Video není dostupné.
Omlouváme se.
Converting a Gas Lantern to Kerosene
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 11. 2012
- Following are links to off-grid lighting books. And (according to the kids huddled in the dark on your sofa) emergency lighting should be near the top of your prep list.
OLIVE OIL LAMPS &c. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
LAMP FUELS www.amazon.com/Book-Lamp-Fuel...
CANDLES www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
KEROSENE LAMPS www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
COLEMAN GAS LANTERNS www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
KEROSENE PRESSURE LANTERNS www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
PROPANE FOR PREPPERS www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
ALCOHOL MANTLE LAMPS www.amazon.com/Book-Alcohol-M...
THE NEW 2000-HOUR FLASHLIGHT www.amazon.com/New-2000-Hour-...
Excellent Video ! great pics, and explanations no unneeded rambling on Thank You !
I am reading your CD book right now. Great stuff. That and this video, I am converting my 200A to Kero. Thanks for the great video!
Ron, your instructions, organization, and style are the best I have seen anywhere. If you aren't doing instructional videos for a living, you should.
Ron, really enjoyed and got a lot of useful inform for your kerosene conversion video. Really appreciated the closeups plus the copper retainer for the heat cup. Thanks . Excited to convert one at home, thx.
Thanks, Dalton. And the best part is . . . . . . it really works! 😊
Ron
Thanks for the reply. Yes the lantern was a 200A and it ran perfectly before the conversion. My problem was the fuel ... it was kerosene but it was old kerosene. I put new kerosene in it and it now runs like a top. I appreciate your video. Please make more.
Am a member of the Old Coleman Parts Forum and have also rebuilt 4 Coleman lanterns. Great info!:)-John in Texas
Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Brown for your excellent information . All the best
Thanks!
Thank you for the vid Ron. I am a new collector of coleman lanterns and the vide was very helpful.
Thanks Dave. Glad you liked it. Hope it helps. I'll try and answer any questions you may have. Please note I have a couple of books on Coleman lanterns that should also help:
COLEMAN GAS LANTERNS www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WAZRSZI/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
KEROSENE PRESSURE LANTERNS www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015VLUDM2/ref=series_rw_dp_sw
Ron, thanks for sharing your information in such a way that people understand the principles behind the changes. For those who stumble across these videos, note that Ron also has a very well written series of books explaining various off-grid lighting options and deep knowledge of the fuels being used for various reasons. The books are sold by narrow topical area so that you get just the information you need. I have a book #2 "Olive Oil Lamps &c." and book #3 "Lamp Fuels". I will be ordering more after seeing the high quality of the information in these.
Thanks, Pete Williams. Hope you find what you need. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Thank you. Well done video tutorial. I finally found a nice 200A for a reasonable price. Thank you for taking the time to post this video.
You're welcome. Glad I could help.
Gear Whine
Thanks for the reply. I took a chance and made the same upgrade two days back. I've ran two tanks of kerosene through it so far with no issues. I just swapped the generator to a 214 model. The preheat cup sits on top of the heat shield. I moved the restraining clip for the heat shield up so it holds the cup in place as well.
My parts came in, so based on your vid I converted my dads 1966 model 200 to a 201.
It works great.
Thanks
Billy Madge Super!
Superb and clear communication on an interesting subject, sir. Very nicely done!
Thank you.
I'm a'learning. I like the idea of kerosene being more readily available. Excellent info. I'll probably buy your book series. Small enough to include in a emergency stash. Thank you!
Hi GoldenGlow LADore. Thank you! Hope the info is of use!
Great video and thanks Mr. Brown!
You're welcome.
Great video and straight to the point "Thankyou".
You're very welcome. Glad I could be of help.
Great videos. Thanks for taking the time to make these. I am converting (2) lanterns to kerosene...a 1970 220F and a 1969 220F.
Super! Seeing as how you're converting a Model 220F (and not a 200A as shown in this video), I assume you'll be following the directions in Book 6, "Kerosene Pressure Lanterns." At least I hope so. The mods to the generator and the spring inside the generator are different in the 220F as compared to the 200A. Let us know how you make out, OK?
@@ronbrown8606 Excellent, I will grab the book! I will keep you updated. This is so much fun and keeps us connecting to the past!
Update. I bought Book 6 and it was a joy to read. Who would have thought! This coming from a Lord of the Rings reader! I learned a lot and I now have a 220F that runs on kerosene. I was not able to get the 201a5891 generator because they are not made any more. At least that is what the Coleman supply store employee said. I bought the 201b5891 and made the modification as in the book. My only advice is to make certain the bolt that secures the generator is very snug. I had a small leak but it was easily fixed and now I have a fully functional kerosene burner. Thanks so much for all the information.
@@mtbse789 Great! Thanks for the feedback. I'm really glad it worked for you. Now let's hope that the grid doesn't fail and your 220F becomes your only source of light LOL.
Thanks! Its good to know in case circumstances call for it. My replacement generator for my dad's 220E lantern was very much like a kero one except it had a filter. Just slip that out and burn the kero after preheating a bit.
Thanks for the Vid. please make more. enjoyed this very useful info
Thanks for the video!
This is a very detailed video showing how to convert a Coleman lantern to kerosene which is likely to be more readily available following a disaster. I also have the book on CD - Lanterns, Lamps & Candles" and give it big thumbs up as well.
nicely done, ron. it pretty much answered my question about the 237 i bought yesterday. thinking it was a gas lantern similar to one i bought in mexico about 1972 i didn't realize it was kerosene 'till i got it home and wondered what the hell it had in it that was oily. i figured some knucklehead had put kerosene in it not knowing about white gas. turned out the knucklehead was sitting right here. anyway i haven't been able to figure out the generator to use since the 237-299 doesn't seem to be available anymore. looks like the 201 may do the trick. it's a place to start anyway,
I can’t believe this comment was made 4 years ago and I just today noticed the reader is considering trying a Model 201 generator in a Model 237. Won’t work. Different dimensions. The 201 generator is 3.57” long; the 237 is 4.845” long. You can check dimensions in coleman.pressure-lanterns-il.com/ColemanGenerators/Generator%20List%20Lanterns%20Feb%2020%202009.htm You can find Coleman parts at www.oldcolemanparts.com/product.php?productid=156 as well as eBay.
Great info Ron I recently acquired all my Dads Ole camping gear from when I was a kid and it's all in great condition. I cant even find the fuel locally and I wanted a easier fuel supply. I watched your video and picked up all the conversion parts quite easily on Ebay. So my 200A will go kerosene shortly Thanks. The heater I think I'm stuck with white gas but that's OK.....
Tim
Great! Let us know how it works out, OK? And any problems encountered.
