Book Review/Summary: Lamp Fuels

I’ve just read, and am now re-reading a series of short books on non-electric lighting, authored by Ron Brown.

Book 3: Lamp Fuels by Ron Brown

The Non-Electric Lighting Series

Perhaps this should have been titled “Petroleum-Based Lamp Fuels” but even that wouldn’t be quite right. While wax (at least paraffin [USA definition…] is a petroleum product, animal and vegetable oils & fats are not and they were covered more in Book 2: Olive Lamps &c. And there are alcohols and synthetics. But the majority of the book will be familiar to those who recall the ‘simple’ bits of organic chemistry: methane, ethane, propane, butane, and so on. This, however, is NOT a chemistry book even if might seem like it from the Table of Contents. It’s about fuels, and fuels specifically as used for lamps.

If you have “natural gas” you have mostly methane. The tanks or bottle out in the country are propane. What happened to ethane? It has more industrial (feedstock) uses than it has as a fuel. Various things can run on ‘natural gas’ (methane) or propane, but they need conversion to go from one to the other. Using something for one with the other sans conversion will result in disappointment if you’re lucky and disaster if you are not. Butane is a common lighter fuel and can be used in some camp stoves – but has the problem at high altitudes and high latitudes that it won’t vaporize when the temperate is around the freezing point of water.

There’s a whole range of compounds next, but it’s easier to deal with the ranges than the compounds for this. Thus the next bunch of chemicals make up gasoline (petrol). And there is a discussion of classic White Gas (aka Coleman fuel), gasoline (leaded, red, except a weird Sunoco blue…), Amoco’s early unleaded sometimes called “white gas” but wasn’t the same thing, and modern unleaded. OLD duel-fuel lanterns meant Kerosene or White Gas. Modern dual-fuel lamps are Coleman Fuel (old-definition White Gas) or unleaded. But despite ‘dual fuel’ the things can get clogged up on Regular. Oh, joy.

Then there are “Mineral Spirits” aka “White Spirits” which are a sort of oddity that straddles the definition of Gasoline and Kerosene. It’s not gasoline-flammable, but just barely. You can get away using them in a kerosene lamp, but you might not want to. Next comes a list of things: Kerosene, Coal Oil, Jet Fuel – and quite a list of the various jet fuels both old and new (as of publication). And then Fuel Oils and Diesel… with a diversion into oily rags and why they MUST be kept in an airtight can until cleaned or otherwise properly disposed of. And then comes Mineral Oil (or hydraulic fluid, or {a being phased out/obsolete} brake fluid) and synthetics – which don’t get much coverage. Can Mineral spirits be used in a lamp? Yes, such is pretty much kerosene. BUT, you need to decide for yourself, as such is not exactly kerosene. Or at least so some claim. It does get a bit confusing.

The one BIG FAT SAFETY WARNING in the text is a kerosene lantern burns kerosene, or maybe mineral spirits, but if you put gasoline or Coleman fuel in it you have a BOMB, not a lamp.

[NOTE: The series can seem very repetitive as regards safety warnings. That is a GOOD THING – a person can read any ONE book and still be properly warned as regards dangers of fire, oxygen starvation, carbon monoxide, and explosion. Knowing what can be done is great! Knowing what NOT to do is IMPORTANT!]

FTC Notice: I purchased this book for my own use and received no remuneration from author or publisher for this review.

Book Review/Summary: Olive Oil Lamnps &c. by Ron Brown

I’ve just read, and am now re-reading a series of short books on non-electric lighting, authored by Ron Brown.

Book 2: Olive Oil Lamps &c. by Ron Brown

The Non-Electric Lighting Series

The foreword tells something important: These can be IMPROVISED in a pinch, but it takes the knowing of how it is done and that it can be done. And all it takes, as the first pages reveal, is a bit of olive or cooking oil, a small bowl, and a wad of cotton or even paper toweling – and probably a good many matches. BUT… then there will be light that lasts. Glorious, bright as day light? No. But light – and sometimes any light at all is what matters.

The book is mostly a collection of simple, readily made lamps anyone with a few minutes, an empty tuna (or equivalent) can, some cotton string and a snips or or even a hammer and nail can make in a few minutes. The fuel is not restricted to olive oil (the ‘&c’ of the title) so other “cooking oils” and even fats (lard, Crisco, etc.) are also considered. At least one commercially available lamp is included, which has the “it’s all ready already” advantage” for the mechanically declined.

