Oil lamp smoke

[john m]

I've finally lit my oil lamp for the first time after it being an ornament for long enough ,
How do you stop the black smoke that comes from it and what is best for cleaning the glass I only had it lit for five minutes and some of the glass and the heat shield went black

 

[JumbleDuck]

I've finally lit my oil lamp for the first time after it being an ornament for long enough ,
How do you stop the black smoke that comes from it and what is best for cleaning the glass I only had it lit for five minutes and some of the glass and the heat shield went black

The black smoke comes from unburned fuel. Make sure the wick isn't turned up too high, and make sure that it's evenly trimmed.

 

[Danbury]

I've finally lit my oil lamp for the first time after it being an ornament for long enough ,
How do you stop the black smoke that comes from it and what is best for cleaning the glass I only had it lit for five minutes and some of the glass and the heat shield went black

Sounds like you want to turn the wick down a bit... Once lit, I'd wind it all the way down until it starts almost going out... then back up again without it going all sooty. If it fails to burn evenly and cleanly, you may need to trim the wick...

As for cleaning it... I'd just try washing up liquid in water...

 

[PhillM]

I have found some difference in lamp oil. While most expensive the "burn bright" stuff from the chandlers does seem to give a nicer and less smoke free flame. I use my lamps quite a bit but don't get through more than one bottle a season - so the £5 it costs doesn't really matter.

 

[pmagowan]

It will smoke for a number of reasons, as others have said the wick could be too high, also the air flow could be poor caused by an incorrectly seated chimney, or the wick may be uneven. Failing that the fuel may be the wrong type or quality. Often, to clean the glass, all you need to do is wipe it with a dry cloth. If it is a bit more stuborn some fairy liquid as long as it is not hot. You don't say what fuel you are using.

 

[john m]

It will smoke for a number of reasons, as others have said the wick could be too high, also the air flow could be poor caused by an incorrectly seated chimney, or the wick may be uneven. Failing that the fuel may be the wrong type or quality. Often, to clean the glass, all you need to do is wipe it with a dry cloth. If it is a bit more stuborn some fairy liquid as long as it is not hot. You don't say what fuel you are using.

Thanks I was using the good stuff from the chandlers it looks like I had the wick up to high is there a scented oil you can use

 

[Sandgrounder]

Where do you buy replacement wick? I bought some for my recently acquired boat, which came with a lamp but only 20mm wick which wouldn't reach the oil. I measured the old wick and ordered some on line but it is about 2mm too wide to roll smoothly through the "head" of the lamp. Any advice much appreciated. I can't remember the measurements but will have to go to the boat to check - hard life eh?

 

[aquaplane]

Simon, I went in my local hardware store and they had two sizes on a roll. When I asked for 6" she looked at me funny so I doubled my request to 40p worth, it was worth getting the scissors out for so much.

If you don't find any give me a shout and I'll bring some up.

Edit, that place in Windermere will have some shurely?

 

[prv]

it looks like I had the wick up to high

As others have said, it does also depend what the end of the wick is like. If it's rageddy with tufts then the tufty bits will tend to have a bigger flame and cause smoke. You want a smooth trimmed edge.

Pete

 

[Danbury]

Edit, that place in Windermere will have some shurely?

Who's Shurley ?

 

[aquaplane]

Who's Shurley ?

Don't you know her? Musgraves.

 

[sarabande]

why on earth do you want to breathe in carbon nano-particulates, so that they end up in the innermost surfaces of your lungs ?

 

[prv]

why on earth do you want to breathe in carbon nano-particulates, so that they end up in the innermost surfaces of your lungs ?

Cos it looks pretty.

Pete

 

[Wooden Boat Fittings]

And on top of all that, as the lamp warms up the flame gets higher, so turn it down a bit after a few minutes.

I was taught to wipe the soot off the glass with just a scrunched-up piece of newspaper.

Mike
By the way, scented lamp oil is only scented till you burn it. It doesn't give off any perfume once you've lit the lamp.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Where do you buy replacement wick?

I get mine from eBay seller parafinalia0115: http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/parafinalia0115

 

[Sandgrounder]

Simon, I went in my local hardware store and they had two sizes on a roll. When I asked for 6" she looked at me funny so I doubled my request to 40p worth, it was worth getting the scissors out for so much.

If you don't find any give me a shout and I'll bring some up.

Edit, that place in Windermere will have some shurely?

Thanks Bob, I need to retrieve the length I bought which nearly fits and take that along when I try to buy some.

If you mean our friends at Maiden I think they only sell stuff made by Bendytoy; I may be wrong of course.

 

[Sandgrounder]

I get mine from eBay seller parafinalia0115: http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/parafinalia0115

Thanks. Useful info.

 

[newtothis]

why on earth do you want to breathe in carbon nano-particulates, so that they end up in the innermost surfaces of your lungs ?

so they provide a protective layer against the tobacco smoke.

 

[MASH]

No nanoparticles with a clear flame.

 

[aquaplane]

Thanks Bob, I need to retrieve the length I bought which nearly fits and take that along when I try to buy some.

If you mean our friends at Maiden I think they only sell stuff made by Bendytoy; I may be wrong of course.

No, up in Windermere, Musgraves ironmongers, they sell everything including the kitchen sink. I don't buy from Maiden unless I'm really stuck.