OK..there's a winter project thats easy.i have several kerosene stoves and a few Coleman lamps so i'll try it out for a "all kero" camping trip.
holy cow thats alot easier than i thought
Very good info, I'm going to try this with my 200A as well as my late 80s model 288 that takes the same generator as a 214C which I bought one of quite a few years ago. However, I've always used standard Coleman #21 mantles on the 214C without any issues which is what it recommended. I do a lot of dry camping with RVs spring/summer/fall and these just work the best for large area lighting without running down the camper's batteries or running a generator late in the evening. For a few years I've been using only the 214C and the 639 I have rather than the white gas lanterns mainly due to the cost of the fuel. If I can run the other two on kerosene as well they'll get more use and not just sit like they have been. I have no issues using alcohol/2 step lighting procedure since I almost always have them running for many hours at a time so a really quick startup isn't a priority for me.
JR M, thanks for your interest. Converting your 200A should be no problem. Not so sure about the 288. I believe that, originally, 288’s had a design flaw. The eccentric block was plastic and was known to soften in the heat. One “fix” that Coleman introduced was a heat shield; another was a metal eccentric block to replace the plastic. You can buy both of these parts and use either one or both. Mantle-wise, for kerosene, I’m sure a thorium Silk-Lite mantle would work but I’m also sure it will generate extra heat. And that might cause a problem with a plastic eccentric block. Would a cooler-running #21A mantle (yttrium) work with kero on a 288? The only way to know for certain is to try it. Please let us know how you make out, OK?
@@ronbrown8606 Today I installed a 214C generator and preheat cup in my '89 288. Fired it up with no issues and it's been running for a while. This conversion appears to be as easy as a generator change with the exception of adding the cup. Brightness with standard coleman #21 mantles is very good, I'd say comparable to the lamp running with coleman fuel. I have a couple photos w/ and w/o flash and a short 1:30 video:
czcams.com/video/zeeuZ41t9Hs/video.html
Ron, this is one of the best and most professsional videos on CZcams. Your organization, detail, stage presence and voice are fantastic.
I look forward to converting one of my Coleman lanters to Kerosene. I use my Coleman two mantle lanterns and Coleman stoves a lot and that adds up to a lot of expensive coleman fuel.
Do you have any suggestions for do it yourself preheater cups? How about just saturating a cotton ball with alcohol, laying it next to the generator and lighting it?
carb cleaner is an awesome idea...i also have PB blast..I will try the carb cleaner first. I agree i will use the chems first. Hopefully if it works i can make video post about it. thanks again for you help!
Really like the video. I found your series of books (The Non-Electric Lighting Series) on Amazon. Already picked up 6 volumes from the series. Thanks for taking the time to write such well thought out books on these seldom covered topics.
BTW, I think it’s possible that you could have provided a link in the description to the Coleman website page rather than simply stating it.
Thanks, totallyfrozen, for the praise. I just did some poking around and it appears the Coleman website is a lot different (and less user-friendly) that it used to be. Sorry 'bout that.
Ron, Your book is FANTASTIC ... very pleased and I strongly recommend that everyone who is interested in this area ... or a prepper, or a survivalist buy this book/CD. Question: It there a way to add a bigger font to a 200a lantern. I would like to extend the burn time.
Glad you liked the book. Thanks. On the question of a bigger font . . . Coleman used to make Poultry House Lanterns with huge fonts. They were used for heat and burned all night. There is an excellent picture at: www.colemancollectorsforum.com/post/e20-poultry-lantern-5790573. These are of course collector's items today and very expensive. I suspect the real problem would not be in getting a bigger font or tank; the bigger problem would be in getting a fuel pick-up tube that went all the way to the bottom of the font. I'm sure this is not very helpful, sorry.
One of the best, and clearest videos I have seen on any topic. I hope he makes more. I hope you will detail the eccentricities of other Coleman lanterns, too. I have a problem I hope you will take the time to review: I bought a Wenzel Petromax clone. It got clogged. I removed the generator, and the rod inside it. After replacing the tip, I cannot get the rod to "catch" on the throttle, so it won't go up and down (making the wire tip go in and out of the little tiny aperture), so I cannot use it. Any ideas how to get the internal rod to "catch?"
Hi Don. Thanks for the praise. Regarding your Wenzel Petromax, I would first look at the hook on the end of the rod and make sure it was not bent into an open position that could never be hooked (think of bending open a paperclip). Next I would check the size of the hole the hook is supposed to go into (to be sure it wasn't smushed into a too-small diameter hole). If those things appear to be OK, I would seek a Petromax dealer and/or repair-person. Ask at a sporting goods store or where they sell camping gear. Ask online. It's really tough, if not impossible, to give meaningful advice sight unseen. But thanks for your interest. I appreciate it.
most would tell you to go ahead and remove the valve from the tank and clean. ive found that to be unnecessary if you take some carb and choke cleaner spray it in the tank "also called a font" and swish it around and let it sit for a while it can really clean things up in there. Pour it out then rinse with your fuel. it should burn after that. About 9 times outta ten this works
Cool! I got a 1974 220H at an Amish yard sale for 50 cents, but it's in rough shape. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a 200A.
Great video Mr Brown. Everyone has used motor oil left over after their DIY auto oil change. Any ideas how to use WMO up In a lantern, stove or ______? Thanks again.
Ahh thanks I figured out the pump wasn't pumping because my thumb wasn't on the hole. I replaced the old generator with a new one..the issue i have now is that after the tank is pressurized, i turn the main valve a quarter turn and the cleaning value down, i can hear the pressure but the fuel/air won't light..i pumped it 32+ times. When i removed the mantle, i can see the flame being blown the the pressure released but it just wont light..
Your comments below are so helpful, thank you for answering questions.
My question: How to store a Kerosene lantern?
Empty?
Full of kerosene?
I guess too, how should a Coleman gas lantern be stored?
Thank you so much.
Lanterns and lamps of all kinds should be stored empty. Kerosene slowly, slowly evaporates, leaving behind a varnish that glues things together. Coleman fuel does the same. If you find an old pressure lantern at a yard sale or hanging in somebody’s garage, the chances are it doesn’t work. Why? Because it was put away with fuel in it. And the fuel evaporated. And the innards are glued together. It just makes the restoration tht much more interesting, eh?
Makes pecfect sense!! Thank you
Thanks for the heads up there. Out of curiosity, What sort of strange things can happen?
Not a problem. Thanks for the sub :)
By George, I just may have finally grasped your instructions, and may just have it. I started with a Coleman 220K, dual mantle lantern. The 201 generator, is for a single mantle lantern, so the orifice is too small for the dual mantle lantern. Per your book, I removed the generator coil from the 201 generator, and modified it to the spread, 19 loop coils. I then inserted that coil into the empty 220 generator, along with the pricker. This particular lantern was a learning experience. The packing for the fuel valve was shot, so ordered a replacement from oldcolemanparts.com. I purchased from eBay a spare heat shield from a parted out Coleman 369 kerosene lantern, and using a Dremel, crudely modified it to fit the 220K, with the rationale and it would keep more heat in the area of the generator. I also purchased off eBay a so-called "heavy duty, Amish-made" alcohol preheater cup, which fortunately fit the 220 generator perfectly. The lantern now shines brightly. Thank you !
Super! Sounds great! Now tell me the truth. Wasn't that fun?
