OT--Kerosene heater

JerryS · Nov 26, 2011

I retrieved an old Alladin kerosene from the attic with the idea of using it to warm my shop this winter. It's about 30 years old; it belonged to my Dad but it has never been used.

My question: must I use the high-dollar labled kerosene from the hardware store, or can I buy just regular old "coal oil" from a local jobber? It may be a moot point, since I don't know what the rack price is---it may be the same, or more.

Thanks for your comments.

buickanddeere · Nov 26, 2011

Depends on what you are comfortable breathing in.All of factors similar, lighter weight fuel burns cleaner.
Try an old railroad lantern with #2 diesel, #1 diesel and then real kerosene.

JDseller · Nov 26, 2011

You need the clear K-1 to burn clean without fumes. The yellow K-1 will fume some and suet up the heater. I burn the Clear K-1 in my space heater. The local truck stop keeps it. The newer trucks require it for those that need it for cold weather running. So you should be able to find it at a better price than buying it in gallon quantities.

Bob Huntress · Nov 26, 2011

K-1 and K-2 will both burn in a Kero heater. You'll get soot, some will burn off as the unit gets hot, but it will run through and heat up as well. If you are just using it in the shop, which is probably filled already with the smell of diesel fumes, I would likely just run some diesel through it and enjoy the warm work space. It will smell different, however, but that's just my opinion. I've run diesel through a torpedo heater, and the smell wasn't all that. It didn't smell much different than the exhaust of a diesel tractor, if you know where I am headed with this. The heater I was using was old, and worn already, hence getting debris in the pick up wasn't a primary concern.

MarkB_MI · Nov 26, 2011

In addition to smoke and smell, you'll probably get less life out of your wicks with fuel oil. Just find a source for bulk K-1; K-1 in the hardware store is ridiculously expensive. Around here, you can buy bulk K-1 for a small premium over #1 fuel oil.

PJH · Nov 26, 2011

That's interesting. I just saw one in the back of a pickup in Fairview Heights, IL last Sunday. Hadn't seen one in years. My memories of the old Alladin heaters are not good. All of the ones I was around were sooty, but the old folks who were using them were burning "cole orl" in them. It was probably the only fuel available back then. They'd soot the windows so bad they looked like they were tinted. The K-1 would surely be cleaner.

Richard G. · Nov 26, 2011

Wife and I had one in 1977 to save money instead of electric baseboard heat. Kept it in center hallway of small house we were renting. Used only K1 kerosene. Woke up one night very groggy and realized I could see a yellow flame instead of blue. Rolled out of bed and opened window to breath some fresh air then got back to wife to get her to fresh air. I would say we were within a couple of minutes of never waking up. Never used it again.
Richard

buickanddeere · Nov 26, 2011

Cheapest place for kerosene around here is the local airport. Last summer it was $1.36 a liter/$5.14 a gallon.
Certainly a better deal than home heating #2 diesel for $1.22 a liter used in a 80% efficiency furnace.
The aviation fuel has a vague sweet smell. If we light the heater outside and let it heat up for 5 minutes. There is hardly any smell in the house at all when brought back in.
I never liked carrying an operating heater however.

KIP in MX · Nov 26, 2011

I run Aladdin lamps in the winter for light and heat. In the 80's, I could get all the free JP-4 I wanted. Since I moved back to the states recently, I was buying 2.5 gallon jugs of K-1 at the farm store for 10 bucks a gallon, but finally found a local gas station with a kerosene pump and it is $4.25 a gallon. I have two of the old Aladdin Blue Flame heaters, but have never used them. JP-4 seems to burn the cleanest.

OT--Kerosene heater

JerryS

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buickanddeere

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JDseller

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Bob Huntress

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MarkB_MI

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PJH

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Richard G.

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buickanddeere

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KIP in MX

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