Is there anything that I can add to paraffin to make it burn hotter.

[CompoSimmonite]

What is the source of paraffin ? Is it in a sealed 5ltr container or is it from a bulk tank. If from a bulk tank they have you considered it might be contaminated ?

 

[mart]

You don't have to add much of it...

The reality is that youre just dealing with fractions of crude. Your bitchumen wouldn't do well in your weed burner, your 35sec diesel isn't great, your 28sec kerosene is ok, but you want more...

If you add a bit of a higher fraction then you'll probably get the results you want. It would be hard to see how you could move up the fraction scale without, well, adding a higher fraction. But you don't want to do that.

Again you probably don't need to add much.

What is the meaning of 35sec and 28sec please explain.

 

[julianf]

What is the meaning of 35sec and 28sec please explain.

Viscosity.

The "sec" bit is actually seconds. It comes from how long a known quantity takes to empty from a cup with a known diameter hole in it, at a known temperature.

But, in layman's terms, the lower the number, the thinner the mix.

 

[julianf]

Viscosity.

The "sec" bit is actually seconds. It comes from how long a known quantity takes to empty from a cup with a known diameter hole in it, at a known temperature.

But, in layman's terms, the lower the number, the thinner the mix.

...but it's not all about viscosity either. People add petrol to diesel in the winter to alter the gell point, but the more petrol you add, the lower the, umm, octane (?) of the mix, so, whilst it's thinner, per ltr, there's less energy.

Experimentation on your behalf is probably required! : )

 

[Robotstar5]

...but it's not all about viscosity either. People add petrol to diesel in the winter to alter the gell point, but the more petrol you add, the lower the, umm, octane (?) of the mix, so, whilst it's thinner, per ltr, there's less energy.

Experimentation on your behalf is probably required! : )

Then you get people who mix petrol with heating oil to make TVO for their tractors

 

[Misterg]

A valve is opened slightly to allow a 'mist' spray of fuel under pressure. The higher the pumped pressure, the fiercer the flame. NOT exceeding safety pressure.

Not sure if it's me being a bit pedantic, but that's not how it should work: The paraffin should be completely vaporised in the coil before it get to the nozzle, so that only gas comes out - no liquid or mist. To get to this state the coil needs to be hot, so there is usually a wick that gets soaked with fuel (by opening the valve briefly) and lit *before* the valve from the tank is opened for real, once the coil has had a chance to get good and hot. If you open the valve too early you'll get a big, sooty flame that will not be very hot.

 

[mart]

Not sure if it's me being a bit pedantic, but that's not how it should work: The paraffin should be completely vaporised in the coil before it get to the nozzle, so that only gas comes out - no liquid or mist. To get to this state the coil needs to be hot, so there is usually a wick that gets soaked with fuel (by opening the valve briefly) and lit *before* the valve from the tank is opened for real, once the coil has had a chance to get good and hot. If you open the valve too early you'll get a big, sooty flame that will not be very hot.

Sometimes being pedantic can reveal helpful details. Detail is good.

Your decription is good and accurate. I am unsure if the released paraffin is sprayed on to the hot coil to vapourise, OR if it goes inside the actual tubing of the coil. I'm just curious. Either way, the principle purpose is as you say-to vapourise.

I do wonder if the warming up of the coil is enough based on the limited amount of paraffin that the wick can hold/absorb?

 

[mart]

@mart
Weed burner fun?
Is it a pressurized one?

A few good tips.
Make sure the pre heat is good.
Never fill over 2/3.
Keep the pressure up to the range the manufacture say.

View attachment 415097

Get it right you get a flame like this.






View attachment 415098

Hot flame, but over filled.



View attachment 415099


Bad pre heat.
Wrong pressure.
Uncontrolled flame.
Cold flame.

Switch off and start again.


View attachment 415100

This is when you get everything wrong.

Thank you for posting the photos. Also the description of what is happening in each situation.

When you say only fill 2/3 is that to allow for the compressed air that will be pumped in after fueling up?

 

[DaveB]

If you have a small air space you only need a few pumps to get up to pressure, but then the pressure drops quickly when only a little fuel is released.
More air space allows better control of pressure.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Thank you for posting the photos. Also the description of what is happening in each situation.

When you say only fill 2/3 is that to allow for the compressed air that will be pumped in after fueling up?

Yes, it gives a larger reserve of air, meaning you are not pumping the handle at the start so much.
Then when you are using it, it is no so much of a back weight to control.

The wicks on those burners do rott, that means they are either to short or do not absorb the "Meths" well enough to give a decent pre heat.

Also, the control valve can be difficult to operate, with a full head of pressure, my advice.
When the pre heat is all but out, nip the valve up a bit tighter. You then know how much force you need to open it.
Then crack it a open a small amount. The jet will spurt a bit of liquid fuel then give small but hot flame. Fiddle with the valve until you get a flame about 18" long.
Wait a few minutes and see if it is stable.