Ok well if you cant get light at this point after replacing the generator its a possibility it could be a few things. First thing id check is the air tubes. sometimes a a spider or something can make its nest in the tubes i recommend cleaning those with compressed air and a piece of wire. if those are clean id bet its the fuel air tube thats the tube that picks up fuel frome the tank and sends it the the generator
To Joseph Blow: (1) I live in the northeast where we have snow in winter. If you live where Kero-Sun (brand) heaters are used (they burn kerosene & use catalytic converters to extract the most possible heat from the fuel), then you'll no doubt find kero for sale at your local filling station. (2) Diesel fuel is NOT the same as kerosene. It's thicker. Only a handful of lanterns will burn diesel (but there are a few).
Great video Ron. I am particularly partial to the small backpacking lantern s like the 222. I was wondering if you could convert them to run on kerosene too?
Thanks, David S. The 222 is a Coleman lantern designed to run on Coleman fuel so, yes, theoretically, you should be able to convert it to kerosene given a preheat cup, the right mantle, the right generator, and the right-size tip orifice. I don't have ready answers on the 222 generator and tip size. Book 6 of The Non-Electric Lighting Series, entitled "Kerosene Pressure Lanterns," gives directions for converting 8 different Coleman models to kero (200A, 275, 242, 220, 228, 236, 635, and 335). The 222 is not on the list but a review of those 8 other models would be a good starting point OR it might make you think, "Oh dear. This is more than I want to get into." Whatever you do, stay safe. And as my boss used to say, "When all else fails, read the directions." LOL. www.amazon.com/Book-Kerosene-Pressure-Lanterns-Non-Electric-ebook/dp/B015VLUDM2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1444750620&sr=1-1&keywords=book+6+kerosene+pressure+lanterns
can any coleman gas lantern be converted to kerosene even the new gas ones of today ? i have no bother buying new but if its to smelly i can change it back
I made the obvious initial mistake this side of the pond of thinking it was about converting a gas (butane, propane etc.) lamp to run on paraffin, which would be very interesting indeed. But it was still very educational as I don't know much about Coleman. I run Tilley lamps, have a couple of Bi Aladdin/Vapolux and also use Aladdin liquid paraffin/kersosene.
Thanks, Neil, for the feedback. Sorry for any confusion. Gasoline is commonly called "gas." And "Coleman fuel" was once called "white gas." And "white gas" (unleaded gasoline) did power low-compression automobile engines back in the day (Model T Fords, for example). And then there's American English and British English. Are we having fun yet?
Bounty B. Wolf, a Model 220 can be converted to kero but it's not as simple as removing the filter from the generator. You need a different tip on the generator and a different pricker inside the tip. (Lanterns, Lamps & Candles gives the details.) Be cautioned that, with any conversion, it must run 45 minutes trouble-free before you can claim success. Strange things can happen after the 25-minute mark.
hi am looking for a globe for coleman 621b . thanks
What a fantastic and thorough video, thanks so much. Do you think the Premium Powerhouse Dual Fuel would also work with the conversion with its two mantles?
I Googled for "Coleman Parts" and went to the official Coleman Replacement Parts page. It indicated that the replacement generator for the Premium Powerhouse Dual Fuel lantern is part # 285-5891. If so, you should be able to replace the 285 generator with a 214 generator and burn kerosene. HOWEVER, you will almost certainly need a 2-minute preheat with a propane torch. A simple cup of alcohol does not provide enough preheat with Dual Fuel lanterns. That means you'll light the lantern with the glass and the ventilator cap removed. You then replace the glass and the ventilator with the lantern running full blast. If you're not comfortable with doing that, then don't. There are no guarantees here. You are coloring outside the lines.
Ron Brown thanks so much - I think I'll stick to inside the lines with the high potential pain factor of things go wrong - I appreciate your taking time to respond.
thanks Ron
I think I run my lantern akward. I put kerosene and since then Im having problem starting it up (220F) I guess I should use either coleman fuel or gas. So complicated in its simplicity LOL
Hi Piotr. Thanks for your interest. The Coleman 220 series was designed for white gas (a.k.a. Coleman fuel) and not kerosene. Let me add a word of caution. Although automobile gas might work in a 220, and although the Coleman Duel Fuel line-up (which came after the 220) was actually designed to burn auto gas, I personally think it is a bad idea to burn auto gas in ANY lantern. The problem is not in getting the lantern to burn. The problem is in the additives. In the old days, auto gas contained lead . . . not good for a human being to breathe. Today, lead has been replaced with other additives like MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether). IMHO, today's unpronounceable additives are also not safe to breathe.
Ron Brown
HI Ron
Thanks for response. Well, I did not look for any information on lamp itself so I tried K1. :) it was hard to light it up and it was going puffy. I took it apart to check if there is any dirt. I found your video and I tried to use regular gas. It started to work immediately.
Ron, I read your information. I deeply appreciate knowledge of people like you, who know what and why. Will try to use Coleman fuel as suggested. Regards. and thank you for your video. God bless you.
Book 6 of The Non-Electric Lighting Series, "Kerosene Pressure Lanterns," for sale on Amazon as both a Kindle ebook and as a paperback (written by yours truly), describes how to convert a Colemen 220 to kerosene. (It will also burn diesel fuel.) Personally, from a self-sufficiency point of view, I like the ability to burn a variety of fuels. Coleman fuel is nice but not always available.
thanks Ron . Best regards.
No, you cannot convert the newer Coleman gas lanterns (the kind lacking the separate cleaning lever) to kerosene. Of course a lot of things will burn for a short time before giving trouble. In the book I have for sale, “Lanterns, Lamps & Candles" (see link in the video description), I give specific directions for converting Coleman models 200A, 275, 220, and 228 from gas to kero; each one is different. Those four models cover 95% of all the Colemans for sale on eBay.
I was about to pressurize it...now my issue is that the air thats released near the mantle wont light...i dunno if it's a clogged air/fuel tube (the one inside the tank)...i replaced the old generator with a new old but it wont light. I took off the mantle and i see the flame from my match being blown, but it just wont light...
ola amigo eu gostaria de saber como funciona o gerador de gaz do colerman 200
não consigo entender como e feito a fusão do estado liquido para o estado gaz
thank you. I just recently acquired a 200A from a "free stuff" pile in my neighborhood. The pump on mine still moves up and down even after I turn it all the way right to the closed position...is that normal? thanks for the video!
try getting it from a airport ... usually labeled as Jet-A. Last I checked it was about $4.50 a gallon. Fill up a couple to three 5 gallon containers and get enough fuel to last all winter long.
I wouldn't remove the valve unless totally necessary. I would try carb and choke cleaner first simply spray it inside the fount give it a shake then let it sit for a half hour. rinse the tank with fuel and see if it comes out clean. As for taking off the valve it a pain. i clamp the valve in a vise with a thick cloth{as to not mar the valve all up and give it a twist. Go easy as to not damage the threads or font. But as i said i wouldnt remove the valve unless all else fails.
Mr. Brown ... Thanks for your video ... much appreciated and as other views have expressed ... VERY PROFESSIONAL. I've done the steps in your conversion ... step by step. However, after allowing for time for the generator to preheat I turned the on off knob and the lantern started ... however to pulsates and after a time it goes out. Do you have any suggestions? I'm using 90% alcohol as a preheater ...
