Inexpensive / clean lamp oil

rebel heart · 20-10-2007, 19:38

Trying to come up with a cheap way to keep the lamps stocked up. I like them more than the electrical units, but it seems pretty damn expensive. Anyone have the magic cure for this? Apparently I'm supposed to used liquid parrafin, which is clean burning and safer (safer than gasoline or propane I guess). I like them in the winter as well, because a lamp or two will take the place of a heater in slightly chilly temperatures.

I can get 5 gallons for $110 including shipping from here ( Clear 2.5 Gal ), coming out to $5.50 / quart, which is cheaper than the $8 / quart that I find elsewhere.

Any other ideas?

**GordMay** · 21-10-2007, 05:13

Methyl Hydrate (CH3OH, methyl alcohol, methanol, or wood alcohol) is colourless and smokeless when burned, and can be used as a fuel for marine un-pressuirzed alcohol stoves.
Methyl Hydrate is available in your local hardware store, sold as gas line antifreeze, fuel for camp stoves, and as a solvent for shellac.

Fishspearit · 21-10-2007, 06:14

We always used mineral spirits, cheap and clean. Available at wal-mart or any hardware store. You can usually find cheap lamp oils for a few bucks a gallon as well. Mineral spirits has a few other uses aboard a boat to make carrying it around worthwhile.

rebel heart · 21-10-2007, 08:04

Perfect! I knew (or heard) you could use kerosene, but I also heard that it was a bit on the dirty side. I'll poke aorund for the wood alcohol the next time I'm in a hardware store, and I the cost of mineral spirits certainly is more in line with my price range. Product Information Error Page

$10.50 / gallon, or $2.62 / quart, is 32% the cost of the retail parrafin liquid that WM sells. Thanks guys!

20-10-2007, 19:38	#1
rebel heart Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Diego Boat: Hans Christian 36 Posts: 802 Images: 3	Inexpensive / clean lamp oil Trying to come up with a cheap way to keep the lamps stocked up. I like them more than the electrical units, but it seems pretty damn expensive. Anyone have the magic cure for this? Apparently I'm supposed to used liquid parrafin, which is clean burning and safer (safer than gasoline or propane I guess). I like them in the winter as well, because a lamp or two will take the place of a heater in slightly chilly temperatures. I can get 5 gallons for $110 including shipping from here ( Clear 2.5 Gal ), coming out to $5.50 / quart, which is cheaper than the $8 / quart that I find elsewhere. Any other ideas? __________________ Keep the water on the outside, you on the inside, and the stick in the air. http://rebelheart.squarespace.com

21-10-2007, 05:13	#2
GordMay Administrator Site Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 9,336 Images: 230	Methyl Hydrate (CH3OH, methyl alcohol, methanol, or wood alcohol) is colourless and smokeless when burned, and can be used as a fuel for marine un-pressuirzed alcohol stoves. Methyl Hydrate is available in your local hardware store, sold as gas line antifreeze, fuel for camp stoves, and as a solvent for shellac. __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

21-10-2007, 08:04	#4
rebel heart Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: San Diego Boat: Hans Christian 36 Posts: 802 Images: 3	Perfect! I knew (or heard) you could use kerosene, but I also heard that it was a bit on the dirty side. I'll poke aorund for the wood alcohol the next time I'm in a hardware store, and I the cost of mineral spirits certainly is more in line with my price range. Product Information Error Page $10.50 / gallon, or $2.62 / quart, is 32% the cost of the retail parrafin liquid that WM sells. Thanks guys! __________________ Keep the water on the outside, you on the inside, and the stick in the air. http://rebelheart.squarespace.com

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21-10-2007, 06:14	#3
Fishspearit Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: FL Boat: Westerly Sealord 39 Posts: 379	We always used mineral spirits, cheap and clean. Available at wal-mart or any hardware store. You can usually find cheap lamp oils for a few bucks a gallon as well. Mineral spirits has a few other uses aboard a boat to make carrying it around worthwhile.