I know and understand the reasons why it would be dangerous to try using petrol in a kero/paraffin stove, but I've drawn a complete blank on why you shouldn't use kero in a petrol stove I'm thinking an 8r, #80, #71 etc. I know these type stoves usually have a cotton wick to draw the fuel up into the riser tube, would it become clogged from trying to use kero. ? What is the reason ? Could the jet be replaced with a suitable type jet to allow the use of kero ? How does the Phoebus 625 achieve it's dual fuel ability ? Thanks. Spudz .. confused
Hi Spudz, for one you would need a pump, like the mini or midi pump for the 8r, 123, 199, this woud get kero to the burner. You would need to loose the wick I think to allow enough kero to get to the hot jet to vapourise also. The 199 uses the same tank as the 8r, so with a pump and maybe a jet change it may well be possible I guess.
Hi Spudz Sounds like another hard day at the office ! - same here ! Paraffin isn't as combustible as petrol and hence it needs to be pushed to where it can get hot enough to vapourise, hence the pump. If the weather is hot enough paraffin stoves will self pressurise to a degree, all my 00 / 210's have done this in the recent hot weather. If however it is colder, they won't, and with a normal 8R / 71 / 80 you have no way to persuade it to get going. I don't have an example of the Phoebus 625, but it seems to have a pump. Cheers
Yeah, I'm being run of me .. yawn .... Zzzzzzzzz ... snooze ... So the common point so far, would appear to be the need for a pump ? With a change of jet too, it might be a 'possible maybe' I did notice that my #45's had a tendency to self pressurise, or at least for the tank to get quite hot, not to mention my #00 still awaiting the Fettlers touch. I'm just thinking it would be nice to 'extend' the paraffin family .. A modified 8r with a midi pump looks very attractive all of a sudden ! Or how about a paraffin burning # 80 Too much time, too much time, too much time ... Zzzzzzzzz Spudz
It will be a challenge getting a pump fitting, the key control and the stove to fit in a tin so you can still use it ! With the pump mounted almost vertically your pinkies will I fear be in grave danger Suggest you get that 00 fettled without further delay ! Cheers
I've messed around with different fuels in different stoves and at the end of the day have decided, surprise, surprise, that any particular single fuel stove is best suited to running its design fuel, or something very close to it eg Coleman fuel/panelwipe in petrol stoves or diesel in paraffin burners.
Well said Ian about priming and pressurising, this is where most problems arise when lighting any stove. BE PATIENT newcomers to stoves, they will work if you light them properly 8)
Kerosene fueled primus type stoves have a great deal more mass in the burner head in order to absorb and retain the amount of heat required to vaporise the less volatile kero than do the petrol burners. It's not just a matter of jet orifice diameter. Pressurization is another significant issue. Gerry
I second Rik's comments about careful lighting procedures. I myself am a resolute double-primer of stoves in the outdoors, just to make sure. As to burning kero in a petrol stove: why do it? Burning petrol in a kero stove is dangerous for all the known reasons. But it's easy enough, and I'm aware of one example at least, of a Mexican bookbinder, who has heated his glues for decades with Svea 100s using petrol fuel. The point being, not that it's safe (though he's not had a problem, luckily), but that the stove will work. But kerosene in the final analysis won't work in a petrol stove, certainly not reliably and without great effort. Enough care has to be taken in to get it going right in a kero stove! Now another question is the addition of petrol to kerosene in a kero stove. Heretical to those who daren't let anyone go down the path of "bad practice". But up to 10 percent petrol to kero (no more) makes a difference in cold weather; a little extra volatility but not too much.
Indeed. I've been wodering all day if I wrote too much this morning and now I think I did so Im going to edit my earlier post accordingly. Don't really want to be encouraging people to do that sort of thing, but knowing that some who think like me will try it anyway, I am willing to pass on what i've learnt from the experience.
Have I missed something here, Spudz? As I recall, it wasn't so long ago you were bemoaning the non-availibility of kero in pasta-land. Now you seem to want to convert any stove within reach to burn it! Maybe the Italians have had their annual delivery - one tankerful, I should imagine...
In truth, I'm just a curious geezer. I hoped that my Q. would elicit some decent replies, it did, with good sensible information, there is. Now I know exactly why it is not reccommended to try burning kero in a petrol stove, not that I was EVER going to try it, ... honest guys, I wouldn't . Now regarding the supply of stove fuel in Italy. 2 weekends ago I was out for a picknic with the family at a nearby lake, Lago d'Iseo .. very nice spot. Well, called into a small local mini-market store to buy some food supplies and spotted bottles of 'Petroleo Iluminante' .... lantern paraffin !! Very expensive though, euro 2,35 for a 75cl bottle. I didn't buy any, but I know where it is, and as we pass that way 3 - 4 times a year, I'll get a bottle next time we are there, just to try it. Now that I know the stuff exists, I'll try searching nearer home too. Really all that remains for me to do is fettle the few stoves I have and ... Enjoy the Flame Spudz
QUESTION This question is in regard to the use of Kerosene powered stoves. I was once told that an advantage Kerosene stoves had was that in situations where it was expensive or difficult to obtain Kerosene it was sometimes necessary to add oils such as bacon grease or other fatty oils to the Kerosene to " stretch " the fuel supply. This dilution of the Kerosene with cooking greases would extend the Kerosene supply. This was supposedly very handy when one had to haul the Kerosene some distances from civilization. Supposedly, it was possible for Antarctica explorers to boil down a Penguin or the likefor fuel. Has anyone ever had any experiences of this sort ? Thanks, Ken H.
You don't need to render down the penguin. Shortly after the Falklands war I caught a program on the telly about the whaling station on South Georgia - and a bleak desolate place it looked - there was a memorable shot of a rendering vat and the voice-over describing boiling up the whale-blubber over a fire made with penguins.... From the days when "Going Clubbing" meant seals.
You have to be careful with your Penguin : Paraffin ratio as the chocolate tends to clog the burner nipples extremely quickly.
Huh ? I'm missing something here, (not the first time, says you ) Works out at just over euro 3,13 a litre. ??? I think that's expensive. I seldom pay that much for a nice bottle of red wine, and I know which I would prefer to drink, and which to use in a stove Hey, perhaps I'm just a tightwad, cheapskate, skinflint 'Scrooge' type ! Spudz
I have foolishly purchased a 22B (i.e.petrol) rather than a 22 on behalf of my Scout Troop. We still use these & Tillies as our main source of heat & light whilst away. Is it possible to convert as the B has a pump etc. so it looks like a different filler lid and new nipples will do it! Or is it not that simple????
Hi Potters Bar Scouter, Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately you will struggle to get those burners to get hot enough to burn paraffin even if you change the jets, as there are less tubes to the petrol burner therefore less surface area for pre & ongoing heating. The right hand burners are reasonably easy to find (same as 111) but the left hand burners are like rocking horse manure. I'd hate to see you out of pocket - let me reimburse you or swap for a couple of pressure paraffin lamps & I'll give it a good home!
