Carbide lights

[Cornbelt]

 Anybody monkey around with these for indoor lighting?  I'm curious about the fumes. A lot of the old mansions that had lighting before REA used that system w/an outside gas generator. But probably didn't have much in the way of insulation to slow down the ventilation.
  Does anybody know if any of the chains sell carbide?

[Empty Quiver]

Long time ago I had one intended for a miners helmet I suppose. I remember it being tough to find carbide then, the place I originally purchased it from ran out and that was the end of that.


What would be the advantage over a propane system?

[tacklebury]

Carbide is pretty dangerous.  Have heard of them blowing up in some cases.  Nice thing is they burn a long time with little fuel.  Another good thing these days might be the Ultra-Pure Parafin based wax liquid oils.  My dad uses them and there's no fumes they burn super clean and you can get it anywhere.    My dad probably has 30 lanterns of various configurations.  If you have an Amish Store near you, they might still have some of that stuff.  The one here has every shape of lantern, wick and non-electric lights you could ever want.

[hillbill]

if you could find a old carbide cutting torch you  could prob use it as a gas generator, minus the oxygen bottle of course.it would be enough to run several lights id say.be a fun experiment and maybe handy during power outtages.surely there is some carbide to be found out there somewhere?

[Cornbelt]

  I know of a Mom & Pop hdwe store that still stocks all kinds of other stuff the chains don't, carbide being one of them, but its an hour's drive. The chains are local.
  There is a local welding shop that used to have an acetylene generator. Maybe they still do, though at the time I could buy it from a local hdwe for sixteen cents a pound. Times change, eh? No more local hdwe stores either.
 
   As far as lamp oil goes, even the fumeless lamp types put off fumes that accumulate in a tight house. They can also spill too, but if a carbide lamp gets spilled, only water comes out.
 I do know where I can borrow a hat lantern. That might tell me whether it would work inside.
 
 The advantage over a propane lantern, which we use during power outages, would be that its a lot more compact and portable. I'm also thinking bicycle lamp just for the fun of it.
 
   Ran accross this interesting site, but rather than paying shipping from India, I'd probably make one myself.   http://www.jkdey.com/cycle.htm

[don heath]

Carbide lampsare still standard for the small scale miners around here and I have a carbide cutting torch. Dad always used one off an old car as a fishing light claiming it attracted more fish than a gas or electric light.
 
From my experience- It is dirt cheap which is why the small scale guys all still use it - converting to an electric lamp with a solar charger for the battery's would cost more than a years supply of Carbide...otherwise...you had better be able to aford a servant whose job it is to maintain the systems, clean them out etc - they are messy and a pain and the fumes underground give me a headache. Bit like Black powder rifles- fun to play with - instuctional for the kids...got to have one but don't want to use it on a daily basis!