Hi, I'm Tim, I've just registered. I've just got into pressure lamps by acquiring my first - a Tilley 246B - pleased with it as it came with everything, just going to change the seals. What's got me stumped is the liquid that was inside - it's blue - not strongly but definitely blue. Anyone know what it is likely to be? Also how much should I expect to pay for paraffin and are there any recommended brands or things to steer clear of? Cheers Tim
Haha, despite the advert coming out well before my time I'd already looked up Esso blue and watched the ad! Bad plan to put it back in?
@Tim Francis Probably been there since the 1960s...Best to use new clean paraffin, and while you are at it use the old to wash out the tank and clean before the new. Just ordinary paraffin is all you need, you can get it from some garden centers, and on line. DO NOT use "Lamp Oil" especially if it has perfume in it like citronella, it is not good for your lamp and of course under no circumstances use bio ethanol, camp stove fuel, (white gas) alcohol (meths etc, only use for preheating) and especially gasoline or petrol.
Welcome @Tim Francis from Queensland Australia. Our standard over the self Diggers Brand kerosene, paraffin, here in Australia is blue, just a dye they put in it. I suggest that you don’t reuse the paraffin from your lantern. It may be contaminated. When servicing your seals, give the fount a swill out with a small amount of clean paraffin before filling it with clean paraffin. You may not know the history and what has been put into the fount over the previous years. Enjoy your fettle and don’t forget to post your “money shot”. (First photo of the lanterns fire up after its fettle) Looking forward to your future posts. Cheers Pete
@Tim Francis Welcome to the forum from across the border! Once you have replacement seals (available from The Fettle Box, see link on the right hand side of the page) and fresh paraffin, which is cheaper “on tap” if you can find it, please share a photograph or two. We are a friendly bunch round here so never be afraid to ask questions. Regards Jeremy
Thanks for the welcome, everyone! It seems in good order except for the control knob leaking which gives me an excuse to take it all apart, replace seals and see how it all works. They're very attractive little machines, just the kind of thing I like playing with - I could see myself enjoying getting old ones, getting them back to working order and selling them on - I'm not looking to make a big profit but is there enough demand for them to cover my costs doing that? Tim
Hi Tim and welcome from the Scottish Highlands. It’s an infectious pastime, playing with these lamps. Nothing wrong with fettling up lamps and moving them on..... like most objects, there are are some very collectible and hence valuable lamps. Get to start to know your way around the models and manufacturers. Subscribing to the site will give you access to a lot of information. Good luck with your first fettle, you may just find that when your lamp firsts pops into life you might not want to part with it....
Oh yes, I'm not planning to get rid of the first one - the whole point was just to have something for fishing and camping but I've enjoyed it so much. Second only to servicing a la Pavoni espresso machine which I'd do all the time if I could afford it
Hi Tim I said that too, and about the second one, then the third... There are so many different models and the earlier versions are of better quality. Caution: They breed! Regards Jeremy
Just on the Esso blue thread, has anyone had any better performance from the low odour kero? Wondering if it was some how purer than the standard -roughly 3 x the price in my part of the world.
Ah Paraffin.. increasingly hard to find these days .. look on ebay and around in stores I have seen £10 or more charged for 4 litres, that Barretine stuff, its over that in Homebase , seen Bird Brand in Fleetwood Lancs $4 litres £8. But hey ho , I used 28 second kerosene ,, central heating oil all , most all of the time now.. brilliant stuff but can be odorous if your lantern is not maintained, cheap at 65p + per litre , buy it bulk 50 ltrs ago usually from oil dealer outlets...I use my lamps outside so it is no sweat etc .. good luck
Welcome aboard Tim. I too am a newbie to the group but long term Tilley user. You will find alot of nice people here. Enjoy. Cheers Michael
@Damien That’s a good question, I too have seen the “low odour” kerosene in Bunnings. The example I have seen, other than it’s a clear liquid and more expensive I have no idea of it’s performance. I’ve assumed, that it’s refined a bit more. Anyhow I’m one of the weird ones that actually likes the smell of kerosene. It strongly and pleasantly reminds me of my childhood where we, in the South Australian country, didn’t have mains electricity until the mid 1960s. Cheers Pete
Hi Pete, Just tested some of the "low odour" clear kero yesterday. I got mine from Home Hardware. It works pretty well. Not sure if it burns as hot as our blue kero. Need to do a comparison. Definitely less odour. I have noticed the current blue kero, Diggers brand, is more stinky than kero used to be.
Thanks Pete and Zigfire. I'm waiting on some goodies in the mail, as you know, it might be fire up time this week! If, indeed, the low odour kero is somehow "purer", then one wonders if there will be less fouling??? Cheers fellas. BTW Pete, I spent a year on a crop farm near Crystalbrook and one at Keith in SA... fond memories too.
Pleasure Damien, This is the low odour kero I got. I assume it's the same brand as bunnings. Interestingly, Our Home hardware had 3 20 litre drums of the stuff. As soon as lockdown hit they disappeared, weird!
