Coleman 200a

Hi folks

Herewith my first non paraffin/kerosene lantern, a lovely 200a from June 1971.

Seen here in "as found " condition and lit using unleaded petroleum after a dunk pressure test and a quick wipe down.

My next job is to purchase some naphtha based panel wipe and my question is: When buying panel wipe are there any points I need to consider. I ask this generally as a non paraffin debutant.

Regards Jeremy

 

Hi Jeremy, there seems to be a water based version too, so avoid that one!

Best regards,

Wim

 

Yes, there is - you want the full-fat, industrial strength, high VOC version. The sooner the better as well because the additives in unleaded petrol will very quickly clog the generator on your Coleman.

I got mine from a fairly local motor factor but reading the label on the cans, I found out where he got it from which turned out to be nearer and cheaper!

Alpha Paints - Custom-Mixed Paints & Refinishing Products

It might be a bit far for you, Jeremy, but local yokels may find them useful as a source of supply...

 

Your lantern is in fine condition!

 

If you get stuck i buy this one

SPRINTLINE 5L Fast Panel Wipe & Degreaser - Pre Paint Wipe | eBay

Or this if i need more plus you save a fiver when buying two

2 X 5L Panel Wipe Degreasing Pre Paint Wipe Spirit Wipe Anti Silicone | eBay

 

YouTube material??

 

Thanks for all the advice folks, I'll get some full fat stuff ordered.

@David Shouksmith the petroleum is already out after less than half an hour burn just to try it out. I won't do it again, promise!

@KAB I'll have a word with Broadlander and get him to tidy the 5hyte out of the workshop and post a video.

Seriously though, a big thanks to all.

Regards Jeremy

 

Here's another brand - just ordered some myself.

5L Panel Wipe Degreasing Pre Paint Wipe Spirit Wipe Anti Silicone Surface Prep | eBay

 

@ColinG

Useful information until I know exactly what I am looking for! Many thanks.

Regards Jeremy

 

Hi Jeremy,
If you could obtain PPG Industries 'Quickline' QA-1000 panel wipe, I think it might just suit your needs here. Here's the MSDS from the UK that indicates some of its contents:

 

@MYN

Interesting reading, thanks for the information.

Coincidentally PPG Industries are less than 50 miles (approximately 85 kilometres) from where I live.

Regards Jeremy

 

@X246A ,
I don't think its available from the area which I live but it could be different in the UK.
Whenever possible, I'd always check out the SDS for any such products. Ideally, it should not contain alcohols, acetone or aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, benzene, toluene or any buthyl, ethyl or methyl acetates, which could be present in some other cleaner/thinners.
Its also non water-based.
This one I believe is a purely solvent-based, high VOC product. More light napthta and less heavy napthta. Also some hexane and heptane.

 

@MYN

Once again thank you.

As stated above non paraffin/kerosene lamps are new to me and I highly value the advice from experts and experienced users.

Regards Jeremy

 

You're welcomed, Jeremy. That's about the best that I could suggest. Unless you could easily obtain Coleman CF.
Straight-run gasoline is no longer available just about anywhere.

 

That is very nice lantern. Congratulations .

 

@pongo

Thanks, I agree,

@MG

I took your advice and ordered 2 X 5l at a very reasonable price which arrived safely today. See: Hermes delivered me an item today...

Many thanks for all of the kind words, information and advice.

Regards Jeremy

 

Wow, your cans of panel wipe were even less well packed than mine! And as I said in the other post, I'm not sure I'd want to be the delivery driver in the event of a rear end shunt!

 

@X246A

Good stuff and much cheaper than Coleman fuel etc.

 

Jeremy, I hope your 200A is running well for you? With the high price and difficulty finding Coleman fuel in England, have you considered converting it to paraffin?

 

Isn't unleaded gasoline available? If you burn Coleman fuel in it you can burn unleaded gasoline in it (did I miss something?)...

 

Unleaded petrol/gasoline contains additives that block the Jets and it can happen quite quickly. Coleman fuel does not contain any additives and burns cleanly as a result. In the UK you can use a product called panel wipe which is a hydrocarbon fuel that also contains no additives and is cheaper that Coleman fuel.

It is perfectly possible to run lanterns and stoves on unleaded fuel but it can and will ruin them. I have 2 stoves that now need major fettling because I used them with unleaded before I realised my mistake.

If you want to get a stove or lantern working and haven't got anything else you can use unleaded for a while but long term it's best avoided.

Hope this helps.
Colin

 

Newer Coleman lanterns listed as "dual fuel" are ment to run on Coleman fuel or unleaded gasoline. Old Quick-lite lanterns used "white gasoline" which was nothing more than unleaded fuel.

 

In Australia, at least, the transition from leaded fuel to unleaded fuel in automobile engines was achieved through the addition of additives (as a substitute for lead) to avoid “engine knock” and reduce other emissions.

This means that what is sold as “unleaded” fuel today is very different from the old pre-leaded gasoline of my childhood.

Cheers

Tony

 

@pongo

Thanks, the lantern runs just fine. I did toy with the idea of conversion but the paraffin generators are not overly common in the UK and I decided to keep it original.

@Tony Press

The same with unleaded here too.

Regards Jeremy

 

After all the discussions and issues about running a lantern that's designed to run on white gas(the original low octane, no-additives gasoline), napthta-based panel wipes and Camp or Coleman Fuel, I have come to conclude that:-

These lanterns require 'Special' fuels. Gone are the days that you could easily get the regular fuel for these lanterns from the shop or outlet down the street.
Any conveniently or cheaply available liquid fuels now would merely be temporary substitutes.
This, I would view as a serious issue for users of such lanterns.

 

Unfortunately I think you are right, Myn. I have two lanterns that run on white gas but the others and a couple I have managed to convert now run on kero.

 

I agree with you for those outside the US. However here in the US I can buy the correct fuel at almost any Hardware store, Wallmart, K-Mart, Outdoor sports Outfitters, etc.

It is available from multiple brands, and even in a premium grade on Amazon?.



However, Since I live in Florida and no one uses kerosene space heaters here, I had to drive all over my town to try to find some K-1 Kerosene, and ended up having to buy some Klean Heat Kerosene substitute at a local home center. They had 1 container buried in the paint section of the store.



That is why I have multiple Coleman lanterns and stoves, and just the one Petromax style Clone.

 

You're sure right they're readily available in the US. But I'll guess the prices would be relatively high compared to the regular unleaded gasoline from a gas pump.
As for the kero, mineral spirits would be the next best substitute if its rare in Florida or elsewhere. I'm sure any paint or hardware shops would have them.
Otherwise, Kleanstrip Odorless Mineral Spirits?

 

@MYN ,

I have not tried it, but here in the states when you are near a Marina or Boat ramp they sell an unleaded Gasoline fuel we call REC90. It is 90 octane unleaded gasoline with absolutely no Ethanol added. This is done to prevent the fuel system rust in marine inboard and outboard motors caused by the ethanol found in regular unleaded gas RUG. I am not sure how well it would work since 90 Octane is higher than found in White Gas. I will ask on the US Coleman Forum if anyone has tried REC90 in their white gas lanterns.

 

Funny, that's what Coleman recommends running in their gasoline lanterns. Frankly, that's all that's available here. Your only other choice is Coleman fuel which is outrageous in price. I've used unleaded in lanterns for years and never had any problems. I do sometimes put a few drops of carburator cleaner in the tank, about every third time I fill it. Swish it around a little and you're set to go.