Paraffin Cooker

[Sam_Steele]

Has anyone ever discovered the trick of how to prevent a paraffin cooker from smelling the rest of the boat? I am sure some people will suggest changing it to gas - but I have problems with a outside cockpit locker space for a gas bottle.

Thanks

Sam

www.ituna.info

 

[FWB]

Caldo

It's odourless, an excellent product.

 

[rogerdog]

Hi I'll assume a pressure type one like a Taylors -these are the points I've found help.

first off - very careful lighting with lots of preheating (now using glass fibre rope in the meths tray to hold the meths or blowtorch - easier) and keep a light handy as you open the valve (again the blowtorch method helps here) as sometimes with meths it doesn't catch and pongy paraffin vapour in the cabin.

use expensive "odourless" paraffin (Dylan beat me to the post that's the stuff above)

make sure that the safty valve (or whatever its called) is turned off immdiiately after switching off (stops any slight weaping)


apply all the above and it cuts down dramatically on the smell

 

[Sam_Steele]

thanks can it be used in a taylors paraffin cooker?

Regards
Sam

 

[rogerdog]

Thats what I use - works well at reducing the smell

 

[FWB]

Yes I have a Taylors. Infact it was Taylors who put me onto it years ago when it was Rolf Fuel.

I bought several years supply and am still using it!

 

[Sam_Steele]

Thanks - seems like a break though on the paraffin front. Just gone onto their website and notice it has a higher flash point ( 70 as opposed to 46C). We use the blow torch method to light it - I assume this means then that you have to heat it for longer?
Regards
Sam

 

[FWB]

I use meths. Put the kettle on during the preheat process. Let the meths go out, it takes 4 minutes then light it just as if it were gas. No flares ups, no panic.

 

[Krusty]

I use meths too, and have a fail-safe regime:

1. Pour meths into the cup for a count of three seconds (four if very cold or a bit draughty); light with a match, have a second match in the fingers, and do not be distracted (Golden Rule!)
2. Immediately the flame goes out, touch the new match to the burner cap: when it ignites, open the valve halfway. The burner lights at once (no fume escapes) and with a blue flame (no smoking).
3. If the match does not ignite, the burner is not hot enough: do not open the valve; start again! With a bit of practice in guaging the amount of meths, a restart becomes a rare event.

Keeping the meths cups clean helps!