tilly lamp - uneven light

dylanwinter said:
but the plastic handle on the regulator had been stuck with araldite and that gave way so I could not turn it up or down.
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It's not good to use it as a regulator. The black knob should be only for the pricker. Do not use it to switch the lamp on or off and do not use it to regulate the amount of light. For either of those let out all or some of the pressure. The reason for this is that frequent use of the pricker will enlarge the jet. When that happens the lamp burns badly and stinks. The vapouriser tube is an expensive part and should be treated carefully for it to last.

The lamps in my family are now in their 3rd generation of use.
 
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AngusMcDoon said:
It's not good to use it as a regulator. The black knob should be only for the pricker. Do not use it to switch the lamp on or off and do not use it to regulate the amount of light.
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While I am impressed by the longevity of your lamps, I am mildly surprised that you don't use the control knob to turn the lamps on. I'm pretty sure that's what the original Tilley instructions said, and the Base Camp ones certainly do. It gives exactly one pricking per lighting, which is what they need.
 
JumbleDuck said:
While I am impressed by the longevity of your lamps, I am mildly surprised that you don't use the control knob to turn the lamps on. I'm pretty sure that's what the original Tilley instructions said, and the Base Camp ones certainly do. It gives exactly one pricking per lighting, which is what they need.
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My experience comes from 3 generations in the family using them regularly in a house with no electricity. They don't need pricking every time they are used, and the vapouriser lasts longer if that is not done. However, if that works for you, then that's fine by me.
 
AngusMcDoon said:
My experience comes from 3 generations in the family using them regularly in a house with no electricity. They don't need pricking every time they are used, and the vapouriser lasts longer if that is not done. However, if that works for you, then that's fine by me.
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I don't doubt your experience at all. Perhaps the frequency and extent to which you use them means that deposits are burnt off more, hence less pricking required. The equivalent of an Italian tune-up for pressure lamps.

Incidentally, and as a matter of genuine interest, how do you power your computer? Wind, solar, micro hydro?
 
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JumbleDuck said:
I don't doubt your experience at all. Perhaps the frequency and extent to which you use them means that deposits are burnt off more, hence less pricking required. The equivalent of an Italian tune-up for pressure lamps.

Incidentally, and as a matter of genuine interest, how do you power your computer? Wind, solar, micro hydro?
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I don't live there all the time. When I am there I use a netbook with a 9 hour battery life and usually charge it in the car when I am driving. There's no internet connection so there's little use for a computer. I have to go into the local town (Lochinver) for decent internet. I usually go into the community centre for a tea, and choose the table next to the wall socket. :)

Cooking and fridge: Calor gas, heating: solid fuel, lighting: paraffin in Tilleys, radio: batteries, lawn mower: wooly kind, no phone or TV reception so no need to power them
 
I have three. I have had Tilleys for years so I am quite familiar with these marvellous beasts. But you have to look after them.
It is not a good idea to use the gas tap to turn them on and off because it upsets the jet.
In fact, once the tilley is lit the gas tap should just be open, not more. A wide open tap wastes fuel and does not give a lasting light.
The best practice is to put it out by unscrewing the knurled collar at the pump to let down the pressure and it goes out.
This collar should not be retightened until you are ready to use it again.
The reason is that with changes in atmospheric pressure fuel travels up and down the vaporiser and may soil the mantle.
A soiled mantle will make black smoke which will muck up the glass. Then you have to undo the whole shebang to wash the glass with W Up liquid and replace, the risk being that in doing so the mantle which is brittle, will fracture and then you have the rigmarole of fitting a new mantle and preburning it, etc., easily avoided.
The spluttering may be due to dirty fuel which additionally may contain water. Also you may have a faulty washer which needs replacing. They come in kits...or...the pump washer may pump but not hold the pressure or you have a dirty vaporiser so the needle does not seat properly due to carbon build up. Try fault finding systematically until you find the reason.
 
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Paddingtonbear said:
That is a pretty posh address for a hairy ton of soil. You will get all the junk mail known to man now Dylan btw
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it is on my website - as is my email address and phone number

virgin junk filters keep the email clearish

phone goes a bit

the only junk mail I get is from the local pizza places delivered by the postman

I think the risk of inundation is over-rated

they would much rather buy a targeted list of home addresses

I am sure yours has been sold many times over

D

D
 
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