Can anybody tell me what happened to the vaporizer in my Vapalux 320? I installed a new vaporizer in my lantern about two weeks ago (this was a new old stock part). As I really like this lantern I've been lighting it and running most every night. I would say I've run it a total of ten days for 2-1/2 each day. So I would say that this vaporizer has not much more than 25 hours on it. However last night it started to act up, black mantel and the ugly other stinky stuff. Upon fettling I found that the mantle support had been destroyed and that the vaporizer itself had gotten so hot as to deform and rupture, causing the damage to the mantel support tube. As I have heard these vaporizer should last a lot longer than this, and they should not be taking out other part when they go. This is what I'm doing: I am using clean kerosene. I start this lantern up as the instructions say to. It runs great. It will run 2 maybe 3 or even 4 hours after. Here is the only part were I may go astray, Vapalux mantles are a pain to get here in the states so I'm using using Coleman 500 cp mantles trimmed up to fit. This works great, but might it be the cause of the problem? Thanks for any input. Rick
Hi Rick, I feel your pain. Had the same thing happen to me except with a Bialaddin Bowl Fire. Read these three posts for some good information and [url=http://0flo.com/index.php?threads/4046 I doubt it's the mantle you are using, it's probably the fuel. You say it's kerosene, but is it gas station pump kerosene or something you buy in gallon jugs which is labeled kerosene (or kerosene alternative) but really isn't? In our neck of the woods (MA/NH), two products come to mind, both made by WM Barr Corp. One is Klean-Heat, which is what destroyed my heater and the other is their "Kerosene" which looks and smells and looking at their MSDS is identical to their paint thinner (aka Stoddard solvent, mineral spirits). Klean-Heat is great for wick appliances but absolutely destructive with pressure lamps, lanterns & heaters. I'm not a petroleum expert but it has to do with the carbon chains and the distilation process. The links go into some good detail. What brand kerosene are you using? Dan
Hello Dan, glad I saw your reply as I have been using the Barr 1-K "kerosene" (actually the brand is Klean-Strip) for a bit now as no gas stations in my area have undyed kerosene any longer. I have been using it in my Amish lamps and lanterns with no problems so far, using a blend of 75% kero and 25% naptha with no apparent issues. In fact, a lot of Amish in this area that still use kerosene actually buy cheap mineral spirits as a substitute. In short, this so called "kerosene" might be ok in pressure lamps where the vaporizer does not pass through the mantle, ie. Coleman style, but I will be careful to not use it in any Bialaddin or Tilley style setup. Also of note, I would never use any Kero/Naptha blend in a Tilley style lamp as that could be just asking for horrendous problems. Regards, Doug E.
Hello Rick, the fuel is burning at to high a temperature for the vapouriser. The Vapalux vapouriser is well made, but it is designed for the type of paraffin which is used in the UK., Jeff.
Thanks for all of the input. I would have to agree it must be fuel. What I am using came in white jug that is labled kerosene but may just be paint thinner. Its never given me a problem in a Coleman, but then the generator is not going through the middle of the mantle eather. I'll get a new vaporizer and mantle suport, and try some pump kerosene. Rick
