Paraffin or something else

[andyhigham]

I usually soak some charcoal in paraffin for lighting up.
The local ironmongers has now gone I don't now know where to find some paraffin. I could use some diesel out of my car or is there something else that works well?

[jasonb]

Most garden centres have it for paraffin greenhouse heaters and a lot of petrol stations also have it on the forecourt.

J

[jma1009]

hi andy,
BBQ lighter fuel is far better and less offensive than paraffin, and i wouldnt use diesel! ive always used BBQ lighter fuel for many many years. soak the charcoal in a large jam jar overnight the day before a steam up.
cheers,
julian

[SteveW]

Have you tried the stuff used to boot up a BBQ and generally available as either liquid or (I think) a gell and usually found next to the charcoal.

I've also used white spirit in lieu of paraffin to pre-soak my kindling for no other reason than I had white spirit (also useful as cutting lub on alloy) and haven't really had a need for an expensive can of paraffin.

[redmog]

Mar 14, 2015 20:26:48 GMT andyhigham said:

I usually soak some charcoal in paraffin for lighting up.
The local ironmongers has now gone I don't now know where to find some paraffin. I could use some diesel out of my car or is there something else that works well?

Paraffin come pre packed in 4 litres containers at about £8 from B&Q and hardware stores. Diesel is half the price, but I don’t know of any problems.
Chris.

[andyhigham]

I had a root around B&Q I couldn't find any paraffin, nor BBQ lighting fluid. They had gel but I had misgivings about it

[Deleted]

I normally use BBQ lighter fuel but it seems harder to find the liquid stuff today, most outlets around here seem to have changed to the gel version. I sometimes use white spirit which works ok. Have used paraffin but it seems very smelly and smoky compared to the BBQ fuel. I did wonder if the BBQ fuel is just a more refined version of paraffin which is probably what 'Lamp Oil' is.

John

I

[andyhigham]

B&Q have lamp oil with citronella, should keep the mozzies at bay

[bobpendleton]

Mar 14, 2015 20:52:53 GMT andyhigham said:

I had a root around B&Q I couldn't find any paraffin, nor BBQ lighting fluid. They had gel but I had misgivings about it

Still listed on B&Q web page, 4 litre cans. Recently seen in the outdoor section with greenhouse equipment, heaters etc

bp

[nonort]

Ive been using the stuff that comes ready to use in bags. I load the firebox up use a poker style gas lighter in the firbox no draghts to put out the flame, and away you go. Very little mess no fluids sloshing about in inapropriate containers, or ashpan fires.

[bhk]

I've used Diesel when lighting up full size, it's a little smokey but works ok and is relatively safe. It would only use it in a model if I was desperate!

[jma1009]

as with lots of things in running miniature locos there is a wide diversity of opinion. ive come across guys who use chain saw oil for motion parts, and as for fire lighting the mind sometimes boggles!

for firelighting you must have what creates as little smoke and tar as possible, bearing in mind that in the initial lighting up process the tubes are cold. firelighters and such like are an absolute 'NO' in my book, and whilst paraffin is ok, liquid BBQ lighter fuel is much to be preferred and worth the trouble in sourcing as it is far superior in every respect.

cheers,
julian

[andyhigham]

I learned many years ago not to use wood for lighting up. it puts sticky tar on the inside of the tubes which soot and ash stick to

[digger]

Lump wood charcoal broken down to suitable sized pieces soaked in BBQ lighter fluid, (but its getting difficult to find), it seems they are pushing the gell type, another example of them thinking whats best for us!
or paraffin from local garage forecourt, diesel or meths I would not use.

Digger

[steamcoal]

Try camping, outdoor stores for cooking burner fuel.

[fostergp6nhp]

What's wrong with using meths to soak the initial charcoal charge?

[flyingfox]

Greetings, White spirit is a much more "pure" material to use, easily obtainable, and can often be used "second time around" after it has been used for brush cleaning. Allowed to settle for a few days it clarifies 7 canbe decanted off the paint residue.
Either way, it is has a lower sulphur content, and less "heavy ends" in its distillation cut.
Finally its available in 2 litre bottles almost anywhere, and is generally a bit cheaper than paraffin.
I always use charcoal to avoid the wood residue blocking tubes as mentioned above
regards
BB

[steamcoal]

Meths is more dangerous I think and it evaporates more easily.

I have only ever used kerocene soaked Namibian charcoal ( thats what it says on the bag) it is a hardwood variety. The pine charcoal is gutless really in comparison.

Moderate power blower and away she goes.

[ejparrott]

Mar 15, 2015 7:28:10 GMT fostergp6nhp said:

What's wrong with using meths to soak the initial charcoal charge?

Very dangerous, mostly it burns with no visible flame. I was on a Swansea visit to Merthyr once, going back 15 years or more. They provided an open box of charcoal soaked in meths. It wasn't until the plastic box started folding up on itself...right against someone's tender and toolbox...that anyone realised the shovel had been burning when he'd put it into the box...which promptly set fire to the lot! Luckily it was noticed before it set fire to the toolbox and damaged the paint on the loco.

BBQ lighter fluid was last seen available in Wilkinsons, it's possibly out of season at the moment. Gel I'm not at all certain about. Diesel I sometimes use on the Talyllyn, never in miniature. Parrafin I haven't bought in years.

Having started making my own charcoal on odd occasions, I can tell you it's far better to use than wood! We had a lot of trouble with tubes caking up on my Hunslet, we eventually tracked it down to tar in the wood burning out and depositing on the tubes at light-up. Swapping to charcoal cured it. Now I make my own, it's astonishing the amount that runs out the bottom of the cooker when we're running it!

[andyhigham]

My race bike has to have an orange circular sticker on the front numberplate to denote methanol fuel. In the event of a crash the marshals are then aware it may be burning invisibly