Also, where
Man, it's hard to trouble-shoot something without seeing it. Sounds like it's not getting fuel or not getting hot enough from the preheat. I assume you are using a 200A lantern and a new 201 generator. That being the case, did you run the lantern on Coleman fuel before conversion? If it didn't run right before the conversion then you can't expect it to run any better afterwards. Second, are you using Silk-Lite mantles? Silk-Lites burn hotter. They are a must-have for kero. Third, spiders and the like have a reputation for building nests and plugging up the mixing chamber. That's always a possibility but problems in that department would have been revealed in a before-conversion test run. Fourth, the mantle fastens onto a (removable) screen. Is the screen either plugged or broken? These are just some things to check out. My knee-jerk reaction is that, if it doesn't run on kerosene (given the correct generator and mantle), then it likely didn't run before conversion on Coleman fuel either. Hope this helps. Let us know how you make out, OK? My curiosity is aroused.
Follow-up. If you rotate the cleaning lever you should be able to see and feel the pricker go in-and-out of the tip. If not, then the pricker did not get hooked up to the eccentric block when you installed the generator. If that's OK, then when you pump in pressure AND turn on the shut-off valve AND rotate the cleaning lever, you should get a squirt of fuel out of the generator tip. If not, it could be the generator......it could be the foot-valve......and on and on and on...........
I had the same problem. It turns out that after I tore down and cleaned all parts, I attached another mantle and got the same result. However I then grabbed a larger than #21 mantle and the added heat from the larger mantle kept the fuel tube hot enough to keep vaporizing the kerosene and burned until the fuel was gone. You will however need to pump the pressure up high once it is started. Hope this helps anyone else with this issue.
I suspect that the air fuel tube is clogged. I did a complete disassemble (via a youtube tutorial) but i couldn't remove the piping attached to the fount. I drained the fuel (coleman fuel from wally world) and looked inside to see that the tube was wet-rusty...any tips on getting the base tubing off of the tank?
Is there a way to convert the stoves to kero as well? I like using mine but the cost of the camp fuel is outrageous.
To wheredidileavemycell: If you pump air into the lantern you must hold your thumb over the hole in the top of the stem. The air you pump in should not leak out if you remove your thumb. A one-way check valve inside the lantern prevents that. If you "close" the pump, the stem will still go up and down unless your thumb is over the hole. In that case you won’t be able to “pump” anything. It will feel spongy but all you’re doing is compressing the air in the tiny stem-cylinder.
I liked the idea until the end. Not crazy about needing a special mantle that may not be available when you need it. But what kind of mantle is used in the kero lanterns sold by Coleman today? Seems like you should be able to use that kind of mantle.
Just checked Coleman site which says their new kero lanterns use a #11 mantle. Seems like these should work.
It takes more heat to vaporize kerosene than it does Coleman fuel. The old-time Silk-Lite mantles were thorium (slightly radioactive) but burned hotter than today's yttrium mantles. Today's #11 yttrium mantles are larger, and therefore hotter, than today's #21 yttrium mantles. The smaller #21's are used for Coleman fuel and the #11's for kerosene. But here we are CONVERTING a gas lantern to kero. Coloring outside the lines. No guarantees. And there are many variables (tip size, generator diameter, number of mantles, etc.). If something works, it works. And if it doesn't, it doesn't. I put in my video what I know WORKS from first-hand experience. If you find something else, super! But speculation (saying, "It seems like . . .") is not enough. You never REALLY know something works until you test it. I do agree that "a special mantle may not be available when you need it." So why not find what works and then stockpile some today? Mantles don't take up much space. For sure today's price will be better than tomorrow's. And mantles should be excellent barter items in a SHTF scenario. No matter what the item, are you really planning to wait until you need some before looking to buy?
Why do you think the newer lanterns can't be converted? Although they don't have a cleaning lever there is still a cleaning needle in the generator. It's just only "up" when the lantern is turned off. I've got a duel fuel in the gargage I bought twenty or so years ago. No cleaning lever but I confirmed the needle is still there and can be raised and lowered with the control knob.
Ron, would you consider writing a book on liquid fuel stoves also?
Not in the foreseeable future . . . too many other projects . . . but thanks for your interest. Much appreciated!
It can be done, however, they generally need to be run on high; the simmer function doesn't work so well.
To Dylan Baker: There will always be play between the glass and the metal. The heat is intense and the glass and metal expand/contract at different rates. A tight fit would result in broken glass. So, yes, it will rattle. Sorry.
SHE LIVES!!!!!!! I got her working thanks to your advice with carb cleaner and PB Blast!!! SHE'S HOTTTT!!! Also I am uploading the VR now. Thanks again Bro!!
hovanti, the lantern I convert on this video is a Coleman 200A which is an Instant-Lite model. FYI, there is no "simmer function" on any Instant-Lite; when you turn the fuel control knob to a low setting, you begin to suck in air from the tank along with the fuel. It's designed that way for easy lighting. You say "the simmer function doesn't work so well." It's not supposed to. Instant-Lites are designed to be run either ON or OFF (like a light bulb with no dimmer switch).
Great video Ron.
can we also convert a 200 lantern. is it the same generator that we use.
thanks.
Gary Nadeau This same question, if you scroll down to it, was asked about a year ago. The Model 200 was made for one year only (1951) before being replaced with the 200A. So would the conversion to kerosene given in this video work on a Model 200? Probably, although I don't know for sure because Model 200's are uncommon. Try it and see.
Hi Ron, very informative video, thanks for posting it. I was wondering could you still use Coleman fuel after the conversion? Or would you have to convert back?
Good question. You would need to switch the generator back to a 200A if you wanted to burn Coleman fuel. The Silk-Lite mantle would be fine (in fact, that's what these lanterns came equipped with back in the day). The preheater cup would be redundant, not needed with Coleman fuel. But a change of generators would be necessary. Many years ago, Coleman made table lamps (pressure lamps) that burned either Coleman fuel or kerosene. In those lamps, you had to switch generators when you switched fuels.
Ron Brown
Thanks, I didn't know you had to switch generators when you switched fuels in the dual fuel lanterns, never having owned one.
trollforge Oops. Let me clarify. In the old days, "dual-fuel" meant white gas and kerosene and you had to change generators. Today, Coleman defines "dual-fuel" as white gas and automobile gas. You do not have to switch generators with today's (so-called) dual-fuel lanterns.
Just wondering, does kerosene burning in the Coleman latern give off the same smell as a regular wick lamp? I had to start using paraffin based oil for the hurricane lamp.
Thanks for your interest, ToothMolar. Please note there are different grades of kerosene. The higher the sulfur content, the worse the smell. Kerosene burning in a mantle-type lamp or lantern (and that’s what a Coleman is) gives off little if any odor. Kerosene in a wick-type lamp or lantern (which is what your hurricane lamp is) does smell when running kerosene. BUT, when a mantle lantern is first lit and hasn’t yet warmed to operating temperature (and when it’s extinguished and cools), then it will smell. When it’s up to temperature and running along full blast, it does not smell. If you both light your mantle lantern AND extinguish it out on the porch and, when it’s inside, only let it run fill tilt, you’d never know (from the smell or lack thereof) there was a lantern in the house. Hope this helps.
