Gas mantles

[B92 8NW]

Sorry if this isn't the right section, its a rather bizarre question;)...

Basically how "strong" is a gas mantle? I'm ordering a pressure lantern from the US and I've never owned a mantle lantern before. Will it most likely be damaged after a day of driving and need replacing at each campsite? What can be done to prevent damage / preserve them a little bit longer?

Regards

[rrturboD]

I use a Primus gas lantern, and carry spare mantles, pack lantern in cardboard box for transport and have made a couple of trips without replacing mantle.
Once burned off, hair spray is supposed to help, but not having any ... not tested.

[DeeJay]

I found the double tie ones, ie they tie at the top & bottom can last a day of 4wd'ing :p
You need to keep them vertical though..

[EchiDna]

pack the lantern well and it can last months... treat it like a consumable and it will be, including the glass wind sheild...

always carry a few spare mantles, but the chance of going through more than a couple on a trip is very small if you look after the light properly. I think colman even have some moulded plastic ases for their lanterns these days... should work out to be very reliabe

[Bigbjorn]

I find they last pretty well if you keep them vertical and pack the lantern so it doesn't shake around. I found the Coleman mantles last much better than the no-name Chinese and Indian ones and are very little more expensive.

[B92 8NW]

Thanks!

I've up-spec'd and ordered a padded bag with it too... perhaps that will help

[DaveS3]

So heres the secret tip - spray with hairspray once used and when about to transit.
Firm hold stuff works well.

I second the double ties, but can be a pain in the bum to get occasionally.
Most new lanterns are single tie.

Dave.

[dmdigital]

Thanks!

I've up-spec'd and ordered a padded bag with it too... perhaps that will help

Go to Clark Rubber and get some foam. Cut it out so that it completely wraps the lantern into the bag so there is absolutely NO movement.


I find they last pretty well if you keep them vertical and pack the lantern so it doesn't shake around. I found the Coleman mantles last much better than the no-name Chinese and Indian ones and are very little more expensive.

Yep, and the colman also have the double ties or the spring clips!


So heres the secret tip - spray with hairspray once used and when about to transit.
Firm hold stuff works well.

I second the double ties, but can be a pain in the bum to get occasionally.
Most new lanterns are single tie.

Dave.

Another can of stuff to carry on a long trip. It does work though, but the most important thing is to transport the lantern in an upright position.

Personally I use rechargeable battery lanterns and LED head lamps now days as I got sick of mantels and fuels and so forth for lighting, also no heat or flame so safe in tent etc.

[p38arover]

I don't know when I last used my gas lantern. It's fluoros and a head torch for me.

Ron

[Captain_Rightfoot]

If you haven't bought it I'd really suggest getting a versalight flouro. I have one and a versalight on our recent fraser trip was well more than equivalent to two gas lights (the other people staying with us had them). All the people in the gas light camp were stumbling around peering at stuff, whereas in our camp it was just like being at home under 240V lighting :) Also no hissing and carrying around gas bottles, lighting and generally worrying about them being knocked over, matles breaking, glass breaking, kids burning themselves etc etc. Also, a versalight is a fraction of the weight of carrying a gas bottle and a spare.

Seriously, one of our most valued camping posessions. TJM has them on sale for $85 at the moment. I have a long extension chord that I run from the car, and a 12v gell cell that I take just in case I need to go off with the car.

[Michael2]

I must concur with Captain Rightfoot.

I used to use a lantern, but now I use a fluro light (I pulled a 100 Series out of a bog and he gave me a $100 ARB Gift Voucher & the only thing under $100 at ARB was the fluro light).

STORAGE : I had a ply box made up and glued foam to the inside walls, the lamp fitted snuggly into that and survived many 4WD trips. Better than a bag, as it couldn't get squashed by moving cargo.


LANTERN Vs FLURO


You need to carry metho for heating the mantle and kero for fuel, so there are 2 fuel containers / bottles in your car. If you knock the lantern over, you have pressurised fuel that can easily spread a fire (risk of damage to property as well as burns). The glass gets very hot. Unless you use no-odour kero - there's the smell of fuel. It's "heavy," bulky & and somewhat fragile.



The Fluro is compact, light and gives off as much light, especially when mounted on an extendable aluminium annexe pole (your own 12V street light. Because you can safely mount the fluro higher, you get less shadows & glare from the light and hence a safer camp site. The fluro can be used under the car or under the bonnet too.

[Scouse]

Another can of stuff to carry on a long trip. Hair spray is also great for popping tyres back onto the bead :) .

