Has anyone tried making your own methanol? I have been looking at the processes and making 95% pure methanol is not that complicated. Im just unsure of how to measure the methanol content of the final product. any input would be great.

Rob

for methanol used in glow fuel, it need to be over 99% pure to run good, your better off buying it somewhere

that would mean no acetone ethanol or any other helpers. i could see water content making it run poorly but the other 5 percent are spirits and ketones even some ethanol. all will burn. I have even read on some other post about someone adding water to there mix to help with running there engine cooler.( which i think is a bad idea) but wat im talking about is what a person can make on there own would be 99% burnables.

I was thinking about growing my own balsa, but decided that it was vastly more cost effective to simply purchase it. I've not given up however on the idea of rafting down the Amazon in search of some choice 4# balsa logs...

I would have to surmise that unless you're intending to make tens of thousands of gallons of said "fuel", then the costs and hassle associated with making your own methanol would be ridiculously out of line with the the end results. Not sure your neighbors would enjoy living next door to a refinery either. Yes?

Just buy it.

I know its a crazy idea. but i like a chalange. if my estimates are right it would only cost me around $5 to make 10 gallons and if anything my neighbor would be interested as well. i dont complain that when he taxies his cesna to his runway that it blows over my lawn furniture(gotta get some real wood ones). im just wondering if anyone has tried doing this themselves.

i think i have some old cologne that might work in my glow engines, lol.

VP Racing sells a 5 gallon drum (in my area) for $23, you can get much better than that, thats a really good deal and VP Racing stuff is really good

i RACE A IMCA DIRT MODIFIED ON METHANOL WHAT DO YOU MIX WITH IT IT COST 2 DOLLARS A GALLON WE BUY 150 GAL AT A TIME THIS SOUNDS SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN 15 A GALLON AT THE HOBBBY SHOP sorry about the caps didnt notice

You mix at least some castor or synthetic castor oil with it. Most engines for the USA market will need 5 to 20% nitro as well.

Are you sure you are talking about making methanol? You can make a simple still to make ethanol (white lightning) and it is legal for your on consumption, but I think methanol is a bit more complicated.