Gasoline lanterns

[Oxygen Mask]

I still have a couple of Coleman gas lanterns, a stove (maybe 2?) I guess I keep them for nastalgia....
I also have one of these, WW2 vintage. Coleman! Still works! It's compact but weighs a ton!

 

[RVTECH]

One of my occasional 'side hobbies' is finding old Coleman lanterns, stoves etc and cleaning and repairing them to working condition, then giving, trading them away to someone who will use and appreciate them!

A few I have worked on a while back.

 

[arakboss]

Who doesn't luv a good homemade gasoline lantern.

View: https://youtu.be/LkIWmsP3c_s?si=X1XK4LrwirFbjPwQ

 

[gmerkt]

Gasoline...

The Coleman pressure lanterns that I'm familiar with, gasoline is all they ran on. Even the new "multifuel" Colemans won't run on kerosene.

When I was a kid, all gasoline still contained tetraethyl lead as an additive. Which was not supposed to be burned in pressure lanterns. We'd get "white gas" out of a separate drum that was behind the gas station. White gas didn't have the lead additive. Of course, Coleman sold their own proprietary fuel in gallon cans but it cost more.

Now we have "clear gas" for those who don't want to burn contemporary gasoline that contains ethanol. That's another issue.

 

[gmerkt]

My inner cheap self would never allow for the repeated purchase of new 1lb propane canisters.
.85 cents vs. $5.00 doh !

Where can you buy propane for 85 cents a gallon?

 

[DirectDrive]

Where can you buy propane for 85 cents a gallon?

The last time I calced it (before Iran war) I could fill a 16 oz propane cylinder for around 85 cents.

For 85 cents per gallon propane one would need a time machine.

 

[Koda]

Gas lanterns are virtually obsolete now but I wish I still had one just for nostalgia, there is something about a flame or glowing wick that cant be replaced. All my lanterns now are LED and USB rechargable...
Except this one I bought just for the fun of it because it uses a flame and is a great fun way to use up the leftover Isobutane canisters from backpacking trips. $32 on Amazon.

 

[Camelfilter]

Where can you buy propane for 85 cents a gallon?

1lb canisters are ~1/4 gallon.

 

[gmerkt]

1lb canisters are ~1/4 gallon.

Thank you, I didn't know that. I may have been thinking in terms of pounds instead of gallons. All I've ever bought were the small, disposable cans.

I'm wondering if retailers of propane will let you fill the 1 lb. cans. Maybe you need to do it at home from your larger container. I looked up the adapter, they sell it at Harbor Freight.

 

[Camelfilter]

Thank you, I didn't know that. I may have been thinking in terms of pounds instead of gallons. All I've ever bought were the small, disposable cans.

I'm wondering if retailers of propane will let you fill the 1 lb. cans. Maybe you need to do it at home from your larger container. I looked up the adapter, they sell it at Harbor Freight.

Yah the small cans are a rip off!

No one will refill them. Buddy heaters brand now makes refillable 1lb canisters. Can be repeatedly refilled at home, vs the few times you can refill the green cans. Plus supposedly the buddy heater brand cans fill more.

 

[DirectDrive]

Thank you, I didn't know that. I may have been thinking in terms of pounds instead of gallons. All I've ever bought were the small, disposable cans.

I'm wondering if retailers of propane will let you fill the 1 lb. cans. Maybe you need to do it at home from your larger container. I looked up the adapter, they sell it at Harbor Freight.

Refilling the green disposable canisters is technically a no-no.
I've been doing it for years with zero problems.
There is a learning curve and you'll get various technique recommendations from the Youtubers.

Flame King was first to market a refillable 1lb canister.
Mr. Heater just came out with their version. It's called Fuel Keg and it's more developed than the Flame King.
If I was just starting out, I'd invest in the Mr. Heater product, I think.
Surprisingly, Bimart has the Mr. Heater product on the shelf.