[Bigbjorn]

You need to carry metho for heating the mantle and kero for fuel, so there are 2 fuel containers / bottles in your car.


Only if you have a kerosene pressure lantern. The Shellite lanterns don't need preheating. I use a Shellite three burner stove also, so only one fuel, no heavy gas bottles and they run on unleaded petrol if necessary. Release the pressure when travelling for safety. I have a Coleman plastic carry case for the lantern. It is a great product. Get a gadget called a tree hanger for your lantern so you wont knock it over.

[Tusker]

Hair spray is also great for popping tyres back onto the bead :) .

The mind boggles.. tell us more of this hitherto unknown technique..

[waynep]

If you haven't bought it I'd really suggest getting a versalight flouro. I have one and a versalight on our recent fraser trip was well more than equivalent to two gas lights (the other people staying with us had them). All the people in the gas light camp were stumbling around peering at stuff, whereas in our camp it was just like being at home under 240V lighting :) Also no hissing and carrying around gas bottles, lighting and generally worrying about them being knocked over, matles breaking, glass breaking, kids burning themselves etc etc. Also, a versalight is a fraction of the weight of carrying a gas bottle and a spare.

Seriously, one of our most valued camping posessions. TJM has them on sale for $85 at the moment. I have a long extension chord that I run from the car, and a 12v gell cell that I take just in case I need to go off with the car.

Just watch the Versalite "copies" - they look much the same but are not the quality of the genuine Versalite or Piranha one.

[weeds]

yep have not used my gas light for years, i think i have two and an extension pole

12V is the way to go, i have a versalight and another longer fluro tube type both draw around the 1amp/h

[p38arover]

The mind boggles.. tell us more of this hitherto unknown technique..

Spray in the tyre, then light it to blow the tyre back on?

Ron

[Ken]

how do you get the lighter in there to light the hair spray :eek: can see a nasty accident happening

[Michael2]

Spray in the tyre, then light it to blow the tyre back on?

Ron


as seen on youtube

[B92 8NW]

I must concur with Captain Rightfoot.

I used to use a lantern, but now I use a fluro light (I pulled a 100 Series out of a bog and he gave me a $100 ARB Gift Voucher & the only thing under $100 at ARB was the fluro light).

STORAGE : I had a ply box made up and glued foam to the inside walls, the lamp fitted snuggly into that and survived many 4WD trips. Better than a bag, as it couldn't get squashed by moving cargo.


LANTERN Vs FLURO

You need to carry metho for heating the mantle and kero for fuel, so there are 2 fuel containers / bottles in your car. If you knock the lantern over, you have pressurised fuel that can easily spread a fire (risk of damage to property as well as burns). The glass gets very hot. Unless you use no-odour kero - there's the smell of fuel. It's "heavy," bulky & and somewhat fragile.
The Fluro is compact, light and gives off as much light, especially when mounted on an extendable aluminium annexe pole (your own 12V street light. Because you can safely mount the fluro higher, you get less shadows & glare from the light and hence a safer camp site. The fluro can be used under the car or under the bonnet too.

Hi all, thanks for the replies.

I have a 12V fluro with two tubes already. Great for under bonnet work and in the load space but it is only a $40~ one. The lantern is a multi fuel one and runs on diesel or biodiesel which I carry to fuel the Disco with anyway. It doesn't need metho to preheat, it has an inbuilt preheater that burns whatever is in the tank.

[rrturboD]

Re: The lantern is a multi fuel one and runs on diesel or biodiesel

Lantern details please (brand, model, source), sounds much better than a gas unit.

[Scouse]

Spray in the tyre, then light it to blow the tyre back on?

RonYes, that's right.
It was first demonstrated to me by Tony (tony) & is very effective. You do need quick hands though as the vapour dissapates quickly. I used to do this quite often when 4x4ing in my POS but I now use tyre bead sealant which helps hold the tyre to the rim.

BTW Ron, that was a quick edit to remove the petrol comment - even I'm not that stupid (close though :p ).



Also, the hair spray comes in handy for those camping trips where my voluptuous locks don't want to stay in place in the mornings :cool: .

[B92 8NW]

Re: The lantern is a multi fuel one and runs on diesel or biodiesel

Lantern details please (brand, model, source), sounds much better than a gas unit.

Its the latest incarnation of the petromax unit.

[barney]

those of us that don't have hair, don't have hair spray.
i use rexona or anything in a spray can that burns and sets. spray it on the mantle before you burn it in, the spray forms a resin and sets hard. this provides a level of security for your mantle. but take heaps of spares because nothing is fool proof.