Hurricane lamp vs. pressure lamp

[Ketchup]

Both are used in outdoor situations.
During my years in the tropics, I have seen very little pressure lamps (Coleman etc.) used. They were mostly popular with 'adventure tourists'. Locals only used hurrican lamps.

The latter are cheaper, but give less light.
Pressure lamps are expensive and rather heavy on maintenance. Or not?

What are your pro's and cons?

 

[Lithril]

I've been given 2 old Tilley lamps, one minus the glass globe so I've not been able to use that one yet. They don't give off loads of lamp (although the glass on the working one does need a clean) but I love it. You get some warmth and enough light to cook with (unless you're using a fire ;-) ) Can be interesting to get lit though as you have to heat up the vapouriser before you use the lamp (didn't realise this first and was wondering why the flames were shooting out of the top).

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

I used the parrafin hurracane lamps in my caravan for a while, nice light, but had to have the top vent in van open at all times, as the smell wasent the best !

Was also cheap to run

 

[Nemisis]

One difference has to be the noise you get from a pressure type lamp. That might not be worth the trade off in extra light in some situations. http://www.hurricanelamps.co.uk/elitehurricanelamps.htm found a very strange one on here with a stove attachment fitted on the top
Dave.

 

[stevec]

ahh the pressure parafin lamp, my cdad taught me how to light his when i was about 12. pros and cons.
hurracane lamp - light, hard wearing, low light output not toom much heat
pressure - heavyer, fine jet holes, fragile mantle, lots of light and heat

i like presure lamps, would use a candle lamp for low level lighting
best
steve

 

[Doc]

When I was in India every stallholder had a pressure lantern - they were referred to as a 'Petromax' but were actually Indian made copies. Very bright, but a bit temperamental.

 

[g4ghb]

think the basic difference is that if you can light a candle you can light a hurricane lamp!

To light a 'tilly' you need a tad more training / skill!

 

[gregorach]

I think maintenance is a bit more of an issue with pressure lamps. I had a couple of old Tilleys on the farm back in Oz, but they didn't seem to hold their pressure properly, and were never entirely satisfactory. I suspect that the problem was probably with the pump gaskets...

Hurricane lamps, on the other hand, just work. Nothing to go wrong with 'em really.

 

[Stoker37]

Unless you really know what you are doing with Tilly, Vapalux, Bialadin type pressure lanterns you wont get the best out of them. They are very temperamental beasts, but super fun.

Ok I admit it I’m biased I’ve got about 35 of them but that aside I don’t think they can be beaten for a standing camp. Not only do they provide a goodly amount of light they also throw out shed loads of heat. From my perspective hurricane lamps are not worth the space they take up and would use candles in a jam jar first.

But to each there own some people take generators camping shudder

 

[running bare]

personally if i had to chose as to one of the 2 lamps to take into the woods it would have to be a hurricane lamp for the fact that it is low level light and little to go wrong. i find pressure types noisy ,and so bright, its like las vegas in the woods. imho.

 

[pierre girard]

Both are used in outdoor situations.
During my years in the tropics, I have seen very little pressure lamps (Coleman etc.) used. They were mostly popular with 'adventure tourists'. Locals only used hurrican lamps.

The latter are cheaper, but give less light.
Pressure lamps are expensive and rather heavy on maintenance. Or not?

What are your pro's and cons?

We have a number of each. Our power at home goes out some times. If by pressure lamp you mean the Coleman type white gas lantern, the Coleman lamps are brighter, but heavy for camping. We have one that is very old. Haven't had much trouble with them. The kerosene lamps stink.

For camping, we most often use candles and tiny candle lanterns. Lighter to carry.

PG

 

[Lithril]

Unless you really know what you are doing with Tilly, Vapalux, Bialadin type pressure lanterns you wont get the best out of them. They are very temperamental beasts, but super fun.

Ok I admit it I’m biased I’ve got about 35 of them but that aside I don’t think they can be beaten for a standing camp. Not only do they provide a goodly amount of light they also throw out shed loads of heat. From my perspective hurricane lamps are not worth the space they take up and would use candles in a jam jar first.

But to each there own some people take generators camping shudder

37 wow, and I though I was doing well with 2 old Tilleys I've refurbished the two I've got, replacing all the gaskets and seals (even replaced the vapouriser on one until I realised that it wasn't working because it wasn't hot enough... ). I do have one problem which you might be able to help with, where can you get replacement glass globes from???

If anyone can help with this it'll be much appreciated.

All the best
Matt

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

37 wow, and I though I was doing well with 2 old Tilleys I've refurbished the two I've got, replacing all the gaskets and seals (even replaced the vapouriser on one until I realised that it wasn't working because it wasn't hot enough... ). I do have one problem which you might be able to help with, where can you get replacement glass globes from???

If anyone can help with this it'll be much appreciated.

All the best
Matt

Is this link any good for ya ??

 

[Lithril]

Is this link any good for ya ??

That'll do nicely, cheers for that, the local hardware store where I bought the refurb kit and mantles didn't do the globes.

Many thanks

Matt

 

[ozzy1977]

Try a proper camping shop, not Blacks/millets. But I got my last one from the tackle shop at the end of my road (Breakaway tackle) they will proberbly be your best bet as many sea anglers used tilleys on the beach

 

[Wayland]

I'm well known at moots and meets for grumbling about "searchlights and lighthouses" in the woods.

How much light do you need for goodness sake?

Most of the time I use a lightstick to find stuff without knackering my night vision or more importantly every other poor sod out there.

If I need a bit more light a small torch does the job and I only use a head torch if there is nobody else around to blind.

A hurricane lamp is OK for lighting an area, but tillies and gas lamps are the spawn of the devil......

 

[running bare]

I'm well known at moots and meets for grumbling about "searchlights and lighthouses" in the woods.

How much light do you need for goodness sake?

Most of the time I use a lightstick to find stuff without knackering my night vision or more importantly every other poor sod out there.

If I need a bit more light a small torch does the job and I only use a head torch if there is nobody else around to blind.

A hurricane lamp is OK for lighting an area, but tillies and gas lamps are the spawn of the devil......

totally agree with you mate.

 

[Ketchup]

Thanks for all your contributions, I resume:

Hurricane lamps are:
(negative)
- bulky for the light they give
- smelly
(positive)
- cheap
- easy

Pressure lamps are:
(negative)
- expensive
- heavy
- noisy (hissing)
- complex to use
- detrimental to nature (light pollution)
(positive)
- bright

Now is it still true you need two (2) fluids for lighting a pressure lamp (paraffin AND methylated spirits for priming)? Or are modern pressure lamps easier to use?

 

[scanker]

I'm no expert on this, but I seem to remember you could use some sort of little "hexy block" type block for priming, or a flammable gel in a tube.

 

[g4ghb]

I agree! - you need something like meths / hexy block / eth paste to vapourise the parafin otherwise you get a flame thrower!!!


...... however with the new coleman style petrol ones i beleive you just pump and light it!