Hi folks;

I wasn't exactly sure where this should go, but I'd appreciate any input that the kind folks in this forum may offer.

Last night, a car hit a pole and we lost power for about an hour; This was the first time this has happened since we moved to our new home in a new part of the country and for this reason; I am faced with a decision that though it isn't earth-shattering, I felt I might as well seek some input so that I can make the most-informed choice, possible.

We own between a dozen and eighteen kerosene lamps of various descriptions. Some were bought specifically for camping, but the majority were purchased because historically we have lived in places with legendary power problems. Unfortunately, when we moved west, policy or law prevented the moving company from transporting fuel and though we have a large collection of lamps, last night a lack of foresight forced to us use candles.

My question is relatively simple; In the lanterns that are made mostly of metal, fully-enclosed or protected and come equipped with a handle for carrying or hanging; If you think of the lights which were supposedly swung by railroad ghosts looking for their heads, you know what I mean; What would be the pros and cons of using kerosene or lamp oil as fuel? I realize they were manufactured to be filled with kerosene, but would lamp oil cut-down on smoke and fumes? Would either, theoretically prolong the life of the device? And would your answer be any different, if we used the individual devices primarily indoors or for camping?

Thanks in Advance;
R

 

Hi magister

By choice, we use the clear fresh kerosene in our Alladin lamps & Blue Flame heaters & cooker. Plus our new member to our Kerosene tools, a Sears pump up weed flamer

We have manuals for most of the heaters & in the UK they had Parafin oil as the choice, for the 40s & 50s Blue Flame heaters.

We bought our first Blue Flame heater at a yard sale & can't stop buying them ( No more parts left ) to take 3 & make 1 good one.

Anyway, since I now have to send to England for the few remaining wicks. You know, I would pay the extra cost for anything to burn, to make them last longer.

Good clear fresh smelling Kerosene, wins hands down everytime. A small amount of denatured alcohol like 1 tableSpoon per quart, will help stop any water problems.

We have noticed the Alcohol in Kerosene, helps keep the wicks cleaner & there's not near as much hard carbon build up.

I am always open to new ideas, but after paying as much as we have, for so called clean burning lamp & Stove oil.

Then finding out what the old Farmers had been telling us for years was true, Kerosene + Alcohol works best.

 

Thanks Maturo; Though, my wife may not thank you because she wants to use that $4 a quart, colored/scented oil that she uses in the all-glass lamps we keep in the house, but being as cheap as the day is long; I'd much rather use the much less expensive kerosene in my outdoor lanterns and now, I can point to your carbon/wick/alcohol info as a justification; After all, she did agree to let me consult the forums before I made a purchase; Thanks.

And, I'm glad to hear you have a variety of gas lamps and cookers because someday, I'm going to go out to the shed and get that little Coleman single-burner that we tote into the backcountry and maybe you, or someone can help me get it back together; The movers seemed to have shaken it apart on our cross-country. Last time we used it was in your neck of the woods (Boone for the 4th) and it was fine then, but when we broke it out to hike into the canyon, it needed to be put together and I haven't a clue. Though of course, that is a subject for another day...

Thanks again for the lantern fuel info;
R

 

Hello
I seem to be having problems locating the type of wick I need for my country store kerosene lamp. It is of the center draft type ( which means it is round and fits around a circular burner and has a diameter of 2 and one half inches). Most of the ones I've found are measured 2 and one half inches flat. The one I need measures 4 inches flat and 7 and one half inches long. Any help out there? Thanks in advance for your consideration.

 

Hi K Horner

While I have never seen a 4" lamp wick I can give you a great web sight where if you send an e mail or call their 888 ph#. Well who knows?

Try www.lehmans.com we buy all our non-Electric needs from them, & have for many years.

If by chance you do find that they have a way to get them for you, please write me back & let us all know. Who know they may have them in stock. However don't fail to ask for the owners son to help you, he can find a part last made 50 years ago.

 

Hello,
The type of lamp that I have is a Banner hanging country store lamp with a center draft burner which takes a cylindrical wick that fits around the burner instead of passing through it. When lying flat it measures 4" and when opened to a cylinder it measures 2 and a half inch and is 8'' long. I just purchased a new chimney from Lehman's this month. I was lucky to have an old catalog they had sent me. Thanks for the advise. I did however find a wick at www.oillampman.com that will work by removing the adjustment collar attachment. It is for a kero heater but they say it will work. It's about nine bucks a pop though and I have not gotten that desperate yet. Have a happy New Year and let me know if you find anything,but I don't think anyone makes them any longer.

Ken

 

Hi Ken thanks for the link, I will keep it for future reference. I have 6 Alladin blue flame heaters & 1 cooker. Yes indeed I know how hard finding the right wick can be. I got 1 wick trimmer with the 1st one & have never seen any trimmers anywhere since.

Good luck.

 

Ken here!
You must remember never to ride a short horse into tall water !

soon