Talk:Glow fuel

message: Glow fuel vs nitromethane:
The nitromethane article does have a small section that talks about glow fuel, but considering that glow fuel often doesn't have any nitromethane in it at all, I thought a seperate article was appropriate.
I'm also not sure I like the name glow fuel, but perhaps it's better than model fuel?
Also, the diesel fuel section could use a lot more (or could be removed -- it's NOT glow fuel!) -- talk about it's name (even glow engines generally work by dieseling) and about how it's different.  It might even warrant it's own article.  But I don't know that much about it, so ...
dougmc 19:56, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

message: Typically, club flying (something like a .40 2 stroke) uses fuel containing only 5% nitro, increasing to 10% for helicopters, and 15% for really small engines (eg Cox .049). I'd suggest that higher than this is quite uncommon.
Odd, my experience is different.  Most club flying uses 10-15% nitro with 5% being very rare, with helicopters and cars using up to 30%.  This would be in the US -- Texas, to be more specific.  You wouldn't happen to live in Europe, would you?  dougmc (talk) 22:03, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  % Nitro 

message: Might be worth pointing out that:  methanol ignites easily, and burns nearly invisibly. Methanol is moderately toxic, even by skin contact (but castor is good for the skin!). Nitromethane is also a solvent for cyanoacrylate!
On the other hand, is methanol safer to handle than gasoline? My impression (unverified) is that methanol tends to fume less, and is slightly less likely to be dangerous if handled "casually".
I've heard that castor oil is very toxic when ingested. I use gloves when handling the stuff.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.94.54.14 (talk) 07:28, 17 February 2009 (UTC)
replies: text:  My local hobby store sells 10% to 40% Nitromethane containing fuel. Although Nitro compounds are used medicinally, e.g. Nitroglycerin, they interact with the human body's Nitric Oxide system and can be very toxic. Nitromethane is a Monopropellant, see rocketry, and can provide propulsion with no oxygen at all. As with most explosives, the burning rate (velocity) of Nitromethane increases with pressure. Nitromethane can be detonated. From news reports of accidents, Nitromethane may detonate without containment. Castor oil has a nasty taste and caused gut cramping diarrhea, a fact used by previous generations to punish children. Nobody died. You are thinking of the poison Ricin found in the Castor Bean meal left over from expressing the oil. (The sap is also apparently toxic to animals.) Although several beans worth will make you somewhat sick, the meal is filtered out since it detracts from the lubricating benefits of the oil. Castor oil contains hydroxylated components that assist in sticking to metal and solubility in methanol. (FYI: Canola oil is expressed from toxic rapeseed.) Ethyl Alcohol is an antidote to Methanol, its binding constant to Alcohol Dehydrogenase is 100 times that of Methyl Alcohol. Methyl Alcohol is commonly found in many fruits: Pear wine contains about 1%. (I'd be more worried about the Cyanide in Beans, Almonds, Cherries, and Chestnuts.) 
Hope that makes you feel better.
Shjacks45 (talk) 08:35, 3 July 2011 (UTC)
replies: text:  Oh yeah. The fumes from the fuel contain formaldehyde (from methanol), as well as cyanide (low % nitromethane burning with low oxygen), and Carbon Monoxide, as well as inhaling Castor Oil vapor which is much more toxic than ingested or on your skin.
Shjacks45 (talk) 08:40, 3 July 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Safety 

message: Glow fuel is primarily for two stroke engines with the need for oil mixed in the fuel and limited exhaust and fuel/air between cycles.
Shjacks45 (talk) 08:44, 3 July 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Glow fuel is primarily for two stroke engines