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#226099 - 06/17/11 12:05 PM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: jzmtl]
LesSnyder Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 07/11/10
Posts: 1680
Loc: New Port Richey, Fla
if you plan on using kerosine in a Dietz lamp, you might check out some of the recommendations on the W.T. Kirkman site...

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#226111 - 06/17/11 02:27 PM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: jzmtl]
jzmtl Offline
Addict

Registered: 03/18/10
Posts: 530
Loc: Montreal Canada
Thanks, I test fired the stove last night. Self priming with kerosene is pretty hard, definitely could use alcohol priming. It doesn't "burst" into flames like other fuel does (extremely difficult to light with firesteel), but sort of going on a candle flame on only part of the priming pad, then after a while the entire pad lights up with a very sooty flame. Once going though it's pretty nice, though the flame on this particular stove is a bit yellow. Maybe the omnifuel with its exchangeable jet will cope better.

Going to need a few more practices before I can get the hang of it.

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#226356 - 06/21/11 11:52 PM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: MostlyHarmless]
Hikin_Jim Offline
Sheriff
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 10/12/07
Posts: 1804
Loc: Southern California
Originally Posted By: MostlyHarmless
I prime with alcohol. Don't use kerosene for priming, it creates nasty ill-smelling smoke and lots of soot, which will cause your stove to need more maintenance (cleaning) than otherwise.

Kerosene (a.k.a. paraffin) burns nice and clean when burned in a stove designed for it and well maintained. I've never had issues with sooth on pots or bad smell.
What he said.

Kero is actually one of the best fuels for stoves provided that you get good quality fuel (K-1 in the US and I think Canada), prime the stove well with alcohol, and keep a pricker handy.

Kero is much safer than white gasoline (much higher flash point, not prone to flash fires) and is available worldwide (whereas white gasoline is not).

On the other hand, if kero leaks in your pack, it'll leave a stain and a smell where as white gasoline will often dry up without a trace.

It takes a little bit of practice to get the hang of kero, but anyone used to using white gasoline shouldn't have any trouble.

HJ
_________________________
Adventures In Stoving

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#226361 - 06/22/11 12:32 AM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: jzmtl]
Hikin_Jim Offline
Sheriff
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 10/12/07
Posts: 1804
Loc: Southern California
Originally Posted By: jzmtl
I'm worried about the crap they add to the engine fuel with those, some of those are pretty toxic. Otherwise I could just burn unleaded gas, which ironically is the cheapest.
In general, unleaded doesn't work as well as white gasoline for stove use, even on stoves that claim unleaded as one of the fuels that they are designed for.

Most of the time, unleaded will leave more deposits behind, and, at the very least, you'll need to clean your stove more often. If a given stove says it is white gasoline only, then I wouldn't even try unleaded. If a given stove says it can burn unleaded, I still would burn mostly white gasoline and only use unleaded in a pinch. YMMV.

The only stove I've seen that seems to have some credibility to it's claims of running equally well on white gasoline or unleaded is the Soto Muka which uses atomization to achieve a very clean burn.

HJ
_________________________
Adventures In Stoving

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#226364 - 06/22/11 12:41 AM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: jzmtl]
Hikin_Jim Offline
Sheriff
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 10/12/07
Posts: 1804
Loc: Southern California
Originally Posted By: jzmtl
Thanks, I test fired the stove last night. Self priming with kerosene is pretty hard, definitely could use alcohol priming. It doesn't "burst" into flames like other fuel does (extremely difficult to light with firesteel), but sort of going on a candle flame on only part of the priming pad, then after a while the entire pad lights up with a very sooty flame. Once going though it's pretty nice, though the flame on this particular stove is a bit yellow. Maybe the omnifuel with its exchangeable jet will cope better.

Going to need a few more practices before I can get the hang of it.
How do you like your Brunton vapor AF? From the photos I've seen of them, they look like a really nice stove. Isn't the stove supposed to be adjustable for various types of fuel? I think that one adjusts the air flow, yes?

The Omnifuel with it's multiple jets should do pretty well for you on kerosene. The trick with kerosene is to use a smaller jet orifice so that the fuel/air mixture has more air in it which is necessary to combust a heavier fuel like kero. If you try kero on an Omnifuel, I'd be interested in hearing your results.

HJ
_________________________
Adventures In Stoving

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#226382 - 06/22/11 02:31 AM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: Hikin_Jim]
Teslinhiker Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/14/09
Posts: 1419
Loc: Nothern Ontario
Originally Posted By: Hikin_Jim


On the other hand, if kero leaks in your pack, it'll leave a stain and a smell where as white gasoline will often dry up without a trace.


Leaked kero will also eat through an expensive jacket shell. Ask me how I know...
_________________________
Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

John Lubbock

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#226385 - 06/22/11 02:53 AM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: Teslinhiker]
dougwalkabout Offline
Crazy Canuck
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 02/03/07
Posts: 3234
Loc: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted By: Teslinhiker
Leaked kero will also eat through an expensive jacket shell. Ask me how I know...


Ouch! eek

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#226397 - 06/22/11 06:19 AM Re: Anybody using kerosene as stove fuel? [Re: dougwalkabout]
MostlyHarmless Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/03/09
Posts: 982
Loc: Norway
A tiny bit of kerosene in your food or drink will have a rather unpleasant effect on your digestive system. You will spend a few hours in the squatting position. On the positive side, you could say that you've had a hard core "detox" cure (for free).

Bottom line: Take care to keep fuel and food well separated.

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