Lifespan of Petromax 500cp vaporizer?

Hello all!

I was just wondering about how long lifetime/burningtime a standard 350-500cp Petromax vaporizer has? I have heard that Tilley and Vapalux has about 100 hours.

Happy new year also.

 

Tilley claimed 500 hours working life for their vapourisers - but then they claimed 300cp for their lanterns!

I've no idea about Petromax but you can clean them out if they get clogged. A bit of a fiddle around the Preston loop, I'd imagine, but possible using bent wire, apparently.

The quality of the fuel used will affect vapouriser life, amongst other things...

 

That is the unknown part of it all.

I have had 1930's petromax lamps that worked well after a short clean. But they weren't used since 1930 every day.

if you use clean, low carb, kerosene and clean them every now and then, I guess they will last a "lifetime".

 

Thanks for the help.

For the Vapalux and Tilley it is also a good idea not to use the cleaningneedle if one does not have to.

 

The good thing about Tilley style generators is that you can convert them with px jets and needle ;-)

 

What does px stand for? I searched Google and found lots of references to engine parts.

 

Think a little... Could it perhaps be PetromaX...?

Generally I hate those abbreviations people often use here, but in this specific case it's actually not very hard to figure out...

 

Hum, that is a nice way not having to write Petromax all the time.

 

Where can we get Vapalux and Tilley vaporizers that use pmax jets?

 

Hello Doromn,
I guess in your workshop. Check the link I have posted.
But they are also available on ebay.

 

You surely meant that link:
Springmannvap
in the Tilley Vaporizer Thread
BR, Martin

 

Yes, I would have thought with the small amount of use most of us give them that they will probably outlive me.

 

Do you have any tip of how to clean a vapouriser? Like some sort of tool or so?

Usually I have used carburetor cleaner and some steel thread. I would like to find some sort of brush that would fit.

Maybe an ultrasonic bath might work?

 

Hi, that's exactly the way I'd recommend and always had good success with it. Maybe some citric acid in the ultrasonic bath would also help, but don't let it get too sharp/long.
Further some heating & quenching might work: after a dull red glow drop it into a bucket with cold water and repeat a few times.
BR, and good success
Martin

 

You can fashion a sort of brush by partially untwisting some steel brake cable or similar...

Or more often than not I just find a suitably sized screw driver and a bit of wire wool for the straight part.

 

A gun shop might be able to supply a small diameter brush with a long handle (intended to clean the bore of a gun barrel. They are made in various sizes down to small enough for .177 inch bore (air rifle)...