Question - Question about Petrol/Kerosene/Acetylene Lamps

[johnsalomon]

Hi,

I'm looking for a warm underground lamp, hoping for suggestions / recommendations on what to look for.

The options are gasoline, paraffin/kerosene, propane, or acetylene. I'd optimally like one with the following attributes:

- good (>5 hours) lighting duration
- robust
- wind- and somewhat drip-proof
- doesn't require an odyssey to find fuel or spare parts
- won't kill me with fumes or excessively rancid-stink up enclosed spaces
- not too heavy (3-4kg max) and not too big (I have no idea how big these things are)
- won't cost me an arm and a leg (ideally I'd like a reasonable-condition used one, so I'm looking around on ebay).

I looked at my local camping store and on Amazon for Coleman lamps, and can't get a feel for what single/dual mantle, dual fuel, etc. mean.

I also get the impression that acetylene lamps are kind of hard to find and buy fuel for.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[diehardlove]

They will all kill you in a enclosed space with carbone monoxide but the worst smelling is carbide,
I like carbide lamps just the glow and warmth also depends where you are for how hard the fuel is to get,
Only issue with carbide lamps is you have to keep them clean which can be a pain,
Every paraffin lamp ive seen has been dull and not very bright but ive only seen a few,Id get a petzl caving headlamp with a stainless generator lasts for years and is bloody cheap you can get both for less than £40.

 

[johnsalomon]

I'm getting a headlamp anyway. But it's useless for the kind of underground shots I like - I mainly need a headlamp to see where I'm going, I have two amazing 1000L torches for lighting shit up like crazy but they're impractical to keep in your hands all the time.

We had both a propane and a gasoline one recently, and the light from both was brilliant - far far far nicer than what I get with any LED or incandescent bulbs + fucking around with white balance.

No, I definitely want a camping lantern, just trying to figure out which is best.

 

[diehardlove]

I'm getting a headlamp anyway. But it's useless for the kind of underground shots I like - I mainly need a headlamp to see where I'm going, I have two amazing 1000L torches for lighting shit up like crazy but they're impractical to keep in your hands all the time.

We had both a propane and a gasoline one recently, and the light from both was brilliant - far far far nicer than what I get with any LED or incandescent bulbs + fucking around with white balance.

No, I definitely want a camping lantern, just trying to figure out which is best.

Id have one of the french carbide latterns but im sold on carbide i love the stuff just the way its warm and the glow etc but ive never used a propane lattern so dont know how bright they are but surely if they are bright it must be the easiest as gas is easy to get and clean to burn.

 

[Oxygen Thief]

I've got brand new carbide lamps for sale. PM me if you're interested, I haven't had time to put up a thread or pictures yet.

 

[diehardlove]

I've got brand new carbide lamps for sale. PM me if you're interested, I haven't had time to put up a thread or pictures yet.

sounds good mate im interested if john isnt il pm you now.

 

[Oxygen Thief]

I've got 6 left. Speak to UJ if you want a reference on them.

 

[diehardlove]

I've got 6 left. Speak to UJ if you want a reference on them.

6 fucking hell nah i trust you mate dont need to speak to him