Methanol spill

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rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Out of curiosity, how much area of skin has to be wet with methanol and for how long before it becomes a potential problem through skin absorption ? I've got safety data sheets on most fuels but wonder if you have any clinical based guidelines?
 

FCDisaster

Member
Apr 11, 2012
44
0
Chepstow, Monmouthshire
Sections 8 and 11 on the data sheets (I am referring to the one I provided the link for) gives information on toxicity and exposure guidelines (these are based on workplace exposure/chronic exposure). But these don't give those sort of specifics and unfortunately I am not medically trained so can't provide definitive advice. I would just treat it with caution and if possible wear disposable gloves when handling.
 

widu13

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Feb 9, 2008
2,334
19
Ubique Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
I always (usually) spill/get a dribble on me when I'm using an alcohol stove. Hopefully there are no long term ill effects! At home I wash it off, but not when I'm out playing.
 
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demographic

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Apr 15, 2005
4,691
710
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virgin methanol

Ahh, no word of a lie.... I was talking to a bloke at a bike race last year and he said he knew when he had the good stuff because "It tastes like battery acid".
So not only was he putting a drop on his finger and tasting that but he'd done the same with battery acid as well.

Nutter.

It was a hillclimb sprint and his bike ran on the stuff.
 
Jul 12, 2012
1,309
0
38
Liverpool
Ahh, no word of a lie.... I was talking to a bloke at a bike race last year and he said he knew when he had the good stuff because "It tastes like battery acid".
So not only was he putting a drop on his finger and tasting that but he'd done the same with battery acid as well.

Nutter.

It was a hillclimb sprint and his bike ran on the stuff.

Oddly I know a guy who work who swears down blind, he can smell a bad battery (fit's battery's at a car factory) as it reeks of Lemons, I have no idea if he is taking the urine but he has been saying it for over 15 years apparently. Tasting battery acid though is taking it a little too far.

You want to know a funky smell / taste thing? I know a guy who is anosmic (basicaly blind but to smells and to some sense taste), you can blind fold him give him a slice of lemon and he will say it's a slightly sour orange and a slice of lemon will be a slightly sweet lemon or can't tell the two apart. But this is the weird thing you can give him a shot glass full of white vinegar and a shot of vodka poured into a glass in a different room and he can tell them apart, but blind fold him he can't. But if you give him one of them miracle fruit tablets he can't taste anything we tried it with all kinds of food, including dried food's he was able to eat a dried Naga Chilli with sod all effect, and any one who has eaten Naga will attest you will have some kind of reaction.
 
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Dano

Forager
Nov 24, 2005
181
0
52
UK
Be very careful with methanol, it has a low flash point, a couple of decades ago a mate of mine was having a clear out, dumped a bottle on what he thought was a dead pile of ash, it flashed over and he inhaled the fumes, burnt his lungs out, killed him
 

rik_uk3

Banned
Jun 10, 2006
13,320
24
69
south wales
Be very careful with methanol, it has a low flash point, a couple of decades ago a mate of mine was having a clear out, dumped a bottle on what he thought was a dead pile of ash, it flashed over and he inhaled the fumes, burnt his lungs out, killed him

Same with the likes of petrol or paraffin/kerosene? Dump on hot ash and if the temperature / flame is right your dead.
 

Dano

Forager
Nov 24, 2005
181
0
52
UK
Yep, I think methonal flashes a lot lower though and the flame is not visible, I read somewhere once petrol is 10 times more explosive then gun powder

i would imagine all but the younger members on the forum would be aware of the dangers but worth reminding now and again, seen far too many near misses with people trying to start fires with petrol, very un bushcraft and will have varying effects from flare up to explosion
 

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