Candidate was an angler’s well-used example, reeking of pump petrol. Surface rust and nothing deeper, but after rust removal, stripping the remains of the dark green livery (decal carefully peeled off for re-use) and a priming coat I added a black vent from a scrap 295 and re-painted the tank in gloss black. The generator was already paraffin-friendly in having twin brass coils, unlike the 295’s. The jet tip though was a stock 0.009 inch orifice. I had a spare jet marked ‘C’ (from a Coleman 335 I think) with a 0.008 inch orifice, so I used that as a more suitable jet for burning paraffin. With no use for the air inlet on the fuel pickup, there to give the air feed for ‘easy start’ on Coleman fuel, I blocked it up with a strip of brass and epoxy - doctored pickup on the left alongside the usual configuration. Of course, a priming cup was now needed, another project for my stock of spent cartridge cases. Silbrazed together and nickel plated. Slots cut to ‘cascade’ priming meths from one to another when filled at one. To remind me of the fuel, I added the ‘Kero’ script - ‘Paraffin’ would have been more of a challenge to fabricate! Priming. Ignition. It burns strongly and the lantern’s facility to dial down the brightness is retained. I nearly forgot … another concession to the new fuel, bigger mantles than the Coleman 21 stock ones. The Chinese Butterfly mantles (350/500cp rated) work well. John
Nice work, John. I'm wondering with those bigger mantles, and the twin-coiled generator, whether it would still run, at a higher cp output, with the 0.009" jet? Cheers Tony
@Tony Press I wasn’t keen on retaining the 0.009 inch jet Tony, largely because of using multi-fuel camping stoves, where the hierarchy of jet orifice sizes is as you know well established - lpg biggest; gasoline middle; paraffin smallest - and critical. Additionally, you’ll see from the video where I reduce the brightness then turn it back to full the surge of fuel vapour temporarily results in a halo of burning outside the mantle. It quickly settles down but it suggests the margin of correct combustion is narrow and with the 0.008 inch jet I seem to be at the optimum point. I ran the lantern last night for an hour or so and it’s one of the brightest I have, so greater output isn’t required and the gain in reduced fuel consumption will be welcome. Theory aside, likely I’ll try the larger jet to test my assertion on overpowering of mantles. John
@Tony Press I tested the original jet and there’s no overpowering of the mantles, but no noticeable increase in light output either. What I noticed though was the (slightly) lingering flame with the larger of the two jets on shut-off. The smaller jet results in immediate cessation of burning in the mantles, suggesting that the clearance of the pricker is significantly finer, effectively preventing any residual fuel vapour from passing. I’ll keep the ‘C’ jet installed, on balance. I realise that in my haste to try the lantern on paraffin I didn’t replace the heat shield and its retaining clip. The shield’s meant to prevent overheating of the plasic component numbered 40 in the patent drawing and the shrader valve it operates … … this I replaced the heat shield and clip, which usefully prevents the spirit cup from destroying the mantles if the lantern were to be upended. I’ve also reduced the height of the spirit cup to still create a capacity more than sufficient to prime the lantern. John
Great work @presscall John! I’m rummaging through my shed as we speak to find a similar 290 and put it under the knife. Cheers
Thanks @JohnL! It’s a handy lamp to have. The controllable light output is useful to dial back the dazzle and being able to transport the lamp with fuel in the tank thanks to the Coleman’s positive fuel shut-off saves having to decant it into a container and re-fill it in camp, as I’ve had to do with other lamps and stoves. Kero works out cheaper than the original fuel too of course. Cheers.
That's an excellent conversion done. I'd figure the 0.009" jet would be pretty marginal for kero unless the generator is of the Preston loop type. I would have use a 0.008" or at most, 0.0085" jet to be on the safe side too.
