About using spirit in Petromax

I have a Petromax lamp, a 350CP which I restored. It was neglected by my grandfather. I have not tried to light it up yet. I only cleaned it, polished it and checked that the needle is working, the pump is working too, and the lamp keeps the pressure and the hissing sound starts when the needle is lowered.

I see on Petromax site that they sell an adaptor so one can use spirit (alcohol) as a fuel instead of kerosene. In Greece I have access to spirit of several alcohol content. 93% or 80%.
93% is very very expensive. 80% is cheap.
Does anyone know if 80% can be used? Or one needs to use bioethanol at 96 or even 100% ?

I am interested in this because alcohol produces no smoke and the old lamp (it belongs to the early sixties) will stay cleaner, and maybe it can be operated indoors sometimes (in case of electricity outages)

Methylated spirit in Greece has additives that produce a lot of smoke.

thanks for any tip,

Antonis.

 

Welcome aboard!

If a Petromax lantern/lamp is properly set up and maintained, then there will be no smoke from the paraffin/kerosene fuel which it is designed to use, meths/alcohol is only used for pre heating the lantern.

Perhaps you could post some photographs.

 

Thanks for the reply. You can see the lamp before and after the cleaning I did in this picture:


I think it is very impressive. At least to me. Below the lamp a number is engraved by hand. It is 1014. Searching the internet it seems that the lamp was produced on Thursday 2 March 1961. I have ordered it's glass and mantles. Not received yet.

Petromax says that they can be operated using alcohol and they sell an add-on kit for this. Check this: Spirit Adapter with Accessories HK350/HK500 Petromax

I have 80% alcohol essentially for free. This is another reason I ask.

It took me 3 days of partial work to achieve this after talking to a chemical engineer with a PhD, because the cleaning pastes they sell did nothing or it would take 3 years of rubbing...

 

They were made for kerosene, not alcohol. I would use nothing else. Yes, maybe some pictures would help.

 

What make you think then that all the seals are ok and alcohol proof ?
Yes there is an alcohol adapter but that is only one part of the story.

 

Thanks. Then it is only good I registered in this forum. I have no idea about the seals. I would not light the lamp before I got advice. Can you provide such information? Or a link? What are the seals I should check? I only run one test: I pump about 25 times and there was no audible hissing. Lower the needle and the hissing starts. Raise the needle and the hissing stops. Release the valve on the fuel lid and the pressure exhausts. So I guess that something works. What do you think?

 

I don't think you want to read what I think....

 

Antonis, good luck with your lantern.

 

From your pictures, you already have a alcohol pre-heating cup. The lantern is a Petromax and I think a number 826. Nice work cleaning it up. Since I don't see a pressure gage, and I see what looks like a regular cap, the valve wheel will do nothing but clean the nozzle.
Sounds like it works okay, based on what you say happens when you work the valve wheel. Just make sure all is tight when it comes to the nozzle. It's hard for me to explain everything. I would strongly suggest you find instructions for this lantern before you try to light it.

 

I forgot... under no circumstances DO NOT USE GASOLINE, CAMP FUEL or ALCOHOL in this lantern!!!! This is for kerosene only!!

 

Dear George, thank you so much! OK, only kerozene. Got that. I have read several articles and seen videos on youtube on how to light the lamp. By the way, yes it is a 826, 350CP Petromax.I will replace the washer of the fuel cap. Probably I will buy the manometer cap from Petromax. Is there somethinng else I should check? I just do not know.

Just to make sure (because English is not my native language), did you say that based on my description the lamp should work? If I replace the fuel cap washer to avoid leaks, and since the pump and needle work, do you think I should give it a try?

Thanks again for you help.

 

This link shows Petromax paperwork, but the library is only open to subscribers.

https://classicpressurelamps.com/threads/petromax-catalogue-1960.5050/

 

Hello Antonis, the guys above have given some good advice, I get very nervous for people wanting to run the wrong fuel in lamps/lanterns, even when running the right fuel, kerosene in your case for Petromax, accidents can and do sometimes happen, but kerosene is a lot more forgiving than gasoline/Coleman fuels in case of leaks, flare ups, I am sure you will be very happy and impressed with kero in your Petromax, mine is super bright and clean running on kero, Kind regards Frank

 

I am getting nervous when people want to use or operate a device that has a flameable liquid under pressure and open flame combined without knowing what or how it works.

 

@Antonis Tsolomitis
I think you shall learn how your lantern is working and how to operate it as it is constructed way before you even think of using alcohol.

It is constructed for kerosene.

You can use alcohol but you must understand the safety risks with that fuel.

I do not think it is worth the little money you will save if you have a burn accident because you do not understand the lantern’s safety issues.

Kerosene have more energy than alcohol so you will have a better effeciency that way.

