Buying Paraffin - Where?

[Aliwren]

Just bought a 2nd hand Tilley lamp which is on its way. Popped to the shops to buy some paraffin so I can have a play when it arrives only to discover I cant find any - tried Focus DIY, Homebase, local hardwear shop - no luck . Where can you buy paraffin from? Am I looking in the wrong type of shops?

 

[spamel]

B&Q. I got a five litre bottle with safety cap just the other week. Ask an assisstant, you'll never find it by yourself!

 

[JohnC]

I get mine from the petrol station..

 

[Aliwren]

Thanks for the advice I will have another look around over the weekend

 

[spamel]

If you are after a folding saw, B&Q also do the Wilkinson saw that retracts into the handle for about a fiver. I'm not on commission or anything, but once you start looking for one thing in there, you find other stuff. You could be in there hours if you're not careful!

 

[Aliwren]

Thanks for the warning!!

 

[saffy]

Farm supply stores like Mole Valley for paraffin.

 

[swyn]

28 second heating oil is just as good. More commonly known as Kerosene.
Swyn.

 

[Aliwren]

28 second heating oil is just as good. More commonly known as Kerosene.
Swyn.

Are there any advantages/disadvantages of using this in a tilley lamp?

 

[anthonyyy]

Are there any advantages/disadvantages of using this in a tilley lamp?

I don't know if the quality vaired but I have tried using home heating Kerosene in oil lamps and it blackens the glass in a few minutes. Shame really for those of us who heat using kerosene as it would work out very cheap.

 

[brancho]

Try your local garage
and dont forget the meths

 

[spamel]

Try your local garage
and dont forget the meths

I take it that is for the preheat, I thought they were more commonly known as hurricane lamps. It seems what I call a hurricane is a tilley and vice versa!

 

[Aliwren]

Ok after lots of hunting around - local B&Q and three petrol stations all sold out!!! - I have bought 4 litres of a product called 'Parasene Superwarm fuel' from Homebase. The label says "may be used in all appliances that recommend premium paraffin BS2869 C1, for Greenhouse heaters, oil lamps, degreasing and cleaning"

It clearly isnt pure paraffin which I couldnt find - am going to blow the lamp/myself up with this or is it ok to use?

 

[andy_pevy]

Ok after lots of hunting around - local B&Q and three petrol stations all sold out!!! - I have bought 4 litres of a product called 'Parasene Superwarm fuel' from Homebase. The label says "may be used in all appliances that recommend premium paraffin BS2869 C1, for Greenhouse heaters, oil lamps, degreasing and cleaning"

It clearly isnt pure paraffin which I couldnt find - am going to blow the lamp/myself up with this or is it ok to use?

Perfectly OK, it is what I use in my Tilley lamp.

Andy

 

[Aliwren]

Perfectly OK, it is what I use in my Tilley lamp.

Andy

Phew thanks! just wait for the lamp to arrive now

 

[Eric_Methven]

Phew thanks! just wait for the lamp to arrive now

Ali, if it is a Tilly (pressurised) you'll need meths to prime it. However when I was in the army, we often primed ours with some crushed hexamine tablet. I found the crushed hexy more convenient as I didn't need separate meths. That all changed when I went with the Trangia to cook on though.

Eric

 

[Aliwren]

Cheers for the tip Eric - I will experiment when the lamp arrives!!

 

[Boucaneer]

Just bought a 2nd hand Tilley lamp which is on its way. Popped to the shops to buy some paraffin so I can have a play when it arrives only to discover I cant find any - tried Focus DIY, Homebase, local hardwear shop - no luck . Where can you buy paraffin from? Am I looking in the wrong type of shops?

I found a place in Barking today, near Barking Creek with a pump for selling small amounts for 58 pence a litre.

I might fill a Jerry can up.

It's Kerosene and not heating oil, the heating oil is 67 pence a litre instead.

 

[santaman2000]

I don't know if the quality vaired but I have tried using home heating Kerosene in oil lamps and it blackens the glass in a few minutes. Shame really for those of us who heat using kerosene as it would work out very cheap.

Kerosene is all I've ever used. You just need to trim and adjust the wicks properly and it won't smoke.