Stinky kerosene lamps?
As a user of kerosene lamps for over 60 years, if your kerosene lamp emits strong odors, or the chimney becomes cloudy or smoked within a short time, something is wrong.
More than likely the problem can be traced to the wick being too high, the design of the burner, stale (very old) kerosene, or the wrong type chimney for the lamp burner. Just because a chimney fits the size of the burner does not mean it is correct. If the chimney is too wide, and does not have the proper size throat, (Narrow at the top) the burner will not burn efficiently and will produce problems.
First check to see if the wick is the proper height. The wick should not exceed much more than 1/16 of an inch above the WICK TUBE….not exceed the top of the burner hood. So many times I see people attempting to turn the wick above the burner hood, thinking this is correct. Do not attempt this…it is incorrect.
I too, have had the experience of eye-smarting fumes, smoked chimneys, and difficulty burning kerosene lamps.
There is no need to purchase expensive lamp oil, or paraffin oil. Plain K-1 kerosene is sufficient. Avoid dyed or colored kerosene. It contains impurities.
Do some experimenting. Try a variety different lamp burners, different chimneys. Eventually you will discover which is right for your kerosene lamp.
Last week, I purchased a very nice 100 + year old kerosene lamp at a yard sale. It had been severely neglected. The burner is probably original, but probably never cleaned in the last 50 years. The wick was so old it had rotted inside the burner. A clean lamp is absolutely necessary to burn correctly. Also try to use a 100% cotton wick. Some new wicks are made from synthetic materials including a mixture of nylon and cotton. These wicks are very inferior and will not burn correctly.
Clean your lamp well…. soak the lamp font, wick and burner, for three hours, in a mixture of 3 tablespoons of ammonia, 3 tablespoons of liquid dish detergent and two cups of tepid water. This mixture will dissolve most gummy deposits. With several rinses and being allowed to dry sufficiently the lamp is ready for testing.
Tonight, I tested the old lamp I purchased last week. I am very happy to say it is burning as I write and I cannot detect any odors. The chimney remains clear, and the light is bright.
Bruce Clark
Interlaken, New York
