fuel for lamps

[baggins]

Have just aquired a couple of the old parafin lamps and was wondering, to save weight when out and about, if i could use coleman fuel in them instead or any other type of fuel. They are non pressurized, just a wick in a fuel resevoir, so not sure if some fuels would work. Anybody got any ideas!!!

[spamel]

Why not just use lamp oil. I'm not sure how easy it is to get in the UK, but here in Germany it's quite easy to get a hold of. Not too sure if using petrol is good for your eyebrows!!

[bogflogger]

Do NOT use Coleman Fuel!

Doing that is a Guarentee of a serious fire!

You can get "Lamp Oil" from places like B&Q but it is expensive.

If you hunt around hardware shops you should be able to find Paraffin still being sold.

[PC2K]

hmm... weird, lamp oil and oil lamps are still sold everywhere here for very reasonable prices. Apparently many people use it for decoration and stuff. You can even get colored oil, which "looks beter" in transparant lamps and even citronella oil version.

[rik_uk3]

You can get parafinn in 4 litres containers at all the big DIY stores like B&Q, in the garden section (gardeners still use parafinn heaters in greenhouses), also from some petrol stations. Lamp oil is available at a lot of craft shops.

[g4ghb]

bogflogger is right!!! - DO NOT USE COLEMAN FUEL!!!!!!! - it is essentially refined Petrol!

[anthonyyy]

Looking at the problem backwards. I gather you want to use the same fuel for your cooker and lamps. What kind of stove do you have? Will it work of paraffin?

[singteck]

I think oil is better then fuel. They burn longer and brighter too. So in the end you carry less.

singteck

[JohnC]

I get my parrafin from the local sainsburys garage.
I'd agree don't use petrol or Colman's in your parafin lamp.
There are a lot of small parafin stoves
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Primus-vintage...QQcmdZViewItem
going for good prices.

[wingstoo]

You can get 4 ltr bottles of paraffin at most garages and DIY stores but it is quite expensive, some petrol stations, especially rural ones, still sell it from the pump and is cheaper that way, but not by much...At B&Q I got a additive to change the smell for something a bit sweeter, you can also get lamp oil in citronella, which will also help keep the bugs away...

LS

[rik_uk3]

Don't burn lamp oil in a pressure lamp such as a Tilley or a Vapalux, it could clog your vapouriser tube in quick time (additives in the stuff very often), stick to plain paraffin. If your stove or lamp are burning correctly, there should be little or no smell; you get the smell mainly from poor combustion

I use paraffin/kerosene stoves a lot, some over 80 years old, work great

[mojofilter]

Up here B&Q charge £5.99 for 4l of Parasene branded parrafin.

There is only one garage I know of that still sells it, but they take £3 a gallon!

[wingstoo]

Up here B&Q charge £5.99 for 4l of Parasene branded parrafin.

There is only one garage I know of that still sells it, but they take £3 a gallon!

£3.00 a gallon...bargain
£4.99 ltr ...over priced

LS

[rapidboy]

I don't use much parrafin these day's (only in my workshop heater) but i get it from my local garden centre.
As mentioned above it's still used in greenhouse heaters.

[baggins]

Thats great, thanks for all the answers guys. I didn't think coleman would be a good idea, but you never know. Got a 5ltr tin from focus for 4.99.
Hope your all enjoying the heat

[Ogri the trog]

DONT DONT DONT,
Use Coleman fuel in a parafin lamp unless you have the Fire Brigade standing out side your tent with the hoses charged and ready to go. As g4ghb says - its essentially petrol.
Lamp oil and parafin lamp fuel are much less volatile and won't torch your surroundings so easily (but they will given half a chance).

Ogri the trog

[JohnC]

They are not suitable for outdoors, but you may like the "aladdin" paraffin lamps with a mantle and burner. They give off a very good light, and a fair bit of heat.

http://www.aladdinlamps.info/rescue.htm

[Scally]

petrol based fuel evaporate to 230 times more than liqued and start to evaporate at -45 degrees big bummmmm!!!