I am new to the world of paraffin lamps and heaters but am trying to build a collection of working lamps. I recently bought a refurbished Bowl Fire - it seems to work okay but after about ten minutes it goes out - the blue flame slowly decends inside the mesh until it extinguishes and cannot be relit. Still got good pressure. If I wait for it to cool I can relight but exactly the same happens. Pictures here: iCloud Photo Sharing Any ideas would be very welcome - I have run out of ideas. Nick
@nickG I posted some things to try on another thread before i had seen your video (which was v.helpful!) The fuel is igniting inside the burner... In the video the burner is glowing dull red...TOO HOT! .. Do you preheat just the once? ..You will have to dismantle the burner as far as you can and clean (blow out with compressed air if you have it).... check for leaks (dunk test )...new washers if needed
Thank you for your help. Yes - preheated just once and it burns fine for the first few minutes. However after about five minutes the flame becomes unstable and you have seen the effect in the video. I have added a video to the weblink - I have passed an endoscope into the burner and apart from some very minor corrosion all looks good - no soot deposits. I have also blown it through with an air duster - again all clear. I will check the vaporiser next. Nick
@nickG Only just seen your video of the endoscope (poor burner!) ..I couldn't be sure, as the picture quality was slightly blurry, but where the air tube joins the side of the burner casing, is there a crack? or is it just lampblack? Any leaks anywhere on the burner will allow pre-ignition.....
I don’t think so - I have tried taping up the burner holes with duct tape and applying an air line to the side tube underwater and can’t see any sign of an air leak. It also burns fine for the first ten minutes or so post ignition. But I guess it could be the case that with thermal expansion some air leak is opening up. I have turned my attention to the vapouriser - again it is pretty carbon free although there is a rough spot on the pricker wire (V.49) about half way up. I may try substituting a few spares from base-camp.co.uk - is that the best place to go? Thank you for all of your help nick
Hi Nick, Ok...i take it that the tank/fount is clean and free from any grot or gunge and that you are using a standard Paraffin, and that it is also leak-free... Yes, www.base-camp.co.uk is the best bet, V40...there is someone on ebay selling NOS vapourisers but not much cheaper than Base camp and they are super helpful... btw how many pumps do you usually put in to get it going?
It may well be the vapouriser as they only last for a certain amount of burning hours. Another possibility is that hardened muck on the inside of the tank has loosened when fresh paraffin has been added and it starts to block the flow of the fuel and air after a few minutes.
