Lamp Oil vs Kerosene

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

... It would be quite an exercise to determine what is meant by which word in each part of the world or might the fuel have the same name ...

See Mike Buckler's:
“International Fuel Names”

This document contains:
Translations for the names of fuels commonly used in backpacking stoves and lanterns.
Information about the availability of fuels in various countries.

Goto:
International Fuel Names

And:
International Fuel Names

[s/v Jedi]

Good list Gord! It confirms that what is called "kerosene" in the US is called many different names elsewhere... while those names are recognizable in English for different products!! The names from other countries I found are: paraffin, petroleum, naphta and lamp-oil. You can easily get into trouble when you try to buy this stuff abroad ;-)

cheers,
Nick.

[Icetug]

Be careful with some terms here. There are several products out there called "paint thinner". KEROSENE FUEL PRIMER This link tells you a lot of information about fuels for lamps and stoves. Low odor mineral spirits work well in wick lamps. There is another type of mineral spirit or paint thinner that is very flammable and should never be used in wick lamps. You must get the "low odor" kind. Wood alcohols for use in "camp stoves and lamps" would be a low flash point product for use in "coleman" type devices and should never be used in wick lamps. Some people even use different fuels in flat wick versus round tube wick lamps to prolong wick life and cut down on smoke and soot.

Sometimes even the simplest things are not so simple.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Icetug

Be careful with some terms here. There are several products out there called "paint thinner". KEROSENE FUEL PRIMER This link tells you a lot of information about fuels for lamps and stoves...
... Sometimes even the simplest things are not so simple.

Indeed.
Thanks for helping to cut through the fog.

[roverhi]

True lamp oil is different from Kerosene. Lamp oil has a low 'freezing' point with certain constituents turning to wax around 45 degrees. Won't work if you are going to use it in cold temperatures unless you have a heater for the tank and delivery lines.

Aloha
Peter O.
Pearson 35 with kero stove

[Cyndimarcus]

I'm convinced! Lamp oil it is.

[sarafina]

ace hardware low odor mineral spirits.

12.99 a gallon

burns clean and bright with no unpleasant smell.

[AnsleyS]

We use charcoal lighter fluid for our lamps. It has no smell and is very inexpensive.

[newlazydays]

Having lived in the back blocks of Africa and spent months under canvas with only kerosene lamps for light.....I actually like the smell of kero. Many happy memories.

[gettinthere]

Wife has a very sensitive nose...what is the best odorless fuel, zero smell, for interior lamps? We have a large trawler lamp and 2 smaller wick lamps.

[off.line]

Greetings Gettinthere,

Lamplight Farms sells Ultra-Pure Paraffin Oil which people seem to like.

Another alternative is an non-toxic, vegetable-based fuel which has a lower particulate count than the paraffin oil I mentioned above. It's called Firefly Safe & Green Fuel.

Hope this helps.

[sushirama]

Jet-A would be a good substitute being refined kerosene and all.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by off.line

Another alternative is an non-toxic, vegetable-based fuel which has a lower particulate count than the paraffin oil I mentioned above. It's called Firefly Safe & Green Fuel.

Has anyone used this? I'm intrigued.

[zeehag]

am finding that the green tiki oil from walmart is great for repelling skeeters.....has cedar and citronella....

[kuriti]

Originally Posted by gettinthere

Wife has a very sensitive nose...what is the best odorless fuel, zero smell, for interior lamps? We have a large trawler lamp and 2 smaller wick lamps.

L.E.D.s?

I used a kerosene lamp as my sole artificial light source for two years. you could read by it, but it was challenging and the low light just makes you sleepy. My experience was that people without electricity just go to sleep at night. At least on the equator where nights don't vary much. fuel is expensive in poor countries and often not available. I had a cheap kerosene lamp but ended up making my own like the locals by cutting a length of aluminum from a beer can, then rolling it up to hold a pencil-thin wick suspended within a glass jar by wire. used much less kerosene, though i am more sharing stories than advocating this approach on a boat.