Michael

 

Yes Michael, I have understand this and I am done with this issue. I will use kerosene as I wrote above. My remaining questions were what are the routine checks one does on such a lamp before trying to use it.

 

@Antonis Tsolomitis

It is good practice to check for leaks before putting fuel into the tank - just because you can't hear a hiss, it doesn't mean that there are no leaks. The easiest way to do this is with a "dunk test". Put good pressure in the tank and then put it in water, air bubbles will show if there is a leak.

By the way, you have a nice "sicke tank" lantern.
Petromax Sicke

Henry.

 

Great advise Henry. I will do that. So Petromax Sicke. Now that you gave me this information I noticed that the new models do not have the frame with the four "legs" and the identations on the tank. Do you know when these lamps were produced approximately?

On the bottom of the tank there is a handmade engraving: 1014. I thought that this meant the 10th week of 1960+1=1961 fourth day of the week, that is Thursday 2 March 1961. But this meaning of the 1014 I read in the web that applies only to lamps produced after 1960. So maybe it does not apply to this lamp. Do you know anything about this?

 

@Antonis Tsolomitis
If it is scratched I believe it to be earlier than 1961.
The stamping of the four digit number started in 1960.

Are you sure it is not a fram slash instead of a 1?
10/4 instead of 1014.

That should indicate October 1954.

Michael

 

I guess you are correct. I misinterpreted the number:

 

I did the test. I put pressure in it and immerse it in a bucket of water. There were two leaks. One from the fuel cap, so I will replace this gasket, and there was a second one from the turning knob that raises the needle. For this one I gave the nut behind the knob 3-4 turns and the leak stopped. So I guess this should be OK. The knob become more stiff to turn but it is OK. By the way this nut is not fully screwed in. This adjusts how stiff the knob is, right?

I immersed the lamp up to (including) the central mast nut. I did not immerse the nozzle with the needle since I assumed that the needle can not be air and water proof anyways. Am I wrong with this? Should I immerse the needle too? I will redo the test when I change the fuel cap gasket.

 

The nut on the shaft is a gland that press on the graphite packing inside.

Then you tighten the nut the gland make the graphite expand and seal off the shaft.

You do only tighten as much as you need to seal it off.

If it become to tight and it is difficult to turn the wheel you only need to losen the gland nut slightly.

You only need to have the tank under water.
You should have a valve at the end of the pickup tube that is closed when the needle is up.

Michael

 

Three years....and more! Great cleaning job there. How does the lamp perform with the new seals etc?

 

Impressive lantern and great clean-up. Make sure to use kerosene. You could also use Mineral Spirits as the operating fuel but NOT any form of methylated spirits(alcohols). Safety-wise, do not use any fuels that are more volatile than kerosene or mineral spirits. Never be prompted to attempt a light up with gasoline. (Although it might work but chances of a mishap are too great). They were not designed for that.
If there are no obvious leakages, just light it up according to the proper instructions.
You'll see the outcome after that. If it doesn't perform well, you can always seek further advice here.

 

Antonis, you did a great job on this classic lamp, and a brassie (non-plated) as well: congratulations!

By now you must know what to do, and what not. I just want to add, run your lamp outside. Only if you have the experience and further knowledge you can start experimenting with alcohol as a fuel.
But we do not, nor you, know what chemicals might be in your local 80%
Even if on pure alcohol , to run a lamp inside still could be a threat to your health if not proper ventilated.
Next to the always present fire hazard.

I wish you good luck and much enjoyment with this classic lamp and memento of your grandfather.

Mike

 

Thank you guys for all the suggestions and tips. I was waiting for the graphite replacement that I received only a couple of days ago and did not have the time to try to install it yet. OK, I will only use kerosene and outdoors. You are right it is dangerous to use it indoors. I asked because it is such a beauty...! Anyway, I will try to install the graphite and test for any leak again. If it goes well I will try to light it up. I will report back. Thanks.

 

Please can someone tell me why can not be used alcohol as fuel, despite Petromax sells the adapter for the very same purpose? I'm asking for the rest of the story, please

 

I use pressure lanterns indoor too.
Coleman gasoline
Petromax kerosene
But due to noise ,
rather Aladdin or DHR Ideal or Tito Landi.

I prefer kerosene indoors, as its less smelly
Converting a Petromax to Alcohol is feasible but does not bring real advantage.
Alcohol is more dangerous/ flammable fluid than kerosene.

 

The whole story about alternative fuels is discussed here on the forum over and over.
I am not going to repeat it again and again.
Generally if people read and investigate the use of alternative fuels used in pressure lanterns, the question would not be asked.

 

In 1920 -1950-60 when these lamps and similar were everyday fare houses had wooden floors wall vents fuel stoves chimneys and cold drafts that took some of the fumes (or most of the nasties out)
I would be very wary of running one in a modern day hermetically sealed home..