal it up until next time should that do the trick? Thanks,

Gerrit

Restaurants use them all the time for Buffets. They just put the lid on and put them away until next time. They discard them when they get too close to empty.

Janicholson · Mar 11, 2021

Snuff it iut with the lid, then with the lid loose, let it cool. Close the lid and put it away till needed. In the food service industry, they are
either allowed to burn out, or discarded. The timing issue, and complexity of swapping them out, or letting a product get below guidelines for "Safe
Serve" temp is a no no. My son is a Chef. Jim

RedMF40 · Mar 11, 2021

Thanks for the replies. Been experimenting. I snuffed out my partially-used can, only about 1/4 of the fuel used.

There is no lid to replace. The metal cover gets destroyed when you open it with a "blunt object," per the instructions. Maybe I got the cheap sterno, bit it IS Sterno brand.

Ok, no lid. I can work around that. But out of curiosity I went to re-light the can. It absolutely would not light. Would give a "Poof" but then nothing. So I stuck a bamboo skewer in there and stirred the green goo around to see if that would make a difference. Yes, it lights now.

I'll store it in a safe place with foil over it and can even put it inside another container because these cans are small.

We're learning about Sterno here. Thanks for the suggestions--and if this can fails to perform they come in a 2-pack so I have another can. Just hate to throw something out that can still be used.

Gerrit

DoubleO7 · Mar 11, 2021

Need to store in small airtight container.
Maybe it will fit in a pint size canning jar, etc.

Otherwise the fuel will evaporate.

old · Mar 11, 2021

The way I understand what Sterno is made of is simple wax and alcohol mixed together so if left unsealed the alcohol evaporates. I've made Sterno since I was a kid

Janicholson · Mar 11, 2021

My error in that the last ones I saw were not Sterno brand. These have replaceable lids. The image here is a still different brand.

Lidded

JF in MI · Mar 11, 2021

What's a good way to store it if you're drinking it rather than burning it?

1948CaseVAI · Mar 11, 2021

Alcoholics downtown just try to seal it up the best they can to keep the alcohol from drying out. As someone else said it is just wax and methanol. The alcoholics squeeze it through a sock to get the methanol. Eventually they will get really ill if they drink too much so it is not really popular any longer and most now get enough government money to buy some quality alcohol like Anzio or Mad Dog.

4520BW · Mar 11, 2021

The 60s hippie band " Canned Heat" took
their name from an old blues song about
drinking sterno.

RedMF40 · Mar 11, 2021

Turning into a fun topic. Might have to make other plans for that second can of sterno hahahahaha!

BTW I know of the band Canned Heat, didn't know that reference.

Gerrit

tomturkey · Mar 11, 2021

my brother broke down one evening, late and cold. He and his girlfriend kept from freezing by having a can(or two?)of sterno and a
blanket. That was his sterno experience. gobble

RedMF40 · Mar 11, 2021

(quoted from post at 17:13:56 03/11/21) my brother broke down one evening, late and cold. He and his girlfriend kept from freezing by having a can(or two?)of sterno and a
blanket. That was his sterno experience. gobble

Good to have a girlfriend if you're broken down and freezing. Sterno might have helped, too

Gerrit

Denny K · Mar 11, 2021

1 oz. of methanol will blind you and 2 oz. will kill you. I was so glad when we switched the race car from
methanol to ethanol. No more burning of the eyes and nose when running it.

SVcummins · Mar 11, 2021

Im a sterno man myself . I carry this little rig in my saddle
bags . Nice to have a warm meal after a long day in the
saddle

SVcummins · Mar 11, 2021

SVcummins · Mar 11, 2021

Im not sure the sterno was what saved em 🤔

Den N Ms · Mar 12, 2021

Denny ,Switched the race car from
methanol to ethanol. No more burning of the eyes and nose when running it.

Yeh and ole Jim Tom on the Moonshiners can whip you up some real potent race fuel from some corn.lol

RedMF40 · Mar 12, 2021

(quoted from post at 20:24:22 03/11/21)
<img src="https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto81130.jpg">

I'll get the kind you have. And the little cook stove, too. Was looking for that in the big box store but they didn't have any. Going to keep it in my car as part of my "survival Kit."

The sterno I have definitely does not re-light after I tried again. I thought it would, but maybe the level had gotten too low to be useful. I'll get the kind you can seal up again.

Gerrit

Kansasredneck · Mar 12, 2021

Dad kept a bottle of rubbing alcohol with
a length of cotton wick in the car. Pour
the alcohol into a metal container, drop
in a piece of wick and light.

SVcummins · Mar 12, 2021

RedMF40. The cans I have are about 6 years old opened
them the other day and the light just like the day I bought em .
The lids were rusted tight so I used some boot wax to lube
them up a little bit so they wont seize again

RedMF40 · Mar 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 18:41:52 03/12/21) RedMF40. The cans I have are about 6 years old opened
them the other day and the light just like the day I bought em .
The lids were rusted tight so I used some boot wax to lube
them up a little bit so they wont seize again

Thanks, I had to use up the other can of sterno so I'll definitely be buying the camp heat like you have. Looks like a much better product. I appreciate the info.

Gerrit

SVcummins · Mar 13, 2021

Red youll really like it with that little stove it takes awhile to
heat up w can of something but it does work pretty good I
even have a little frying pan for mine

showcrop · Mar 13, 2021

(quoted from post at 13:53:02 03/13/21)

(quoted from post at 18:41:52 03/12/21) RedMF40. The cans I have are about 6 years old opened
them the other day and the light just like the day I bought em .
The lids were rusted tight so I used some boot wax to lube
them up a little bit so they wont seize again

Click to expand...

Thanks, I had to use up the other can of sterno so I'll definitely be buying the camp heat like you have. Looks like a much better product. I appreciate the info.

Gerrit

Probably any except the one that you had would be resealable, LOL.

RedMF40 · Mar 14, 2021

Probably any except the one that you had would be resealable, LOL.[/quote]

Hahahaha seems to be how it goes. Anyway, this thread has lasted a lot longer than the Sterno did, and I know not to buy it again.

Gerrit

bc · Mar 14, 2021

You guys have me wondering. My wife buys and burns these candles all the time. If she blows them out they let off that funky soot smell which ruins the purpose and I snuff them out by putting the lid back on. I wonder if they burn hotter if you burn one till some wax melts, put it out, pour a little rubbing alcohol in it, mix it, and relight it?

Also wonder if an old corn farmer could make enough moonshine to perpetually fuel his still and also enough to provide fuel for heating the house? Surely some of those old moonshiners tried that since they didn't use the heads and tails.

Re-Using Sterno?

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