lamp oil/ parrafin?

KevO

KevO

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I have a selection of wall- mounted, hurricane, and a Tilley lamp. I used to use a brand of parrafin from Tragos that worked perfectly well. The latest batch however is really smelly when used. So much stronger than previously. Perhaps they have changed the contents.

Can anyone suggest/recommend a suitable alternative, less fumey brand and potential supplier?
 
Read some time in the past on the web site of a tilley/oil lamp 'enthusiast' that the best paraffin bar none was made by Caldo which is a company based up here in the north west (St. Helens) but is distributed nationally in pre-packs.
 
davidpbo said:
Is paraffin or lamp oil best for cabin use? I want low fume/smoke. Limited use for a little heat/light.
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I used to use paraffin because it was much cheaper but now use lamp oil. Some paraffin niffed a bit, lamp oil doesn't. And depending where you can get them, not much more expensive these days.

(I also used own branded turpentine substitute for a while, it was largely kerosene, but I'm not sure you'd find one these days that doesn't smell when lit.)
 
Storyline said:
Read some time in the past on the web site of a tilley/oil lamp 'enthusiast' that the best paraffin bar none was made by Caldo which is a company based up here in the north west (St. Helens) but is distributed nationally in pre-packs.
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+1

Available through Amazon of all places. They also do a higher grade lamp oil but haven't tried that one: http://www.caldo.co.uk/paraffin_extra.aspx
I did however use white spirits in the past and while it does work I'm not convinced it's safe to do so. Quite a lot of soot too.
 
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Using a couple of lamps very occasionally (for 'atmosphere' rather than light) we rather missed the scent of the paraffin on switching to lamp oil.
 
davidpbo said:
I have a Tilley lamp in the garage. Too big for boat. What do they run on? Parrafin to start using the thing that clamps around the mantle support, but in the tank?
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Err no! Paraffin goes into the tank of course. Use meths for preheating the carburettor.
http://www.base-camp.co.uk/instruction.html

"Lamp oil" btw is more refined than normal paraffin. It'll burn cleaner, won't smell but it's dearer. No problems using lamp oil in wick lamps. Assuming we're talking about mineral oil based stuff, not citronella or any of that dyed ****.
 
2nd_apprentice said:
Err no! Paraffin goes into the tank of course. Use meths for preheating the carburettor.
http://www.base-camp.co.uk/instruction.html

"Lamp oil" btw is more refined than normal paraffin. It'll burn cleaner, won't smell but it's dearer. No problems using lamp oil in wick lamps. Assuming we're talking about mineral oil based stuff, not citronella or any of that dyed ****.
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tilley lamp dont have a carburetter the domed head is what you meant to say
heating oil is fine for out side use in tilleys, it is a lot cheaper
 
mtb said:
tilley lamp dont have a carburetter the domed head is what you meant to say
heating oil is fine for out side use in tilleys, it is a lot cheaper
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I don't think I meant to say "domed head" but to be precise it's a vapouriser:

1000x1000.jpg
 
KevO said:
Ok... So can you use lamp oil in a Tilley?
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It depends on the Tilley. I had one that burnt Shellite (refined petrol, much like white spirit). I bought it because Shellite doesn't need reheating, so no requirement to carry meths or the little pre-heater gadget, or to remove the glass to light it. You just pressurise the lamp, turn on the fuel, and put a match to it. But if you were to put lamp oil or kerosene (paraffin) in that Tilley you'd ruin it.

However, while I (very happily) used the Tilley on camping trips I didn't use it on Sanderling as I considered it a bit dangerous. So Sanderling was lit by two bulkhead-mounted oil lamps and one hanging lamp, all of which burned kero. (Like Hydrozoan, when I switched to lamp oil I rather missed the smell of kero and switched back again.)

One thing to remember with oil lamps is to keep the wicks properly trimmed, otherwise the flame burns unevenly and can flare up and deposit a lot of soot on the glass in rapid order. (But all you need to clean off the soot if/when you get it is a wad of scrunched-up dry newspaper.)

Mike
 
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KevO said:
I have a selection of wall- mounted, hurricane, and a Tilley lamp. I used to use a brand of parrafin from Tragos that worked perfectly well. The latest batch however is really smelly when used. So much stronger than previously. Perhaps they have changed the contents.

Can anyone suggest/recommend a suitable alternative, less fumey brand and potential supplier?
Click to expand...

Argos Value Range Battery Operated Camping Lantern.
340/1936
£4.99

Lamp.jpg
 
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