As in Book 1: Candles, some stuff that was promoted on the ‘net was considered, and even tried, sometimes with less than pleasant results (ACHTUNG: Do NOT use kerosene in an ‘olive’ oil lamp!). Various vegetable oils were tried, and despite the claim of corn oil not working, it does work. But “works” and “is readily lit” are different things. Evidently corn oil is reluctant to ‘catch’.

Also noted is that many oils and fats will work in simple lamps, but work is not the same as being nice. Generally, while burning, there’s no or not much odor for most. Not all! And rendering fats… STINKS. A most PERSISTENT STINK, at that. And not all oils/fats are nice as regards odor. The oddball is bacon grease that one might expect to smell good, but fails because the curing adds water and thus it sputters. How grease/fat from uncured bacon performs is not mentioned. But then, I’ve not seen uncured bacon (that I recall, anyway) until rather recently.

Did I learn from this book? Yes! Did I learn $7 worth? Yes, I think so. I did make, or attempt to make an olive oil lamp and it worked.. sort of. Turns out I’d made a Classic Mistake. The ‘rub the lamp and a genie appears’ lamps are shallow for a reason: olive oil is thick. The wick has to be fluffy or even floofy, and capillary action won’t carry olive (or other thick vegetable) oil very far up. I goofed and tried using a tight-wound wick meant for a kerosene lantern or such (the wick was too wide for what I have – oops). It worked for a bit, then went out, and STANK. STINK. STANK. STUNK. Switching to fluffy ‘string’ from a replacement mop-head (Dollar Store special) and things worked a lot better. I am NO expert, by any means, and need a LOT more experience, but the Lesson Was Learned. Was it super-bright? No. I tried to read by it and… it was technically possible, but quite the challenge. Maybe I need to do/learn more. Or maybe it’s just that I need more light to read.

One thing pointed out is that most improvised lamps will need some sort of base to sit in. This is not (just) to make carrying easier, as such, but to avoid the mess that the oil can leave. It’s possible for a wick to draw up more oil than the flame burns, and an overly full container can warm up and overflow some.

One thing that might (also) belong in the next book (Lamp Fuels) is that oils have a smoke point, BUT.. kerosene also has a ‘smoke point’ and the definitions have NOTHING to do with each other. Just lovely. Short version: with the possible exceptions of Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline, etc.) and Mineral OIL (NOT Mineral SPIRITS), do NOT use petroleum products in olive/vegetable oil or fat/grease lamps. You want a lamp, not a bomb.

[NOTE: The series can seem very repetitive as regards safety warnings. That is a GOOD THING – a person can read any ONE book and still be properly warned as regards dangers of fire, oxygen starvation, carbon monoxide, and explosion. Knowing what can be done is great! Knowing what NOT to do is IMPORTANT!]

FTC Notice: I purchased this book for my own use and received no remuneration from author or publisher for this review.

Book Review/Summary: Candles by Ron Brown

I’ve just read, and am now re-reading a series of short books on non-electric lighting, authored by Ron Brown.

Book 1: Candles by Ron Brown

The Non-Electric Lighting Series

Candles seem simple, and they are. So why candles? As pointed out, the things are almost primal, “the comfort food of illumination.” Also, they store easily without issue (no batteries dying, no fuel spoiling – or leaking) and they’re simple enough that Do-It-Yourself takes little more than a double-boiler, some wax, and some cotton wick material.

The problems with candles are that they do use a naked flame, at least when burning best and brightest, and are, by definition a whopping one candlepower or in today’s measures 12.57 lumen. The DIY options means control over the wax (paraffin wax seems to win on cost per burn-time, despite claims otherwise – but Mr. Brown encourages people to run their own experiments, not simply take him as Authority), and the wick – control of the wick size means control of the flame size. One trades burn time for brightness, so long as the results are a clean burn that isn’t making sooty smoke.

What’s the best candle? The one that works best for you. The preference seems to be tapers or things close to them, and tea lights. Tapers have a long burn time and exposed flame, that if not in a draft, is steady. Tea lights burn almost all the wax fuel with little waste. A chimney (like a simple kerosene lamp uses) aids in keeping a taper from being blown out by wind, but the result flickers as oxygen is depleted within, and seems to cycle in bursts. Curiously, making a base that would offer even a little air intake wasn’t mentioned. It seems an obvious thing to at least try – and it is something I do plan on trying sometime.

