To the alcoholics among us: It is a common practice for the more progressive alcoholics (i.e., those running alcohol fired locomotives) to carry a bicycle tire inflator with them to snuff out the alcohol flames in the burner by releasing a short blast of Carbon Dioxide gas down the smokestack. As a recently addicted alcoholic, I bought a "Ultraflate" gadget made by a company that calls itself "Innovations." The gadget cost me $17.00 plus tax at a local bicycle thief -- local bicycle shop. The gas cartridges are $1.50 each plus tax, and you only get a few uses out of a cartridge. WAYYYY too expensive for me. Now I get my cartridges of CO 2 FREE! The Fire Extinguisher technician was at The Depot Friday afternoon to do the annual rubber hammer pound on our extinguishers and also tell us how many were now considered obsolete by the local fire code and sell us new ones that are exactly like the old ones. I noticed some CO 2 cartridges in his tool kit and asked him about them. He said he hadn't gotten around to throwing them away, they were 6 months old and had to be replaced in some units they service. He gave me about ten of them and said he'd drop some more off from time to time. These are the screw in type and work great in my "Ultraflate." No expense for the CO 2, and more money for alcohol, I like that! PS. I'm convinced the mineral spirits, pure wood alcohol is better than the denatured grain alcohol. My Mikado and Reno both do better, now if I could only get the Americanized Mogul to like it. The Mogul doesn't seem to want to run on anything...... Keep your steam up! Walt & Mr. Lunkenheimer
