Running a kero in white gas (shellite)

Hi all. I’ve got two Companion silent burners (copy of a Primus no. 5?), thinking of running one on shellite for when I go camping so my mate’s can use it with less instruction. Do I need to change the jet? I’m assuming I would.

I’ll post a flame shot when I getting it running on shellite (sorry for the Aussie speak).

 

Not wise. Not unless you dont actually like your mate that is. First it will run exactly the same on shelite although slightly less power. It will still need preheating in the same way although probably only half as much. Then there is the 2 ways to kill your mate. There is no safety valve on kero stoves. If the non return fails shelliite will travel up the pump shaft If it had been kero it would have made a big mess. Shellite = fireball. The standard way to cotrol the flame on a kero unless it has a regulated burner is to lower pressure by opening the bleed valve. With kero what comes out is mostly air. With shellite its mostly shellite vapour. Once again shellite = fireball.

 

Hi, geeves has given you sound advice:

 

Thank you. Shellite stove for my mate (MSR dragonfly), kero stoves for me. Got it.

 

It's one of those things that you could probably get away with for awhile, when suddenly a huge problem arises....

 

I don't think @Ed Winskill emphasized "HUGE PROBLEM" enough. HHHUUUUUUGGGGGEEE!!!

Tom

 

Don't do it!

 

What Trevor said.

Once you find good mates I find it's great if you can keep them for as long as possible.

 

@shagratork who’s exciting evening was that picture taken at?
Regards
John

 

I see at least 2 things on that table I would be rushing to remove

 

@Jeopardy

That was at a camp we did at Sykeside in 2005.
Members present included myself, Ross, Ian, brassnipplekey, David Shouksmith and other CCS members.
The stove in the photo is an Optimus 111B.
It burned well until the NRV failed and Coleman Fuel came gushing out of the pump tube.
It ignited immediately. Initially the flame was about three times what you see in the photo.

The NRV on the Optimus 111 was originally meant only for paraffin (kerosene).
Using paraffin it is a fantastic, safe stove.

 

@shagratork

Thank you for finding that photo.

This particular discussion arises from time to time and it’s instructive to have the photo to illustrate the extent of the hazard.

Cheers

Tony

 

@shagratork Thanks. With that explanation of the picture, I can’t think of a better example of why petroleum spirit / gasoline / naphtha is a bad idea in an appliance designed for paraffin / kerosene.
Regards
John