How about adding carb/injector fluid to gasoline to prevent build up on generator ?
Thanks for your interest. For me, getting a lantern to run on automotive gas is not the issue. Inhaling the burned fumes is a far bigger problem. Gasoline has a million additives. Are they all 100% consumed by the flame? I doubt it. And I suspect that piling one more additive on top of what's already there will not improve air quality. To be clear, I recommend against burning automotive gasoline in a lantern. You may be able to do it from a mechanical point of view but, from a health point of view, don't.
quick question when lantern is at its complete assembly should the globe be a little loose I just purchased a May 1969 T-66 (200) and when my top nut is tight the globe can still move up and down about a quarter inch
Thank you so much Mr. Brown. I bought both Lanterns, Lamps & Candles and Book 6. I read the former and just started reading the latter and they brought many answers to questions that have been lingering in my mind for years. I still don't understand though why a 201 can use #21 yttrium mantles while a kero-converted 200A can't. Any clue?
Thanks for your interest. To restate, you are asking why a Model 201 kerosene lantern with a #21 YTTRIUM mantle will burn kerosene but a Model 200A converted to kerosene (with a 201 generator) will not (thereby requiring a THORIUM Silk-Lite No. 21A mantle). An excellent question but, in answer, I do not know. I own and have personally tested a 201 lantern and it will run kero just fine with a #21 yttrium mantle. I performed several tests with several 200A conversions trying to determine what mantle(s) worked. Granted, the 200A's came close to running kero on yttrium mantles but I found they were extremely touchy or carboned up or flared up . . . not something I'd want in my dining room during a blackout. Why does the 201 work and the 200A not work? No idea. But I stand by my observations: the 200A conversion described in this video requires a thorium mantle to safely burn kerosene.
Very interesting, and somehow puzzling!!... I'm about to convert a Canadian 200 to kero and consider experimenting with VHT flameproof paint as a thermal barrier on the burner frame, so the frame will not act as much as a heat sink and thus dissipate less heat out of the lantern. Just an idea that came to mind; maybe a not-so-good one.
One last question and then, I'll get out of your hair - I promise: Since kerosene is about middle-of-the road in between diesel and gas when it comes to volatility and flashpoint, would a 50-50 mix of diesel and gasoline (or white gas) be a good substitute to kerosene? Thank you again.
FYI, there is an “Amish mix” (sometimes used by the Amish, surprise, surprise) of 33% white gas and 67% kero. Why would the Amish do this? I'm speculating here, but probably because what is sold under the heading of “kerosene" varies from region to region and from season to season.
The Coleman Model 214 was a “modern” kero lantern but has been discontinued. I tried pure diesel in a 214 and the mantle carboned up. But a blend of 33% white gas and 67% diesel (with a #21 yttrium mantle) produced 150 watts-worth of light on the diesel/gas blend -- the same as what it produced using pure kerosene. With a Silk-Lite No. 21A thorium mantle, the 214 burned pure diesel, producing 250 watts-worth of light (compared to an electric bulb). It gave the same result (250 watts) on the diesel/gas blend.
So it’s “fuel + lantern + mantle” combinations that you must consider. You can keep dreaming up combos forever that might (or might not) work. The only way to know is to try them, up close and personal. With a fire extinguisher close at hand, of course. There are no guarantees. You're coloring outside the lines here.
To Guiding Mike: Thanks for the praise. Good thought with the cotton fluff. Even better, punch a 1/4" hole in a metal bottle cap. Mount the bottle cap on the lantern in place of a preheat cup. Stuff the bottle cap with cotton fluff. (Use cotton; synthetics melt.) Saturate with alcohol and light it as usual. It functions well. I just now tried it. :-) Be warned, however, that every few uses you will have to clean it out. :-(
Ron, thank for your comments. I am thinking about converting a 1991 Dual Fuel lantern to kerosene. Do you know which kerosene generator would fit?
I used the cotton ball primer we talked about before and just used the 1991 Dual Fuel lantern as-is, but with kerosene. It worked! I noticed two things. First, it seems that I have to keep pressurizing with the pump more frequently. Second, it seems to have a pulsating light for awhile until the pressure hits some sweet-spot. Is this normal or is this because I am not using the kerosene generator?
Guiding Mike To Guiding Mike: The short answer is this: a Coleman 214 generator preheated for 2 minutes with a propane (Bernz-O-Matic) torch.
I was never able to get a “dual-fuel” to run on kerosene but my technique was to install a preheat cup on the generator (just like all kerosene pressure lanterns have) and preheat with alcohol. Turns out, that’s not enough heat.
If, however, you preheat the generator for a full 2 minutes with a propane torch, your “dual-fuel” will run on kerosene. That may seem like an excessive amount of preheating but it works. Hat tip to Prepper4u for this one.
Kerosene, of course, will gradually plug a filter. That’s why none of the Coleman kerosene lanterns (237, 639, 639C, 214, 201) have filters in their generators.
So, to avoid plugging, use a 214 kero generator. Just add a propane torch to your camping gear. :-)
Hello Ron. I've used Campingaz all my life, and now I'm exploring for a better option. I don't like the new LED, I rather stick to old school. I live Costa Rica and go camping at the beach, so temperature is not an issue. I can buy in stores different gas canisters and other types of fuel like kerosene. I want to buy a good bright lantern that is still on the market. Please shed me some light into the best options out there. Thanks
+Blue River Crossing Something “still on the market” means you want new rather than used. Within the U.S., your choice would be Coleman; they dominate the U.S. market. Outside the U.S., I’d recommend Petromax (or a high-quality Petromax clone). These you can find on eBay if not in a local brick-and-mortar store. This is really too big a topic to go into on this forum. Allow me to recommend two books from The Non-Electric Lighting Series (written by me). Amazon carries them in Kindle ebook format as well as paperback -- “Book 3: Lamp Fuels” ($.99 in Kindle) and “Book 6: Kerosene Pressure Lanterns” ($2.99 in Kindle). I’m pretty sure you’ll get your money’s worth plus it’s always nice to know what you’re doing when playing with fire……… Oops! Propane is another possibility. You might try "Book 7: Propane for Preppers" ($1.99 in Kindle). Thanks for your interest, Ron
+Ron Brown
Thank you so much Ron for your answer. I really like the Petromax option. In your opinion, is there a Coleman that would be as good as a Petromax?
+Blue River Crossing All of the new lanterns today, of whatever brand, are manufactured to the highest Made-in-China standards. So my best advice on new lanterns is this. Buy a lantern where you can FOR SURE return it. If you like it, keep it. If you don’t, take it back (or send it back) for a refund. Repeat, repeat, repeat until you find a lantern you like. Then keep it. Walmart will let you return just about anything for just about any reason. Amazon is also very liberal and helpful with returns, especially if you buy with an Amazon credit card. On eBay, buy only from a seller with a 100% satisfaction rating; he will do handstands to preserve that rating. With new lanterns, DESIGN is not the issue. QUALITY (poor quality) is the issue.
