The cheapest best source will always depend on your particular location. I
am able to get high grade K-1 kerosene from my local fuel supplier for
about $1.85 per gal. I bring my own container and it is pumped from a gas
pump. You could find a similar dealer in your own area, these guys
typically provide lubricants for truck fleets and jobsite fueling
services.

DO NOT use jet fuel. It may be high grade kerosene, but it also has dye
and other attitives. It smokes up a lamp worse than diesel fuel or
stoddard solvent.

K-1 is the designator for the highest grade of kerosene. You can often buy
kerosene designated as K-1 in the solvents section of the hardware store.
My experience with this hardware store kerosene is that it is of lesser
quality than the kerosene that I get from the pump. Charcoal lighter fluid
and paint thinner are suitable substitutes for lamp oil, I have used them
many times in a pinch.

Everytime you buy lamp oil, test the quality of the batch. Use an old
cheapie lantern and look for smoke and sooting. That is another reason I
like to buy 10 gallons at a time from the pump. One test and I know it is
all the same. Also note that different lamps are more particular. I burn
Aladdin mantel lamps and any kerosene contamination will soot up the
mantel and stink like hell when the lamp is extinguished. Your own
particular needs will vary depending on equipment.

If you are paying more thatn $2.20/ gal., you are paying tooo much . Shop
around a little.

David
S/V Nausicaa

I have used K-1 from a pump (in my anchor lamp) and find it soots up terrible
unless I trim the wick carefully AND turn the wick way down low. Even then it
soots up, but not really, really, really bad as before.

Parafin lamp oil, on the other hand, I find burns cleanly, brightly and without
odor. Don't care in my anchor light, but do most definitely care in my cabin
lamps.

The cheapest best source will always depend on your particular location. I
am able to get high grade K-1 kerosene from my local fuel supplier for
about $1.85 per gal. I bring my own container and it is pumped from a gas
pump. You could find a similar dealer in your own area, these guys
typically provide lubricants for truck fleets and jobsite fueling
services.

DO NOT use jet fuel. It may be high grade kerosene, but it also has dye
and other attitives. It smokes up a lamp worse than diesel fuel or
stoddard solvent.

K-1 is the designator for the highest grade of kerosene. You can often buy
kerosene designated as K-1 in the solvents section of the hardware store.
My experience with this hardware store kerosene is that it is of lesser
quality than the kerosene that I get from the pump. Charcoal lighter fluid
and paint thinner are suitable substitutes for lamp oil, I have used them
many times in a pinch.

Everytime you buy lamp oil, test the quality of the batch. Use an old
cheapie lantern and look for smoke and sooting. That is another reason I
like to buy 10 gallons at a time from the pump. One test and I know it is
all the same. Also note that different lamps are more particular. I burn
Aladdin mantel lamps and any kerosene contamination will soot up the
mantel and stink like hell when the lamp is extinguished. Your own
particular needs will vary depending on equipment.

If you are paying more thatn $2.20/ gal., you are paying tooo much . Shop
around a little.

David
S/V Nausicaa

You can buy a product called KLEAN-HEAT at most Home Depot or Lowes
stores look in the Kerosene Heater section. A gallon jug costs around
5 dollars. It burns very clean and does not soot up the glass globe
on a kerosene lantern and it is easy to locate in those stores. It a
kerosene alternative.

Marty
www.knotstuff.com

http://www.angelfire.com/ak/skateworld/dietzlanterns

Why not use 12 volt lights? No fuel to carry around. No smell. No fire hazard.
1/2 - 1 amp hour/light.
A oil lamp is nice for a romantic setting, but for quality of light,
convienence. I'll go with 12 volt. I'm talking about use for full time
cruising.
Electric use for interior lighting, is a very small amount, compared to usage
for refrigeration.
Just the way I do it, cruising full time.

well, the difference between 2 amp-hrs/day and 120 amp-hrs/day is a about 5,000
pounds in weight of the boat and generator and batteries. but, who's counting.

From: ospam (Ilv2sl)
Date: 8/27/2004 11:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

Why not use 12 volt lights? No fuel to carry around. No smell. No fire
hazard.
1/2 - 1 amp hour/light.
A oil lamp is nice for a romantic setting, but for quality of light,
convienence. I'll go with 12 volt. I'm talking about use for full time
cruising.
Electric use for interior lighting, is a very small amount, compared to usage
for refrigeration.
Just the way I do it, cruising full time.

well, the difference between 2 amp-hrs/day and 120 amp-hrs/day is a about
5,000
pounds in weight of the boat and generator and batteries. but, who's
counting.

Wow! 118 amp-hrs extra for lights! You must like it bright!
And 5,000 #'s for a few extra batteries? A generator?
On our boat, with 12 volt refrig, amps used for lightning is maybe 10% of our
total amp use. The big batteries, hi output alt, solar panels, are needed for
the refrig. not the lights
Sail on

On 27 Aug 2004 15:19:37 GMT, ospam (Ilv2sl) wrote:

Why not use 12 volt lights? No fuel to carry around. No smell. No fire hazard.
1/2 - 1 amp hour/light.
A oil lamp is nice for a romantic setting, but for quality of light,
convienence. I'll go with 12 volt. I'm talking about use for full time
cruising.
Electric use for interior lighting, is a very small amount, compared to usage
for refrigeration.
Just the way I do it, cruising full time.

Reliability, and complexity. You should always have a backup.

--
BRENT - The Usenet typo king.