I have heard conflicting reports on the suitability of using low odor mineral spirits in kero heaters and other round wick appliances. Miles Stair advocates it while lantern net flatly denounces it.
Does anyone here use LOMS for their heaters or lamps?

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Anyone?

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

I am gonna try LOMS in my Dietz lanterns first.  

Ops

If your having odor problems, I strongly recommend you buy the platinum filter that they sell on milesstair website.  It's dirt cheap and it really does work.  We went from odor to no trace of it with the filter added.  It's a platinum coated screen you hang over your burner.  I'm not sure how it works but it does, trust me, and it's cheap.

There was a member talking about this last year.  (For the record, I have not researched any of this, and am just repeating from memory what he said.)  Mineral Spirits apparently burn very cleanly, but catch fire at a lower temperature.  This can make them more dangerous to use in some kinds of things, and word is that Kerosene heaters and maybe lanterns are some of those things.  What was tested successfully was a mix of K1 with Mineral spirits.  I can't remember the exact mix, but is was more K1 than MS.  The same thread mentioned that the K1 purchased at Walmart was in fact a mixture of K1 and Mineral Spirits...  again, this is from memory of a thread almost a year old.

Edit:  I found this archived thread, but there is another one that I'll look for too.

Not to change the subject but you can run Kerosene safely in a Diesel engine if mixed with 5% lube oil.

I run 50/50 pump k1 and mineral spirits. The stuff Walmart sells as 1K kerosene is mineral spirits. At the end of last season I bought over 50 gallons/of the Walmart 1K for half price.

I won't run straight pump kerosene any more. Too much sulfur now. Gives me huge headaches.

Right now my GF, her kids, and I am sitting in front of my little radiant heater with no smell at all.

Search my name for my old thread.

Both sites said do NOT use MS in flat wick lanterns. The mechanism is built too loosely and when the tank warms up vapors can escape around the wick. Then you have a run away fire.
I have been reading more about it today and it seems round wick, metal fount lamps and burners can use MS because the fount dissipates heat better than glass. The tighter tolerances of the round wick burner also contribute to effective vapor control.
The main reason for using MS is there is no tar build up on the wick. Also the wicks don't char like with kero. That said Aladdin lamps only recommend kero in their lamps.
Now to pick out a heater for central Texas. We had our second light freeze last night. The hose we rent is all electric. No telling how high the bill will be with central heat. I was looking at Kosmos and aladdin lamps for light and supplemental heat. Only the Aladdins would need kerosene.


Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Platinum is a catalyst that causes a more complete burn. It is in your car's catalytic converter.


Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

my thread on kerosene heaters

I've got to quit using that expression in my posting, I actually knew how it worked.  

Thanks for the links. The one in the archive should be revived and made a sticky with a summary in the first post. I ordered a directional radiant heater through Ace hardware. If I can get my wife to use it we can save some money on heating costs. I almost bought the omnidirectional radiant heater but I have a long front room. When I see how well it heats I can make further purchases as needed.
In your opinion which is more useful: convection or radiant?

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

That was a great thread, I can't believe we let it go to archive.

 

if you check archives, pretty sure TJ also had an excellent and exhaustive thread on this topic well worth the read.