Being about stuff with flames, and heat, there are many warnings regarding fire safety, being aware of heat and thermal shock, and for some flashlight or lantern designs, being careful to take care of sharp edges on any metalwork – and to be aware of the possibility of lead wire used as wick stiffener in inferior imports. A few improvised candles or candle substitutes get mentions and he’s run tests and photographed the results. Short version: I will NOT being burning crayons or ChapStick in a pinch. There is a short detour into oil/fat lamps to deal with the ‘Crisco’ candle idea, and how to make something that actually works.

Did I learn a LOT from this short (under 100 pages) book? No. Did I learn something from it? Yes. Did I learn $7 worth from it? That I am not so sure about, but I will say it wasn’t a waste of time. Yes, it’s cheaper on Kindle, but for this series, it seemed best to have it on paper. If the power is out or the net is down, at worst I merely need to wait for daylight to read.

[NOTE: Whatever opinion I might have of this ONE particular book, I consider the entire 8-book series to be worth my money.]

[NOTE 2: The series can seem very repetitive as regards safety warnings. That is a GOOD THING – a person can read any ONE book and still be properly warned as regards dangers of fire, oxygen starvation, carbon monoxide, and explosion. Knowing what can be done is great! Knowing what NOT to do is IMPORTANT!]

FTC Notice: I purchased this book for my own use and received no remuneration from author or publisher for this review.

You NEED a Carbon Monoxide detector

So you have all-electric heat, or geothermal or whatever. You do not have an attached garage. The stove and water heater are both electric. You don’t burn ANYTHING. Not even birthday candles.

You still need a CO monitor/detector.

Why? Things smolder, even electrical fires, and the smoldering is what generates carbon monoxide.

So, even if you never burn anything, you still need the monitor. Monoxide is a ratfink: NO color, NO odor, NO flavor. Silent and deadly. If you are LUCKY, you notice a headache and get out. If you are NOT lucky, your relatives become “next of kin.”

I have CLOSE relatives that were REALLY, REALLY LUCKY. I’ve have/had friends that were also REALLY, REALLY LUCKY. Do NOT count on luck. That stuff runs out.

If you do NOT have a CO monitor, GET ONE FOR EVERY LEVEL OF YOUR HOME. Skip meals if that’s what it takes. You can survive missing lunch. You will DIE of CO exposure, should it happen in your sleep or figure a couple aspirin is all you need.

And if you do not have least one fire extinguisher? WHY NOT?

Odd Prompt: Looking for Selkies in All the Wrong Places

There is a web site, More Odds Than Ends (https://moreoddsthanends.home.blog) where you can swap writing prompts with others and they get somewhat randomly assigned. Or, you can offer up ‘spares’ for anyone – or noone – to grab and have a go at. Not feeling all that creative with Random Stuff, but having odd ideas pop into my head, I had been submitting spares off and on for a while. Not long ago, I was having some issue with the email program and a set of spares (amongst many other things) never made it. Then I had had enough and set about fixing things so email worked as I expect it to. The result of this (and perhaps my eagerness to clear the outbox…) meant that a bunch got sent at once, without the ‘spare’ designator. Thus I wound up with an assigned prompt. (The one assigned from me is here: https://www.cedarwrites.com/2021/09/14/odd-prompts-dead-grass/ )

Thus this:

It wasn’t an effect of the altitude, she knew that much. Even at near sea level, Conrad sang insane nonsense to himself. Nothing truly vulgar or profane, just nuts. “I’ve got a horse right here, on acyclovir, and that, my friends, is pee-cul-yeer…” was almost a constant. It was sometimes interrupted with even greater nonsense, “Eeny, meeny, miny meen, never gargle gas-o-line. Kindly stick to ker-o-sene.”

Susan had learned to ignore it all. By now, it was just so much background noise. She looked over the night’s notes and guided the big ‘scope to the first object of the night. She’d figured night work at 7,000 feet would be… quieter. Well balanced machinery with well-lubricated motors all dampened to bring vibration to as close to zero as engineering could manage. Yeah, Howard liked to have Vivaldi playing low in the background, and Thomas had a thing for stuff like Stardust and, a bit oddly for a deep-sky type, Moonlight Serenade, and the like.

It was about halfway though the first exposure – why did he want to use to classic photo plates instead of the CCD? – that she noticed things were different in another way. Suddenly, she realized what he was crooning. “Looking for selkies in all the wrong places, I’ve been looking for selkies in too many places…”

“Er, Conrad… I don’t know much about selkies, but aren’t they sea creatures of some sort? Kitt Peak.. 7,000 feet above sea level in dry Arizona, well away from the sea seems almost as wrong as you can get.”

