Only recently reconditioned the Tilley lamp (pre 1960, £12 from local Sunday market/boot sale) and, after fitting new seals, it holds the pressure and seems to work perfectly. Will wait until I have any problems before giving it the WD40 treatment.
Stu, depends on how long the generator works before 'dying'... could be a long wait... especially taking into consideration how long the lamps we have now have lasted! Suppose it's not possible to tell if a lamp still has it's original tube.
The inside of a Tilley generator tube (Vapouriser in Tilley-speak) does get clagged up. It is carbon, caused by the hot tube converting the paraffin as it travels through.
There are various methods of cleaning - See the "Tilley Lamps" thread in this forum from last month. One thing that definitely does work is a "sonicator" - an ultrasound bath. Jewellers and other places have these, including some garages. They literally break up the debris and allow it to fall off.
Best thing since sliced bread is a Tilley! - I suppose a Coleman might come a close second
Hi Wozzer, I've found the Coleman lamp very convenient, economical and it gives a very good light. It's used mainly when I go night fishing. Not yet used the Tilley since reconditioning apart from firing it up in the back garden.
Must say that comparing the two the Tilley looks and feels far more robust and even though it is 44+ years old I'm sure it will outlast the Coleman which is only two years old. One main thing I have noticed is that the mantle looks far more substantial than the two of the Coleman. I've had a lot of problems with the Coleman mantles this year and have used six sets already compared to only one set all last year. I have wondered whether Coleman have shipped over a 'bad batch' this year.
I have never used a coleman, but can tell you that my tilley regularly goes caravanning with us, including across the continent. Only once in 5 years have I had to replace a mantle due to "travel damage" - They usually survive being rattled about either in the back of the estate car or (more usually) in the front locker of the caravan. - I carry it in it's original cardboard box!
I have two tilleys, one I bought from and "antiques shop" which is over 25 years old (and is my favourite) and another, newer one. Both are lasting well and I suspect, will outlast me!
Wozzer, I was really lucky in finding my Tilley. Sunday morning market at Long Marston, near Stratford Upon Avon, a couple of mates of mine had already walked past this lamp but failed to notice it. I spotted it amongst a load of other old and rusty junk from the back of some old blokes shed.... but it the base had been painted a yucky gold/brown colour and there was a lot of surface rust on the frame and handle so it was easy to miss. It already had a new glass fitted and the asking price was £12. Tried to knock the price down a bit obviously, but as the seller said a new glass is around £7 so it was a real bargain at £12.
Stripped it down completely, cleaned all the paint off the brass tank, and polished it back to somewhere near its former glory, and cleaned all the rust off the wire frame with wire wool and painted with hammerite (doesn't seem to be affected by the heat but may have to repaint at a later date with some heat resistant paint). New set of seals, it now holds the pressure well, and new mantle. Don't yet have a proper heater for it but fired it up once using a mates small blow torch on the generator tube. Worked perfectly. Must get a proper heater for it to do the job properly.
Sorry to come in so late but one of the best cleaning soloutions for any petrol stoves / lanterns is carb-injector cleaner, This can be found in most pound shops or halfords. Belive me it is very effective, I was always amazed at just how it dissolved the "varnish" and muck in car fule systems.
B T W I clean the fule system on our renault every montwith just a quick squirt and the on bord comp has never given mpg fig. of less than 45. when you think about it the amount of gunge that forms in stoves ect. with an anual through put of a few pints it makes you think what must build up in the car at around 500 gallons a year
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Coleman lamp, fuel + Redex
