Mantle shenanigans!

Hytta in germany has good AIDA brand mantles.

 

Are these the mantles you're looking?

 

Colin wanted some radioactive ones to try out I believe. And not having to buy 1000pcs, 10000dozens or any of such bulk.

 

True. I just wanted to see what the difference was, if any.

 

Just out of curiosity, have they completely phased out radioactive Thorium type mantles in Europe or the UK?

 

They are no longer to be found (at least in Belgium and I think the rest of Europe as well, I can't find any advertised on tinternet), I even think they are illegal to sell!

Best regards,

Wim

 

Then its only in China or other parts of Asia you might still be able to source out those in active production.
I'd still say, 'pound-for-pound', the radioactive mantles are at least visibly brighter than most non-radioactive ones.
Others might have a different opinion.

 

The radioactive ones are brighter. Bay of Evil sellers still sell the "hot" ones. I have both and there's no doubt about brightness.

 

Send a link please, George.... I'll see if they're available in the UK.

 

This seller has some:

6 Petromax 500CP XL Lantern Long Sock Mantles. Thorium Coated, Bright | eBay

 

Colin, while stocks last.
They're no longer made.

 

The postage from the US is horrific so I think I'll just have to imagine how bright they are and leave it at that!

 

It’s a controversial topic. Lots of people who have tried both types believe the radioactive mantles are brighter, but there was a good scientific paper out of Japan a few years back that didn’t support this view.

Perhaps there are other factors that lead to old mantles looking brighter, maybe differences in colour that we all perceive a little differently?

 

Probably something like the mantle in my Aida. Image taken solely with the light from it. That's how it appeared visully:

 

WOW! That almost looks unbearably bright.

 

Petromax Helox Mantles are worth their money in my opinion.
Denser weave than the standard ones. They made my H502 outstandingly bright.

 

Thorium compounds were used for a reason.
I'm sure the inventors or manufacturers knew they were radioactive back then.

 

Sorry I didn't get back with you. Coleman use to make their mantles in the USA but stopped a while ago. I'm sure the building they made them in is now "hot" enough to glow in the dark!

 

Nah, it was just alpha radiation emitted which doesn't go far and is easily stopped by even a sheet of paper. Just don't eat the mantles, breathe in the smoke when you're burning them off for the first time or keep them in your trouser pockets next to your 'nads for several years and you'll be OK...

Alpha particle - Wikipedia

 

Anyone here knows what happened to Peerless / Gasman Mantles of the Philippines? Couldn't find their former website lately. I think they had some radioactive ones.

 

Gasman (Peerless) was sold to Indo-Auerlicht. They are busy re-commissioning the plant and machinery in the Indian factory. They intend to continue production of the Peerless brand products.

 

I've heared that the Peerless had some of the best mantles around that are still being produced. I can't find them locally and therefore never use them before.
Any opinions about these?

 

Hi I also got 100 of the butterfly mantles believing they were double tie, I just cut the end of and used fine stainless steel wire to tie it on,
I have started to order my double tie mantles from India, they are thorium coated between 400/500 C.P, not as bright as veritas, but for the money I can't complain, I'm awaiting some made up to 1000 C.P, so hopefully they will turn out to be brighter than the last batch I got ,
Yusaf Products on indiamart,

 

*UPDATE*

Using the same trick I used on the Butterfly No. 41 round mantles, I adapted one of the Butterfly 4D 'sock type' mantles for use on one of my Bialaddin 315's and it worked a treat! I need to perfect my technique for rounding off the bottom of the 'skirt' when it's first been fitted, but it's working well so far even with a slightly wrinkled lower edge.

Another result!

 

Here's a photo from my phone so it's not the best quality but it shows the new mantle working well.

As a matter of interest, I fitted my own home made viton washers and the globe is also home made by yours truly. All in all a very satisfactory outcome!

 

I had been struggling to fit a veritas tilley mantle to a vapalux 300 lamp, the bottom is just too tight and the cord kept breaking, I took a single strand of stainless steel wire from a bowden brake cable and tied the bottom round with this, works fine but not sure how long any metal wire will last here, gets pretty hot.

 

I've been using the paper coated wire bag ties for a while now and they're still holding up OK. They'll be made of steel and even if they rust, my guess is everything will stay put. As steel melts at 1370C it'll be too high to be affected by the burner's heat output. Also, Coleman mantles with quick tags seem to last and they are basically the same as mine but not home made.

 

I'll suggest stainless steel wires. They are more oxidation resistant. Steel wires will eventually burn off instead of melting under those conditions.
I'm not skillful in attaching those double-ties. Took me ages (half an hour or so if I could recall) to get one done on my X246B.

 

There's definitely a skill to it and it requires a bit of practice!

 

All this discussion of mantle shenanigans got me thinking. Has anyone rebuilt Aladdin Wickie Mantles in this manner?