“All true, Susan. And that’s part of why I like it here. I am well away from such risks and temptations.” And that was all he said, and suddenly the equine was on an antiviral again and things went to back normal. Well, Conrad normal, anyway. She did not ask. She feared there was a long story in there, and somehow he had a full night’s time on the ‘scope this run. Oh, for some Vivaldi.

Car Number Three

My first vehicle was an ’87 Hyundai, bought so used the odometer didn’t function. I took things apart enough to discover it wasn’t something I could repair. After once leaving the lights on (drove home in the morning, it was light when I arrived…) I added a bit of circuitry to get the “You left the lights on” buzz. I drove that thing longer than anyone should have. At the end, the amount of blue smoke was impressive, in a very bad way.

My second vehicle was a ’98 Toyota that had perhaps 200 miles on the odometer when I drove it off the lot. At that time, I could afford new and went for utter reliability. After 23 years, it had multiple issues. It was banged up in places (some of which was my fault, alas), needed power steering fluid added every few weeks, and, as I realized on the last trip – a failing clutch. The clutch failed completely just south of the Twin Cities and I managed to get to a rest area – and wound up pushing it into a parking space. Given age and condition, even a cheap replacement job would be beyond the value of the vehicle. It was time. And I’d just finally put in the new cabin fan, too.

With the aid of $HOUSEMATE who looks at car listings for fun, we found something that was within reason and budget. So, now I have a 2012 Lexus (another Toyota product, just fancier). And while 2012 is nine years old, it’s fourteen years newer that what I had. I am getting used to NOT holding a physical key to get in and start. I am getting used to the power of a V6. And I seem to have “new car”-ishness. I want to have a good weather day so I can properly vacuum the interior, and proper (not ‘paper’ temporary) plates so I can run it through a car wash. Also, I am getting picky about I stow in the trunk. For once, I am not loading every last thing in my toolkit. Sure, I will have a toolkit, but it’s not so much “In case I need to work on this thing.” but more, “What, be completely without? That’s madness.” While AWD and traction control means I should not have to dig my way out of things (or things will be Very Bad if I have to) the folding entrenching tool will do, rather than the garden spade.

Mind, it doesn’t have everything newer vehicles have. The engine keeps on running at stoplights, and there is no backup camera. But still, I’ve jumped 14 years (and at least one luxury level) ahead. Hrmm, maybe I should see if the CD player works. So far, everything else does. It is a bit weird, though. This is the first vehicle without a manual transmission – and the first with a tachometer. How does THAT make sense?

Monday Minotaur Musings 2

The last normal gather I (and $HOUSEMATE) attended was in February 2020. It was the 2020 Siouxland Winterfeast (See: https://elegantungulate.wordpress.com/2020/02/23/no-bambleweeny-57-submeson-brain/ for detail) and not long after that the “lockdown” nonsense began and even places that were not necessarily following in lockstep had so many venues playing CYA that it didn’t much matter. EVERY event we might have attended in 2020 was canceled.

One of the.. quirks.. that was one ‘genius’ at work figured he’d economize by getting rid of a lot of experienced people and screw over others by moving them from full to part time. This joker was such a ‘winner’ I made a point of printing out one his email rants as I recognized where it brake with some regulations, and… well, I didn’t deploy it, but when someone hands you ammo, hang on to it. I suspect I gave a co-worker pause when I said that while I claim no control over the world, it was quite the coincidence that ALL my reasons to use vacation time went POOF just after the vacation time did. Alright, one did not, and the time I had asked off for an event got extended a bit so I could visit my mother… after the Supreme Court of the state she lives in slapped down the Governor yet again.

Well, the first weekend of this month things were returning/returned enough to normal that the Siouxland Renaissance Festival was NOT “cancelled due to plague” (as the 2020 fundraiser shirts read). There were few with masks – and the person with the plague doctor outfit fit right in (such has been seen in previous pre-COVIDiocy years). Like every year, I attended the (not exactly ren, but…) Mythical Garden. This time I was not one of the characters, but did attended to the stars of the show as it were. I need to reduce my tonnage and up my stamina. That is plain. However, it was still QUITE therapeutic.

Since I was not “on” I could indulge a bit, and the new meadery is quite capable. I’m not sure if the old wasn’t up to it, or what (the “Egyptian” mead with hibiscus is/was great) but the new (for all I know, a re-branding. I didn’t get all the fiddly details of everything) had a VERY sweet dated based mead, and something else I found too dry for my taste. Due to the naming of them, the mix was dubbed a “Maroon” (as in marooned).

