Its been done a ton of times so I'll cut it down to the before and after shots.... My apologies for the shocking pink, the label on the can lied. Nothing out of the ordinary except the coffee pot glass and the diy metal plate to hold the glass. I lit it up with brand new mantle and which was very satisfying, until I turned it around and saw this... This is not the first time this has happened to me. 1) Is it me ? 2) Is it the mantle ? or batch of mantles... 3) Does the universe hate me ? Any one out there have this happen to them, and is it possible to avoid it happening again.
Several years ago I obtained a bad batch of Vapalux mantles and there were various problems with them.
One of the problems with that batch of Vapalux mantles was that some of the top apertures were to small and the ones which did fit the burner developed holes when they were burned off. Perhaps I should have tried them on a Tilley burner as it is smaller, there are still a few of that batch of mantles left so I will try one on a Tilley burner.
@JEFF JOHNSON I fired up the lamp tonight, just to see it in the dark and was impressed with the light output. The misshapen mantle seems to be working just fine. Could you direct me to any info on CPL on types of mantles, like 500cp / 350cp and thier properties.... what the numbers mean, what lamps take what mantles, etc, etc.
@JEFF JOHNSON Thanks Jeff, I'm gonna read up on mantles today and see if I can improve my installation technique....
Hello Paul, about Tilley and Vapalux / Bialaddin mantles; when those are fitted they should be shaped like a mushroom and I use two meths torches one straight after the other, the first torch is to burn off the mantle and the second torch finishes that job and gets the burner system hot, once the lamp is lit and working well I then leave the lamp running for a few hours, I have found that method to be successful. In my opinion, fitting and burning in a new mantle is not a job to be rushed. I have found that Coleman paraffin / kerosene lanterns work best if large bulbous mantles are used rather than Coleman mantles, the bulbous mantles form closer to the vapouriser / generator and keep it hotter, which means that the fuel vapourises properly and the light is brighter, I use Anchor 500 cp., mantles for that task and I use the same mantles on my one and only AGM., paraffin lantern, the links below show some interesting lanterns. The Petromax genre of lanterns also require bulbous mantles. Cool Coleman lanterns! Winter lantern thread AGM., 3470
