Help with Optimus stove.

[caguy]

I have an old Optimus stove that appear to have never been used. It is clearly marked kerosene. The kerosene that was in it has apparently degraded and does not light. Can I use Coleman stove gas in it safely or does it have to be kerosene? From reading the archived articles I assuming that the ring under the burner needs to be filled with gas to preheat the burner. I will use stove outside in cockpit as the cabin ceiling is lined with carpet. I don't want to catch it on fire or turn it black with soot. Frank

 

[Tom s/v GAIA]

Gasoline is NOT kerosene, coleman fuel isn't

kerosene. Use kerosene only. The little "ring" is filled with KEROSENE NOT GAS!! You can also use a fire starting paste in the little ring, you can find it at any place that sells camping gear. If you use gasoline or coleman fuel I think turning your cabin overhead black with soot will be the least of your worries.Toms/v GAIA

 

[caguy]

I know not to use gasoline having been a teenage

pyrotechnic. The one that I have on hand was camping fuel for lanterns and stoves. Can you still get kerosene in camping stores?

 

[Benny]

I have a polaroid camera

and I use it as decoration. Old technology can be obsolete especially in stoves. If you have to pressurize, preheat the burner and put up with flareups and soot to be able to cook is insane. Today we have non-pressurized alcohol, butane and propane stoves that cook fast, burn clean and give you instant heat. Oh my digital camera takes better pictures and much cheaper than that old polaroid ever did.

 

[higgs]

Coleman fuel

is very volitile stuff and its fumes are as dangerous as gasoline. Please don't take any where near your boat.Benny is right. Get a new stove. Origo makes a very nice alchohol stove.

 

[caguy]

Anyone want to buy an antique stove?

The price of kerosene is about the same as a Polaroid pack. Found a single burner stove that is really compact. Uses propane bottles but since i will be using outside I see no problem.Thanks, Benny and TomPS: Read can of Coleman fuel. Warns: Do not use in Alcohol or Kerosene stove.