even more Taylors q's

Re: even more Taylors q\'s

It shouldn't be particularly smelly at all. What sort of paraffin are you using at the mo? When we the burners last serviced? I'm guessing here but if they're in need of attention you might get some vapour escaping through the spindle. Only other thing I can think of at the mo is crud in the tank/lines? that'd be a hard one to rectify...
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

ah, I must confess to being very new to all things Pariffin and I bought Pariffin from the local garage. I guess this is the worse stuff then?? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

I've used the stuff they call Parasene (flogged by the DIY sheds for greenhouse heaters) and currently have what is called Premium Paraffin. also from the same place last time I got some and neither seems to me to smell to any degree.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

i've been on a steep taylors' stove curve over the past. The aluminium cone washer between the pipe end fitting and the burner body is crucial; if you don't get this seated correctly and firmly tightened you will get a trace of paraffin leaking out as liquid when unlit, as soon as you open the valve between the pressure tank and the stove, and as vapour if the burner is hot. Similarly if the graphite packing around the valve spindle is knackered you will also get paraffin vapour from there when the burner is going. It seems to be the unburnt vapour leaking out that makes it smelly so if you can prevent that things should be a lot more pleasant.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

Agree with comments- don't get the cheapest paraffin -it does smell more - as already stated the Parasene does seem less odoriferous than some offerings - but do check for any small leaks - a little paraffin is noticeable also be very careful filling the tank small drops on the tank add up to a noticeable smell (unless you only mean when the stove is running ??)

Also - you do have good ventilation when using the stove I hope ?
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

Great stuff, thanks for the advice. I'll strip the burners to see if all is well and also head down to B&Q. Are parts readily available if I need new washers etc?
Also, lighting the s@dding thing is a nightmare. I've tried using a blow torch but this doesn't seem to help. Any tips?
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

How to light a Taylors: Easy, but not to be rushed.

The main principle is to get the top of the burner hot enough to vaporise the paraffin. You can use Meths, or a blowtorch (bit belt and braces if you wanted to get gas off your boat, or even firelighters, which I've noe personally tried yet, but other assure me works, and is good to use when sailing in lumpy water.

I'll just describe the meths method. Make sure the Tank is at a good 1.2 bar pressure at least. Any less and you won't get the vapour through.

Fill the meths cup just to the top of the wadding, and try not to get it overflowing the cup. Have the burner valve closed. Light with match or stove lighter and wait. The process takes 4-6 minutes depending on how full you fill the cup.

The meths should start boiling after a minute and you'll hear it gently simmering. This is fine. Don't open the burner valve yet, or you will get a big yellow flame - this is raw liquid paraffin and creates all that mess. You have to wait until the main body of the meths has burnt off and you are reduced to what appear to be the last dregs. Standby ready with lighter as a backup. Now, as the meths flame slowly starts dying away, open the valve on the burner, and the burner will light. You will find that until the meths has all gone, and while there is still a small residual flame from the meths cup, the burner will run roughly until all the meths has gone. At that point, the burner will be fine. If you miss the crucial moment when the meths flame dies away and the burner lights, you can light the flame yourself with the match or gas-lighter, for about 30 seconds after till the burner cools. If you are called away suddenly for any reason and the burner cools, you'll have to let it cool enough to add raw meths again and start again without it going "woof".

With a bit of practice, this is an easy process, and not stressful at all. But think, if it is irritating, at least your boat won't explode...
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

[ QUOTE ]
Great stuff, thanks for the advice. I'll strip the burners to see if all is well and also head down to B&Q. Are parts readily available if I need new washers etc?


[/ QUOTE ] You can buy spares individually from base camp. They list a bewildering array of parts; the Taylors' stoves use Optimus 207 adjustable burners and you can get the part numbers from this diagram. You will also find the guy who runs the company helpful if you email him although the response may not be very rapid.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

I had a search recently for a cleaner paraffin and ended up with Bartoline's Premium Paraffin. Apparently also sold as B&Q's own brand Premium Paraffin. It is a very significant improvement in our oil lamps compared with the old stuff. The Taylors is new but I feel sure it would be as great an improvement in that as well.

Still in the learning process with the Taylors. One or two exciting moments so far... Definitely needs the full meths burn before opening the valve. It seems to light better when the meths has actually gone out so a match has to be used. Otherwise it seems to go through a half lit phase where makes a sort of farting sound as it tries to light. (Pardon the description). If you have a kettle on for just one cup of tea, it is close to boil before the meths runs out.

