For interest, here is the comparable entry for Kerosene: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene Best Regards, Kerophile.
I just remembered that a picture is worth a 1000 words. I think it is time for a couple of photos of your burners in action. Yonadav
I don't have a Patria, but here are some demo photos from my classic Primus stoves. These two are burning normally: Here is what happens when I reduce the flame to simmer - it burns right on the cap, causing it to overheat. Doing so for too long will burn the cap away:
Hey Wim... it's not traditional turpintine... dosn't smell like pine trees. When I 'Googled' Aguarras, I got synthetic turpintine... or mineral spirits. But just to confuse things... there are three different grades with different characteristics! ...oh well... Bry
Thanks for the information, kerophile. Yeah, I guess I'm really desperate! I really don't know what this stuff is but it does work. I may have to leave the country, though, before all my burners are toast! Anyway really appreciate your help. Bry
Those are nice photos, Yonadav. I've taken a couple of photos this morning but can't seem to get them to upload to this post. Anyway I'll keep trying. I seem to have a nice healthy blueish flame with the knob half turned and there is a satisfying hissing sound. But there is a band of red hot metal around the buner cap where the line of holes are located. The whole cap does not get cherry red like you illustrate in your last photo. Not sure why I can't upload the photos... just what I need... another problem!!! Thanks Bry
Still no luck uploading my photos. Let's just say where your burners display a blue-white band around the burner, where the pattern of holes are, mine are burning cherry red. The rest of the cap is like yours. Thanks, Bry
Hello Bry. I am wondering if you could get high quality kerosene from a helicopter operator that may be in your area. Helicopters require a good quality fuel or they crash. You may get an operator willing to sell you some. Cheers, John
Hey threedots... Not many helicopers in this part of the country, (I think el Presidente may have one!) but you raise a good point. There is an airport on the north coast but it might be worth a bus ride. Never know... might pick up a jerry can full of fuel that would last me 5 monthes. Thank you... for your suggestion. Appreciate it! Bry
I don't want to belabor the point but wanted to close off this post. I have started using the local kerosine (on my second tank-full), which is very yellowish and has bits of rust floating around in it. The bottoms of my pots are now black, my eyes sting and I now know what under burn is. I have that “dying flame” syndrome where the flame needs turning up every couple of minutes or the flame slowly goes out just before making a hell of a racket and turning the cap red hot. It takes about five minutes longer to make coffee in the morning so I guess the temperature of the burner is in a more acceptable range but, looking at the burner, I can see no difference. It still glows bright red around the holes in the outer cap. Also had a leak in the burner. Surprised to find it was not at a soldered seam but in the tube that takes the liquid kerosine up to the top of the burner for heating. The tubes (on both sides of the burner) , are pitted and leaking just about where the top of the alcohol priming flame comes in contact with the burner. Anyway thanks to everyone who participated. Your help is much appreciated. Bryan