If there's interest, we could start a thread on refilling 1lb canisters and I'll describe my system.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Buying disposable 1 lb cannisters you're paying $18+ a gallon.... Propane where I buy it is $2.50 a gallon vs Bimart 1 lb-ers at $4.50 ea today.
Refilling the disposable cannisters should be illegal, once that seal is opened they never reseal, they leak. 100%. They are intended as single use disposable.
Refillable 1 lb cylinders are fine but seriously why not use a hose off a bigger tank?
I used to use a tree (post) off a pancake tank to run my bbq and stove and lantern (for camping.) But I quit using the propane lantern, and sometimes add a pizza oven, so I made a more compact multi fitting and don't use the tree any more.

 

[DirectDrive]

Buying disposable 1 lb cannisters you're paying $18+ a gallon.... Propane where I buy it is $2.50 a gallon vs Bimart 1 lb-ers at $4.50 ea today.
Refilling the disposable cannisters should be illegal, once that seal is opened they never reseal, they leak. 100%. They are intended as single use disposable.

There is a DOT rule I believe, that you're not supposed to transport a refilled 1lb canister.
How they could ever identify a refilled canister would be a trick.
I guess they're not worried about all the 20lb and larger tanks that go down the road.
I've been refilling the 1lb cans for 10-12 years and never had one leak.

Refillable 1 lb cylinders are fine but seriously why not use a hose off a bigger tank?
I used to use a tree (post) off a pancake tank to run my bbq and stove and lantern (for camping.) But I quit using the propane lantern, and sometimes add a pizza oven, so I made a more compact multi fitting and don't use the tree any more.

The reason for 1lb canisters is for folks that are traveling lighter than those than can carry the large tanks.
There are also various heaters/lights that are designed to be used with 1lb cans for light traveling.
There is a legit place for the 1lb propane canisters.

 

[Koda]

The reason for 1lb canisters is for folks that are traveling lighter than those than can carry the large tanks.
There are also various heaters/lights that are designed to be used with 1lb cans for light traveling.
There is a legit place for the 1lb propane canisters.

Years ago I bought my own 5lb propane canister, I got rid of it before the date code expired but will buy another one. Now I find you can buy 3.5lb canisters which is even nicer for overnighter camping trips. Im not sure how long 3.5lbs would last though full cooking and lighting but the 5lb canister was always more than enough.

 

[Camelfilter]

Years ago I bought my own 5lb propane canister, I got rid of it before the date code expired but will buy another one. Now I find you can buy 3.5lb canisters which is even nicer for overnighter camping trips. Im not sure how long 3.5lbs would last though full cooking and lighting but the 5lb canister was always more than enough.

Some BiMart stores carry the 5lb in store. Have a couple.

 

[DirectDrive]

This "5lb canister" - I've never seen one.
Is it actually the 20lb/5 gallon size ?

 

[Camelfilter]

This "5lb canister" - I've never seen one.
Is it actually the 20lb/5 gallon size ?

No. They're like a mini version of a regular barbecue sized tank. Holds about a gallon.

 

[orygun]

I still have a couple of Coleman gas lanterns, a stove (maybe 2?) I guess I keep them for nastalgia....
I also have one of these, WW2 vintage. Coleman! Still works! It's compact but weighs a ton!

View attachment 2276944

I've got one similar to that, but it's really lightweight, or at least that's how I remember it.
I'll have to take a peek at it later today.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

I've got one similar to that, but it's really lightweight, or at least that's how I remember it.
I'll have to take a peek at it later today.

1945 stamped on the bottom. I just weighed it in the kitchen, 2 lb 14oz! Empty. Including funnel.
Backpacker single burners are 3 oz or so....

 

[ma96782]

Who doesn't luv a good homemade gasoline lantern.

If you're gonna play with FIRE.
Well........be careful.

View: https://youtu.be/COBuI54mjlo?si=u0QNHVTq6iYpZUlO


Aloha, Mark