Can this conversion be done on any other Coleman lanterns ?
The 200a is like hens teeth around here but you can find other models for cheap most times in yard sales.
There ARE other conversion possibilities. Some take a composite generator (for lack of a better term) -- a spring from here and a tip from there. I specify several conversions on my video "Lanterns, Lamps & Candles." The Coleman 220 is the most likely yard-sale lantern you are apt to find but, unfortunately, does not make a real good kerosene conversion. Still, at this very moment, there are over two hundred Model 200A's for sale on eBay. Search for "Coleman 200A." Look for a seller with a 100% satisfaction rating.
Hi Ron, I read in a comment in a another post, you said you used a 214 generator in your 285 so you could run kerosene in your 285, can use the 214 generator in the 295 too.
+steve young Can you use a 214 generator in a 295 lantern? I don't think so. The 285 generator is 285-5891. The 295 generator is 295-5891. You can see images of both, mounted on their respective cardboard cards, at Old Coleman Parts as well as eBay. The 295 generator looks to be quite a bit longer than the 285.
What CAN you use to convert a 295 lantern to kero? Not sure. The 201 and 214 generators are both for kero but are relatively small. The 237 and 639 are also for kero and are larger. Those are your choices. There's the diameter/threads on the jamb nut to consider as well as the generator's length. Hope this helps. Thanks for your interest.
If you find something that works, let us know, OK?
Ron Brown Thank you, and I will let you know if I find something that works.
Would this conversion work on a 242c?
Can a regular Colman fuel lantern, ie white gas, be converted into a dual fuel lantern? To burn both gasoline and white gas.
Ken Love Fair question. Coleman introduced Instant-Lite lanterns in 1929. Before that, they made Quick-Lite lanterns. Both were intended to run on white gas only. Why? Because, in those days, automobile gas contained lead and it was not good to inhale lead particles, a byproduct of combustion. Today, automobile gas is unleaded but contains other, different additives to raise the octane level. Will your old Instant-Lite run on unleaded auto gas? Yes. No conversion necessary. It will leave the generator a gooey mess but it will run. I've done it. But that's merely the mechanical functioning. Personally, I don't think you should burn automobile gas in any lantern (whether the lantern is labeled "Dual Fuel" or not). Burned MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) does not a good substitute for oxygen make.
Mr. Brown ... I just purchased you book ... looking forward to getting it. Question: Can a Coleman 220H be converted to Kerosene?
Coleman 220's are probably the most common model out there. Given the right generator, etc., they can be converted to burn kerosene but they tend to pulse or flutter. At least that's my experience. Not my first choice for a conversion.
Great video. I just finished a 200A kerosene conversion. I am also putting the kerosene decal on the lantern. I also have a stock 200A. I was wondering if you tried alternative fuels in the kerosene lantern?
PAUL H Not sure what "alternate fuels" you have in mind. If you want to burn white gas (Coleman fuel) then don't change anything. That's what the 200A was equipped to do as it came from the factory.
If you want to burn automobile gas, don't. The original lantern before conversion may do it (or not) but you'll be breathing a lot of stuff that's not good for you.
You can burn kerosene. That's why you did the conversion.
You can burn mineral spirits. Mineral spirits is to kerosene as black is to navy blue. They really are that close. (But "paint thinner" is often a mix of mineral spirits and other stuff that I can't pronounce. Like auto gas, you may end up breathing fumes that are not good for you.)
You cannot burn diesel; it won't work. You cannot burn alcohol; it won't work.
What else is there?
I meant alternate fuels similar to kerosene. IE vegetable oil, lamp oil peanut oil .
PAUL H The only lamp I know of that will burn vegetable oil and rendered animal fat (aside from simple wick-type lamps that give off light on par with a candle) is the Argand from the late 1700's. You can Google for it if you want more info. Reportedly, the Argand gave off light equivalent to TEN candles. Argands were expensive lamps, used in high society. Unfortunately, they've all been converted to electricity. I did see a non-converted, original Argand for sale on eBay once although it was not exactly in the best condition. And I was all excited and ready to buy until I noticed the starting bid was $3,000. (Hmm. What part of "museum piece" don't you understand?)
Very nice. Can I convert a Coleman 508 stove to kerosene?
+Maxwell Speedwell Can't really help there, sorry. I know lanterns pretty good but very little about stoves. Thanks for your interest.
70% ispropal alcohol works fine for me haven't tried 91% yet or denatured alcohol
Dear Ron, congratulations on the video, keep it up.
It is possible to turn the lantern Coleman dual fuel 533 to work with kerosene? How should it be done?
Thank you.
Not being familiar with any Coleman lantern model 533, I just did a Google search and discovered it's a stove, not a lantern. Your question confuses me. Are you asking how to convert a gas stove to a kerosene stove? Maybe you just said "lantern" but meant "stove"? I'm not really into stoves, I must admit. I'm going to stay away from this one, sorry.
Ron Brown Dear Rom,
I'm sorry for my mistake, really Coleman 533 is a stove. Actually my question is for Lantern Coleman Dual Fuel like this: r1.coleman.com/ProductImages/Full/3000000946_500.jpg
If I may, another question would be on fuel. I live in Brazil and here we do not have Coleman fuel and our gasoline contains 25% alcohol. I have noticed that the light of my lantern Coleman is a little yellow and not white as I see in videos. The reason was the high amount of alcohol in our gasoline?
Thank you for your patience.
Logan BR Many years ago, the fuel in Coleman "dual fuel" lanterns was (1) kerosene and (2) Coleman fuel (also known as "white gas"). You had to switch generators when you switched fuels. Today's Coleman "dual fuel" lanterns burn (1) Coleman fuel and (2) automobile gas.
Today's Coleman Dual Fuel lanterns will run on kerosene if you replace the stock generator with a 214 (kerosene) generator AND if you preheat the generator two full minutes with a propane soldering torch (BernzOmatic type; BernzOmatic is a brand name). Preheating the lantern with alcohol in an alcohol cup will not work. If you scroll down, you'll see that this was discussed in earlier comments.
I have no experience with any auto gas that contains 25% alcohol and thus cannot comment. Even so, I am of the opinion that you should not burn any automobile gas in any lantern. Auto gas contains many additives. It is not good to inhale the products of combustion. Mechanically, the lantern may produce light. But health-wise, inhaling tobacco smoke is probably better for you. Just my personal, unscientific opinion.
Will do Ron....
To hypr dyne: By "that kerosene model" I assume you mean the 214 or 639C shown at the beginning of the video. By "fuel" I assume you mean diesel fuel. In answer, neither the 214 or the 639C will burn diesel. Nor do I know any way to convert them to do so. I know of only 3 pressure lanterns that will burn diesel: Petromax, Coleman 237 using a No. 1111 mantle, and the Coleman 639-with-pricker (not to be confused with the newer 639C). There are more details in "Lanterns, Lamps & Candles."
I've never seen kerosene for sale at a gas station. Is diesel the same as kerosene?