Also the cap came unseated on the burner whereupon it roars loudly and the cap glows very bright red in seconds. A quick shut down is needed. Oh and the occasion when I bumped the burner knob and it slowly leaked paraffin into the food cupboard etc. etc.
Still learning...
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

The purpose of the meths is to heat the burner so that the paraffin vaporises. In my experience this can vary from burner to burner. My current burners only need about half cup, possibly because they don't have any wadding.

The blow torch method is in some ways simpler - it is the method they use in the factory. You need to direct the flame at the underneath of the burner above the cup. I used a torch for many years, but it can be awkward to stow, so have gone back to meths.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

Ah think of it as character building ! The meths method is definitely the way to go if you don't want gas on board - remember (as mentioned to have a light handy when using this as the secret is to be patient - wait until the meths is almost out before opening the valve a LITTLE and letting the flame establish rather then just opening it fully (the match needed if the paraffin does not light and the meths has gone out)

As to basecamp -dealt with them - superb 100% reccomended


The blowtorch method works a treat and is faster and safer if the sea not behaving burning meths can spill from a full preheater cup - hence some stoves have wadding - but hey here's the fun in that!)

Using the blowtorch - as stated aim it below the burner at the galleries (tube things above the jet) and you will need about 45 seconds of preheat but do take this approach a little gently and move the heat around a little - be kind to your Taylors!

One more point - don't forget to make sure the shut off valve is always open before preheating commences - can cause paraffin to leak from burner or (is reported ) the galleries to rupture.

So after you mastered all this - you deserve a cuppa !

. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

Probably teaching grandmother to suck eggs etc but one vital thing to remember is that if you are using meths to light the stove, get called away to do something else, and when you get back think of starting agin with more meths because the flame has gone out - - DON'T!

Pouring meths on what is already hot metal is a sure fire way to lose your eyebrows!
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

[ QUOTE ]
it seems to go through a half lit phase where makes a sort of farting sound as it tries to light.

[/ QUOTE ]

The less meths left, the shorter this period is. I usually light the stove before I put anything on as the kettle obscures the view. Practice and experience solve this.

[ QUOTE ]
Also the cap came unseated on the burner whereupon it roars loudly and the cap glows very bright red in seconds.

[/ QUOTE ]

The burner cap has slight "cut outs" either side to fit in a couple of raised lugs either side on the burner. Make sure the burner caps are rotated 90 deg, and these lugs slightly pressed down and your caps won't come off by accident.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

I've had a Taylors of one sort or another for some time. I always prefer meths, as I don't think that a blowtorch is very good for the burners - the heat is too uneven, and the burners are too expensive to risk distorting them. With my previous stove (a single burner version of the 028 I think, now obsolete) I used to put half a tablespoon of meths in the burner cup. I now have a model K, which came with wadding, and it is difficult to dispense the meths with my tablespoon method, so I've bought a couple of these lighting wicks (halfway down the page) cat no 151 - they come highly recommended by another Taylors fanatic and boating neighbour. Keep them in a jar of meths - when you want a brew, take one out and drain off the excess, clip it round the burner, light and wait a couple of minutes. Unclip it and use the dying flame to light the burner et voila. In terms of meths, this is the most economical method I know, and very safe as you don't tend to get the meths jar anywhere near the stove.
Source of the above info is here. last post on the page.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

Nah, it just makes life onboard more exciting. The trick is pour on lots of meths very quickly, light match, and feed the match in from underneath the stove, while you crouch besides it. You will get a huge "wooof!" but it will light OK.

NOTE: This is not recommended by anyone except me!
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

I use B&Q paraffin and can confirm lack of smelliness.

I also forget and walk away from the meths buring stage ALL the time. For a teetotaller my alcohol consumption is silly :-). Think my left hand burner leaks a little will have to strip down and see - sputters a lot in the last few days...

Do the mini blowtorches work at all - or should I not bother???
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

I use this
Paraffin%20Extra%20Front450.gif

it has no smell.

As for lighting:- Use meths, put a kettle on after the meths is lit and wait 4 minutes for the flame to go out. Then light as if it were gas. No flare ups, no drama.
 
Re: even more Taylors q\'s

sounds like you are using alot more meths than I find necessary! not a real problem other than you'll get through a lot of meths. I keep mine in a neat url=http://www.wildtrak.com/product.asp?id=77]trangia fuel bottle[/url] which take a lot of the excitement and guess work out of dispensing it. I use enough to just wet the pad, equating to a one-second 'squirt' from the bottle. usually burns for about a minute, at most, and I don't have issues with flare-up. I think the wick serves to increase the surface area of burning so the burner warms up quicker, and you can use less meths.

like the look of the clip on jobbie too.
 
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