Guys, I've got an Aladdin 21 with a very old and dry wick. I've partially filled the tank with paraffin and bottom of the wick is sitting in the liquid, but it isn't soaking up to the top. Is it alright to soak the whole wick in paraffin to get started? I've got a spare wick too so I could put a new one in. Best wishes Oliver
Let it soak for some time. Does it move up/down? I have had more then one where the wick almost was glued together with the air tube.
Hello Wim, it has been soaking for 24 hours. I'll leave it another day. It does move up and down. Thanks Oliver
You may have to renew the wick? I think I read that if the lamp had fuel in and was left to evaporate then than can have a detrimental effect Hope you can get it going as they can be great lamps ; i remember mum reading by one in the power cuts here in the 70’s .. hmm
For wick burners that were stuck and dry for ages, it was useful to me to put on kitchen pot with water and soap (the one used to clean the dishes) and to let it boil for long time, adding water once in a while. The burner usually gets to live again as the wick also
You might be able to revive the wick by soaking, Oliver. However, if the old paraffin that soaked up earlier over the years and had turned stale and deteriorated in the wick, then some gums or other decomposition/oxidation products would likely have formed within. These are likely to cause poor wicking due to the wick being largely clogged and had become a lot less pervious to new paraffin. You might find it easier to remove the clogging by soaking the wick in a stronger solvent, such as acetone, carb cleaners, etc. New paraffin might not have sufficient solvent power to completely remove the gunk, gums, varnish that had formed over years of atmospheric exposure. If its too much of a hassle, you should probably replace the wick instead.