Ron would the 200 be same thing as the 200A ? thanks.
I have found 200 but not 200A.
I have no personal experience with the Coleman 200. However, the Web site for The International Guild of Lamp Researchers has archived a lot of question-and-answer information. I found this in answer to question #182: “The only info I have [this is Fil Graff speaking] on the Canadian Model 200 is that it replaced the old 242 single mantle series in 1951, and was made for one year before the 200A replaced it.”
So, would the 200 work in place of a 200A for the kero conversion? Probably, though I have no way of knowing for sure. But there are a couple hundred 200A’s for sale on eBay right now, even as we speak.
how to chek air lekej in kerocin stov plz tell me
Your question, if I understand it correctly, is, "How do I locate the source of an air leak in a portable kerosene camp stove (or lantern)?"
In answer, pump some pressure into the stove (or lantern) and immerse it underwater. A leak will provide a tell-tale stream of bubbles from its source. You might be able to use a 5-gallon pail to hold the water. Or a laundry sink. Or a bathtub. Hope this helps. Good luck.
May i ask what exactly dose a 200a take fuel? Im look at buy one but want to make sure i can afford the fuel? Please help me out. I wouldn't want to covert it not right away maybe after a little while. Thank you in advance.
John, thanks for your interest. The Coleman 200A lantern was designed to run on Coleman fuel ($13 per gallon at Walmart). The generic name for Coleman fuel is white gas. Crown (brand) "white gas camp fuel" is $9 per gallon at Walmart and is the same stuff as Coleman fuel. I hope this answers your question. The internet is positively alive with bad information about lamp fuels. Some of that info is just stupid and harmless but some is deadly. I strongly recommend Book 3 from the Non-Electric Lighting Series entitled "Lamp Fuels" (written by yours truly). It's available in Kindle format as well as paperback. Here's a link you can click on: www.amazon.com/Book-Lamp-Fuels-Non-Electric-Lighting-ebook/dp/B00KVUVNDW/ref=pd_sim_351_3/137-6644303-1931305?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00KVUVNDW&pd_rd_r=be5fd2dc-eb22-4a24-8c7a-3d42669f65d8&pd_rd_w=VrR4U&pd_rd_wg=89mjy&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=ZC5YFQSF4CYES68MNZQD&psc=1&refRID=ZC5YFQSF4CYES68MNZQD
mr brown can you give me the measurements size in lenth of the 201 or 200a genarator in cm please
Jonneil, there’s more to it than generator length. The 200A was a gas generator and contains an asbestos cylinder (filter) inside. The 201 was a kerosene generator and has no filter. Generators have different guts, different tip sizes, different diameters, different lengths, and different jamb nuts. Here’s a place to start: light.papo-art.com/tech-n-info/Coleman_technical/ColemanGenerators/Generator%20List%20Lanterns%20Feb%2020%202009.htm
yes perfect now i can cross ref my part to a kero version or mix and match if its possable
Great video. I recently purchased a brand new multi fuel Coleman lantern which burns either Coleman fuel or unleaded gas. Is there a kerosene conversion kit available for my Lantern?
+Harley Rider The Coleman 285 Dual-Fuel will run on kerosene if you use a 214 generator and preheat the generator for 2 minutes with a propane torch. Simply preheating with a cup of alcohol (standard operating procedure for most kerosene pressure lanterns) just isn't enough preheat.
Ron Brown Thank you for your response. For preheating, what exactly would I aim the blow torch at? How long?
I looked up 214 Generator, but found 214B5891... is this the correct one sir?
+Harley Rider There is a 214A5891 generator and a 214B5891 generator. Either one will work.
You aim the propane torch at the generator. Play the flame up and down the length of the generator. Don’t hold the flame in one spot and risk melting a hole in the generator. For how long? Two minutes (as stated previously).
A BernzOmatic propane torch, incidentally is not a “blow torch.” Blow torches are something different. Blow torches hail from the World War II era and earlier.
To burn kerosene in a Coleman 285 Dual-Fuel, you must preheat and light the lantern with the glass and ventilator cap and ball nut removed. Then (with the lantern having been lit and running full blast), you install the glass and the ventilator and the ball nut. It’s not for the faint of heart.
If you are not sure what you are doing, then I recommend you don’t attempt it. Pressure lanterns are not toys. You are coloring outside the lines and there are no guarantees - not from me, not from Coleman, not from your kerosene supplier.
+Ron Brown thank you.
Would these parts work on a 295-700T PowerHouse dual fuel? I didn't look at the discussion to see if you'd answered this already.
+Ima Oregonbum You ask, “Would these parts work. . .?” I don’t think so. (Neither time nor budget has allowed me to try every combination of everything.) The 214 generator fits the 285 Dual-Fuel but I believe the 295 Dual-Fuel generator is larger in diameter than the 285. I have read that the 639 (kerosene) generator will fit the 295 Dual-Fuel so that’s where I’d start. Both the 295 generator and the 639 generator have a .009" diameter tip.
Kerosene generators (214 and 639) do not have a filter inside. A filter would gradually plug up on kerosene.
I'll look at it, Thanks!
To Altair Melo: Bing auto-translates your question from Portuguese to English as follows - "Hello friend I would like to know how to work the gas generator of colerman 200. I can't understand how the State's fusion and made the liquid to the gas State."
In answer, how lantern generators work and how fuel in the liquid state is converted to a gaseous state is detailed in my CD, "Lanterns, Lamps & Candles" (see link in the video description, above). Not enough room to explain it here, sorry.
can a 621b coleman be converted to kerosene thanks
m
+Joe Waldner The 621B is somewhat on the rare side. I think it may have been made in Canada, not sure. The 621B glass globe is tapered like the model 275 BUT will 275 glass fit? Don't know. (FYI, glass for the 275 is $22 on eBay as we speak.) The 275 will burn kero given a 201 generator, preheat cup, and Silk-Lite 21A mantles. I've no way of knowing if that combo of modifications would work on a 621B but it's where I would start. Hope this helps.
This has been a while -- I just found it, and hope you are doing well. I would like to convert a dual mantel lantern to kerosene. Is one better than another ? Could I make my own generator by swapping internals ?
Hi Happy Home. Thanks for your interest. Can you convert a dual-mantle lantern to kerosene? The answer is some yes and some no. Can you make your own generator by swapping internals? Yes . . . if you know what you're doing (but it's not always necessary). The questions you're asking have answers but are far too big to go into here. I suggest you look at Book 6 of The Non-Electric Lighting Series. It's entitled "Kerosene Pressure Lanterns" and is available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback format. It gives the details to convert ten different lantern models.
@@ronbrown8606 Sold. Thank you. :-)
Hello good evening Sir; I have bought the Coleman Powerhouse 295-700E. I would like to use it with kerosene. Generator: Can I just knock out the paper roll out of the generator? (compare sequence 02:15 in the video). I look forward to your reply. Best wishes Harald CH
Hi Harald. Removing the asbestos cylinder-cum-filter from a 295 generator would probably work. The only way to know for sure is to try it (remembering that adequate preheating is key to success). The 295 generator without the filter is very close in size to a Coleman 639 kerosene generator. The tip size of both the 295 and the 639 generators is .009". The length of the 295 generator is 4.535" whereas the 639 is 4.545" --- a one one-hundredth of an inch difference. Good luck.
