Seems like have heard caution given against using the generator cleaning needle as a brightness control on lanterns (primarily speaking of American designs). Yet, I find in US Patent 4,522,582 that the inventor intends the needle to be used as such: "The control shaft is rotatable between an off position in which the valve is closed and the end of the tip cleaning needle is positioned in the orifice, a dim position in which the valve is on and the tip cleaning needle is positioned in the orifice, and a full on position in which the valve is open and the tip cleaning needle is withdrawn from the orifice." Was there some other logic to the recommendation against using the needle for brightness adjustment? Will
It's rather a case of where the cleaning needle is in relation to the mantle. If the cleaning needle is inside the burning mantle as in Tilley and Bialaddin/Vapalux, you wouldn't use it to adjust the brightness because it'll be burned away quite quickly as it protrudes through the jet. On the other hand, if the cleaning needle is remote from the mantle, it may well be OK to use it to throttle the jet...
I run them this way all the time and have yet to see side effects. The Coleman design engineer intended them to run this way, so my question remains, "why not"? Has anyone actually experienced a problem, or is it all conjecture?
I think that you are missing David's point. In the Tilley and Bialaddin type lamps the tip of the vapouriser, with needle, is situated in the centre of the very hot mantle. Most lamps that allow use of the cleaning needle as a regulator do not have the tip of the vapouriser actually in the mantle. In most Coleman and Petromax type lamps the tip of the vapouriser, with needle are set to one side of the mantle and the vapourised fuel is then ducted to the mantle. I think that is the difference. And yes, I have burnt out needles by using the cleaning needle as a regulator! There may be exceptions of course where the needle is designed to be exposed to the very hot mantle heat, but even then I would not use it to that effect; I would just release a little pressure. Steve.
I tried this few times with Petromax 500 and it didn't work good - minute or two was OK, but after that light started to pulse and be unstable. I heard many times, that in Petromaxes it is just ON/OFF switch, not regulator. Even if needle is outside of mantle in it.
