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Diesel in a paraffin blow lamp?

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Rainbows09/09/2016 15:39:38
658 forum posts
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Out of curiosity does anyone know what happens if you put diesel in a paraffin/kerosene blow lamp?

Neil Wyatt09/09/2016 15:43:25
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19226 forum posts
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You have to pay the AA £130 to sort it out for you.

Nile

Gordon W09/09/2016 15:48:18
2011 forum posts

Diesel will work OK, but will probably be smelly and smokey, a bit more heat tho'. Also need cleaning more. I would not try it for soldering or paint stripping but ok for heating. PS have not tried this for many years so things may have changed.

Rainbows09/09/2016 16:24:43
658 forum posts
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I get an extra 0.1MJ per penny this way and avoid special trips to B&Q. Current job is just busting some bearings off a shaft anyway.

MW09/09/2016 16:48:22
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2052 forum posts
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Either go for petrol or denatured alcohol.

Michael W

EDIT: PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME...

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 09/09/2016 20:04:17

Rainbows09/09/2016 17:59:43
658 forum posts
236 photos

Thats a bit light isn't it?

TobaccoBurner09/09/2016 18:53:12
30 forum posts
3 photos
Posted by Michael Walters on 09/09/2016 16:48:22:

Either go for petrol or denatured alcohol.

Michael W

Should be good for a Darwin Award - unless,of course, you already have descendants.

Mike

alan-lloyd09/09/2016 19:00:46
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183 forum posts

Don't forget your pricker

Michael Gilligan09/09/2016 19:34:48
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23121 forum posts
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Posted by TobaccoBurner on 09/09/2016 18:53:12:
Posted by Michael Walters on 09/09/2016 16:48:22:

Either go for petrol or denatured alcohol.

Michael W

Should be good for a Darwin Award - unless,of course, you already have descendants.

Mike

.

Couldn't have put it better myself, Mike

[Michael W] Sorry to be a bore, but : If it was meant to be funny, then a winky smiley thing might have been in order.

... Who knows what some pillock may do to themselves, in a few years time, when they find your post ?

And ... If it wasn't meant to be funny ... crying 2

MichaelG.

Rainbows09/09/2016 20:18:07
658 forum posts
236 photos

To be fair I have a blow lamp than runs on petrol and some do run on alchohol.

I might test petrol in a paraffin one day... once I get a full firefighters foil suit and one of those robots that can defuse bombs... wink 2

and I have two prickers infact. Blow lamp is new in box

Windy09/09/2016 21:18:53
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910 forum posts
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Years ago I have used Diesel as a test in the blowlamps of the flash steamer and it worked ok instead of the usual paraffin petrol mix only downside was the smell.

Edited By Windy on 09/09/2016 21:20:09

Michael Gilligan09/09/2016 21:41:02
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23121 forum posts
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Posted by Rainbows on 09/09/2016 20:18:07:

To be fair I have a blow lamp than runs on petrol and some do run on alchohol.

.

... But not the ones that are designed for Paraffin

MichaelG.

Tim Stevens09/09/2016 21:44:11
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1779 forum posts
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When sorting out the results of petroleum refining, cracking etc, the stuff that is less volatile than petrol is divided into two lots. The stuff which smells less and is mainly straight-chain or 'aliphatic' molecules goes to make paraffin, the stuff which is in rings of atoms and is called 'aromatic' goes as diesel. So, while diesel will work in a paraffin lamp, it will smoke and smell. And paraffin will work in a diesel but not so well.

Cheers, Tim

Michael Gilligan09/09/2016 21:54:15
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23121 forum posts
1360 photos

O.K. ... I give up

So far as I am aware, Paraffin blowlamps have pressurising pumps, and are VERY dangerous if filled with Petrol.

[ref. Michael W's post and my response]

If I'm wrong, then would a Moderator please remove my posts on the matter.

MichaelG.

not done it yet10/09/2016 07:29:48
7517 forum posts
20 photos

Someone help us! (God, if you are religious).

 

These things were carefully designed for use with a particular fuel. The preheating section was arranged to evaporate a fuel of particular volatility; the nozzle jet was also sized appropriately for the fuel.

 

They can be dangerous enough in inexperienced hands, without further tampering....

Edited By not done it yet on 10/09/2016 07:31:20

Ian S C10/09/2016 11:38:26
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7468 forum posts
230 photos

A kerosene lamp would probably be ok , and a bit hotter if you use Avtur/ aviation turbine fuel, if you know someone in the aviation industry, you might be able to get some reject fuel. A petrol lamp will burn white spirits, and probably Coleman stove fuel.

Ian S C

MW10/09/2016 14:31:42
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2052 forum posts
56 photos
Posted by Michael Gilligan on 09/09/2016 21:54:15:

O.K. ... I give up

So far as I am aware, Paraffin blowlamps have pressurising pumps, and are VERY dangerous if filled with Petrol.

[ref. Michael W's post and my response]

If I'm wrong, then would a Moderator please remove my posts on the matter.

MichaelG.

Not all of them have pumps, with smaller ones the heat from the well you fill up and light is just enough to start the flash point of the fuel and create pressure and force from the vapour. You open the valve and the fuel burns off.

Michael W

Edited By Michael Walters on 10/09/2016 14:36:16

Ajohnw10/09/2016 15:01:02
3631 forum posts
160 photos

I wouldn't try petrol in a blow lamp. There is another type of lamp that's intended to give out light that is pumped up the same way and does run on petrol. Coleman make them - to run on unleaded.

**LINK**

John

-

Raymond Anderson10/09/2016 15:17:52
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785 forum posts
152 photos

Rainbows, Unless you like the record by The crazy world of Arthur Brown called "Fire " or, have a death wish in which case you could fill it with THF and make a right job of it smiley. Seriously though, If it's designed for paraffin then it's paraffin that you should put in, nothing else. It's ok using a range of fuels in a multi fuel engine, but it's not a multi fuel blowlamp !!. [ in spite of what SOME others think ] stick to Paraffin.yes

Sandgrounder10/09/2016 16:21:25
256 forum posts
6 photos
Posted by Tim Stevens on 09/09/2016 21:44:11:

When sorting out the results of petroleum refining, cracking etc, the stuff that is less volatile than petrol is divided into two lots. The stuff which smells less and is mainly straight-chain or 'aliphatic' molecules goes to make paraffin, the stuff which is in rings of atoms and is called 'aromatic' goes as diesel. So, while diesel will work in a paraffin lamp, it will smoke and smell. And paraffin will work in a diesel but not so well.

Cheers, Tim

That's cleared up something that I've wanted to know for a while, I have a sailing boat with a diesel engine and it has a Taylors paraffin cooker in the cabin, often I've wondered if I could use diesel for both, I'll carry on using separate fuels.

John

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