Thank you Mr. Brown.
Good catch. Maybe we are talking at cross purposes. The mention of a 220E, which is a lantern model number, made me think lanterns was the topic at hand. OK, I surrender..........
Why does it have to be a silk lite mantel? What would happen if you tried a newer model one or even a different brand? Would any of those work?
+melanie Harris “Silk-Lite” is merely a Coleman brand name. Silk-Lite mantles (discontinued years ago but still available today on eBay) were treated with thorium rather than the yttrium which is now used. Thorium mantles are slightly radioactive (making thorium mantles a hot-button issue). Thorium mantles burn hotter and brighter than today's yttrium mantles. Because they burn hotter, thorium mantles often work in situations (to burn kerosene, for example) where yttrium mantles do not work. In the specific 200A conversion described in this video, yttrium mantles do not work; thorium mantles are required. Several books in The Non-Electric Lighting Series (written by me) explain this in more detail. All the books in this series are available on Amazon as both Kindle ebooks and as paperbacks. Most of the Kindle books are 99 cents. If I may editorialize, it might be worth a buck or two to understand what it is you’re doing BEFORE you start playing with fire. Pressure lanterns are not toys.
+Ron Brown I understand about silk lite. My question is are there any other mantels that will work with kerosene since there are newer kerosene models of lanterns. What about a higher cp (candle power) mantel? what happened when you use a regular mantel when trying to light a kero conversion lantern?
+Melanie Harris In general terms, no-one can answer the question you are asking. For example, if you keep track of mantles for sale on eBay for a couple of years, you’ll discover there are hundreds of brands - both “new-old stock” and brand new. And if you buy a new lantern (not second-hand), it will come with a couple of new mantles in the box. Often, today, those mantles will be unmarked, without any brand name. Mantles, in the past, were made all over the world (USA, England, Malta, Brazil, etc.). Today there are only 2 or 3 companies in the whole world that still manufacture mantles. One in the Philippines, at least one in China, maybe one in Indonesia. All of today's brands come from those same few factories. And those companies will produce a mantle with your name stamped on it if you wish. So the long and short of it is this. If you have a mantle and you wonder if it will work on kerosene, try it. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’ve done my share of experimenting and I can assure you that there’s no other answer. Maybe it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s the real story. I know that Silk-Lite mantles work well on kerosene (on Petromax lanterns as well as Coleman). Beyond that I will not venture. Although I can tell you that higher candle-power mantles are not the answer. They will simply blacken. But try it yourself. Do your homework. Just remember that 10 minutes of successful running does not guarantee of 10 hours of successful running.
Converting a gas lantern to methanol or ethanol or iso alcohol?
Hi MadWorldUSA. Thanks for your interest. Unfortunately, I’m not certain as to your question. You might be asking, “Will the conversion shown in this video allow you to run alcohol in the converted lantern?” And the answer to that one is, “No.”
Or you might be asking, “Is it possible to convert a gas lantern to run on alcohol?” And the answer to that one is, “Yes. But not the lantern used in this video.”
Or you might be asking, “Which type of alcohol can be used in a conversion (methanol, ethanol, or iso)?” And the answer to that is, “All three. Although 91% isopropyl generally gives the best results.”
“Alcohol Mantle Lamps” is Book 8 of the Non-Electric Lighting Series. It discusses European mantle lamps (expensive antiques today) that burn alcohol, plus a couple of Coleman models that can be modified to burn alcohol, plus Petromax. Plus various mantle brands and sizes. Plus alcohol types. Admittedly, the combinations and permutations can get a bit complicated but I did my best to keep it simple. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A0ANNI0/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
Not sure if this answers your question but I hope it helps.
What a great video! I look forward to doing the same conversion myself, so thanks for the info. The only question I have is, will Diesel fuel work in a Coleman Kerosene lantern? Thanks!
To H.E. Rogish: Glad you enjoyed the video. Your question about diesel is a good one.
Wick-type kerosene lanterns and lamps will, of course, run on diesel but typically output less light than they do on kerosene.
With a couple of exceptions, Coleman pressure lanterns (even kerosene pressure lanterns) will not run on diesel. One of those exceptions is the Coleman 237. It will run on diesel given an old-time thorium No. 1111 mantle but will not run on diesel with a new No. 11 mantle. The other exception is the OLD Coleman 639. It will run on diesel with even a No. 11 mantle but - be warned - the NEW 639B or 639C models will not run on diesel at all. Both the 237 and the old 639 are semi-rare and quite expensive when you do find them.
Petromax (German design) will run on diesel. My book-on-CD, “Lanterns, Lamps & Candles,” has an entire chapter devoted to Petromax in addition to several Coleman chapters. But Petromax is a tricky topic. Both the proponents and opponents claim some pretty stupid stuff. Don’t believe everything you read.
Hello Sir, My Father has a 1987 Coleman 'Special Edition' Powerhouse Model 290-700
are you aware of this model and its rarity? and any of your knowledge on it.
and I'm also wondering what alternative fuel can i use in it without converting anything? I've heard regular unleaded gas but doesn't that sound dangerous? just seems to me that sparking a flame near gas seems dangerous. but i also have heard all coleman camp fuel is, is filtered gasoline.
Thank You!
You will find some info on the 290 Powerhouse series at this link: tgmarsh.faculty.noctrl.edu/coleuslant8100.html. It was basically a commemorative edition.
Do you understand the difference between gasoline and keosene? Using gasoline in a wick-type lantern (a Dietz kerosene barn lantern, for example) is dangerous because gasoline evaporates at room temperature. That means flammable fumes will be wafting about in the open air and can be ignited by the lantern's own flame. Gasoline is safe in a Coleman-type lantern because it's in a sealed system; there are no random vapors floating around.
Coleman Fuel is 50-octane gasoline. It’s what powered Model “T” Fords back in the day. Today’s automobile gas is 87-octane. The higher octane rating comes from additives. IMHO you should never burn auto gas in a lantern even if the lantern runs OK on it. You’ll be inhaling the by-products of combustion. Methyl tertiary-butyl ether is a typical gasoline additive. MTBE does not a good substitute for oxygen make.
Check out "Book 3: Lamp Fuels" by yours truly on Amazon (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KVUVNDW/ref=series_rw_dp_sw). I think you'll find it a good investment. Internet forums seem to be dominated by people who failed high school chemistry.
Thank You! So only use coleman fuel? lol
Thank you! I will only use coleman fuel and was wondering what these lanterns are worth?
As we speak, there is a Coleman Powerhouse 290A700 dated 1988 for sale on eBay. It looks to be in excellent shape if not mint. It is being offered "Buy it Now" (no bidding necessary) for $45 + $12 shipping. Whenever I wonder what something may be worth, eBay is my first stop.
Ron Brown thank you sir, so special edition doesnt change anything? im not selling just wondering