One seemingly minor thing was that a Taurus (bull on one side, Taurus symbol on the other) medallion that was struck at the faire a good many years ago, was finally re-strung. In 2019 – or maybe even 2018 – the original stringing failed beyond repair. The replacement had a mechanical clasp, that failed badly in 2020. Now, a new stringing without a clasp and things feel right again.

I’d jokingly suggested we should be able to write off most of the weekend’s expenses as therapy… and got a few laughs, and one person pondering just how much could be dealt with via HSA with correct wording. One semi-sad thing is that one quite good act will be retiring this year. A fellow who has a “bad” magic act (he’s good enough at comedy he can get away with it) is leaving after this year. In fact, after the next show we will see him at, he’s moving overseas – it’s all about keeping his wife happy. He’s not alone in the act, and the other fellow and I have a little conspiracy going. Details… not yet, nope.

Besides the faire itself, there were the visits to a few local restaurants. I’ve particularly missed one, and last Spring we made a trip to South Dakota that would have been to go there, but Sioux Falls had locked down (South Dakota didn’t force things, but let local municipalities do as they liked). So that night we went to a place in Tea, SD instead. The interesting thing was the staff as the restaurants were masked, though many wore them a bit low so they could breathe easy. I suspect corporate CYA more than anything. Especially as a little out of the way cafe we visited Monday morning didn’t have that nonsense going on.

And in the week since… things changed some and I’m to back working full time. 2020 is over. I hope.

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights- by Orvan Ox — According To Hoyt

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights- by Orvan Ox Sometimes advancements happen by determination. The obvious, mid-latter 20th example is “Let’s get someone to the Moon.” But quite often advancements happen by what is called serendipity. As Asimov put it, “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is […]

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights- by Orvan Ox — According To Hoyt

Hard Limit

You can call me mistaken.
I make mistakes.

You can say I misunderstood.
I can misunderstand.

You can say I overlooked something.
It happens.

You can call me a monster, or even evil.
* shrug *

BUT, the INSTANT you call me a liar, you’ve just voided your bowels on EVERYTHING you’ve said.

Automotive Night – One (or is it Two?)

This past Winter, I noticed one of the rear license plates light flickering. Uh oh, hopefully a flaky bulb (LED… supposed to last..) and not a flaky connection. Then I noticed that one of the rear brake lights was if not out, quite dim. Oh joy. And after a particularly nasty bought of the “Will it start” game, the Li-battery pack wasn’t charging via the main charger port.

A couple nights back I had a night off and went looking into the brake light issue. Swapped ‘bulbs’ left to right and vice versa. The problem moved. This was a relief. New bulbs are less annoying than tracing wiring flakiness. Replacements were ordered, and arrived yesterday (despite checking the box for slower shipping and Monday delivery). This this past night, the new bulbs (LED again) were put into service and the one good old one kept as a spare.

Went to look into the license plate light situation… and dark all around. Crap. This meant either both bulbs failed or the wiring did. Voltmeter time. And I’d been meaning to check the Lithium pack charger with a meter as well.

Results: Lithium pack charger was dead. No voltage out at all. Hrmm.. is the ‘lighter’ plug fused? Why, yes, yes it is. And the fuse tested bad – infinite resistance. Alright, simple fix, IF the charging circuitry isn’t fried and blowing fuses. On to the plate lights. Voltage! Nearly 12 V. Car isn’t running, other lights and things are on, so “almost 12 V” is good. Dig out an old bulb and try it. It works. The only problem is that it’s been so long since dealing with ANY filament device that I overlook that the dang things get HOT fast and managed to.. well, maybe it’s not a burn, or at least not a bad one, but I’m feeling it. The one bulb will do for a few days. Replacements ordered…

And then came Orvan’s Quest For Fuses. As this is a thing in a lighter plug, it’s the mini cylindrical style. Convenience stores (cigarette stands that sell motor fuel, and a few other things, on the side) only carry the blade style fuses. So, out to the truck stop, which tends have almost anything automotive that is somewhat user-replaceable… at convenience store or greater prices. Found the kind needed in a 2-pack, and paid IMO a bit too much, fully expecting that the replacement would be burned out instantly. Hallelujah! The expensive fast-blow fuse survived!

There’s more work to do. The cabin climate control fan needs replacing (I have the replacement, what I need is time, room, and decent weather) as it tends to either whine or scream. A new battery and new tires are probably both Good Ideas. And I recall the battery tray is fine, but the clamp (to the tray, not the posts) needs something. But I can look into that another night. For now, things are at least legal, if perhaps borderline.