Then go burning.

Wax covered leaves, burn untill you see them crack and winkle. Dandelions, burn straight down into the center of the weed. Burn the seed heads first.

Any long stem weed, burn the bugger as close to the ground as possible.

Mosty you want the leave to weither, fold and crumble.

Hit some weeds to hot and hard they seal the living bit off, then grown back.


You want the flame to be constant, with a soft roar.

Keep an eye on the pressure s well.


I have done about a dozen of the weed burners.

Most issues are as I mentioned.

A seal my be leaking, not fuel out, air in. This does cool the coil.

I never had any issues with fuel in a plastic container.
If from a old school pump yes. I filter it through coffee filters..

 

[Erie Fred]

Is paraffin (or kerosene) that much cheaper than propane ?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

I do wonder if the warming up of the coil is enough based on the limited amount of paraffin that the wick can hold/absorb?

Do not uses paraffin as pre heat.

Use "Meths." It will give more heat and the coil will heat up correctly.

Some manufactures will specify how much to use.
Best advice I can give is.

Dribble the "Meths." onto a good wick slowly. Until you see Meths dribbling from the end.
Then light, you will see the surplus being burnt off.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Is paraffin (or kerosene) that much cheaper than propane ?

It is for me.

 

[mart]

Do not uses paraffin as pre heat.

Use "Meths." It will give more heat and the coil will heat up correctly.

Some manufactures will specify how much to use.
Best advice I can give is.

Dribble the "Meths." onto a good wick slowly. Until you see Meths dribbling from the end.
Then light, you will see the surplus being burnt off.

Thank you. I didn't know that, excellent advice.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Thank you. I didn't know that, excellent advice.

Here to help and pass on what I found out.

Oh yes, please keep a charged hose pipe near by.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

MY BAD.

Some say use meths as a pre heat.
Some say to open the valve, when pressurized to soak the wick.
I allways use meths

 

[not done it yet]

I expect it is a nozzle problem and this is causing poor atomisation of the fuel at the jet. It is liquid up to that point but must be hot.

If the fuel is a) not hot enough it will not burn with a short flame - meaning the coil will not be heated sufficiently and b) if the jet is not the correct size and clean, the fuel will not be atomised properly, so will not burn until too far past the heating coil.

Have you never seen/used/owned a ‘Tilley‘ lamp or blowlamp? Plenty of videos on them. But be aware that some on youtube are real muppets when it comes to working them properly.

There is, of course, more than one grade of ‘paraffin’. It could be kerosene. It could also contain the longer chain hydrocarbons from the naptha fraction (from which petrol is derived). Petrol includes shorter chain length hydrocarbons which are likely to boil in the heating coil - and could be dangerous.

I might be blending kerosene (or your paraffin) with lamp oil (which will have more of the shorter-chain hydrocarbons present in the mix.

Service your weed eater to manufacturers instructions is your first action, I suggest. Then maybe get a better fuel for it.

 

[mart]

I expect it is a nozzle problem and this is causing poor atomisation of the fuel at the jet. It is liquid up to that point but must be hot.

If the fuel is a) not hot enough it will not burn with a short flame - meaning the coil will not be heated sufficiently and b) if the jet is not the correct size and clean, the fuel will not be atomised properly, so will not burn until too far past the heating coil.

Have you never seen/used/owned a ‘Tilley‘ lamp or blowlamp? Plenty of videos on them. But be aware that some on youtube are real muppets when it comes to working them properly.

There is, of course, more than one grade of ‘paraffin’. It could be kerosene. It could also contain the longer chain hydrocarbons from the naptha fraction (from which petrol is derived). Petrol includes shorter chain length hydrocarbons which are likely to boil in the heating coil - and could be dangerous.

I might be blending kerosene (or your paraffin) with lamp oil (which will have more of the shorter-chain hydrocarbons present in the mix.

Service your weed eater to manufacturers instructions is your first action, I suggest. Then maybe get a better fuel for it.

According to this site not me, Paraffin and Kerosene are the same thing. Worth a read, lots of info.

Paraffin Guide - Uses, Benefits, History and More

Information on paraffin which is a versatile fuel that comes in liquid & solid form and is used in a wide range of industries. Click to learn more

www.crownoil.co.uk

 

[rtcosic]

Do you chaps have any idea what damage you are doing to my inner pedant???

In modern post-war English, it's Kerosine.

Kerosene is as obsolete as Gasolene within the UK oil industry.

I do not speak for current American usage.

<pedant mode off>

The seconds are Redwood No 1 cup seconds.

ETA - yes, I saw the usage of Kerosene in @mart reference above. Yes, it's wrong. It also confuses the lay reader by merging paraffin as the stuff you put in your appliance and paraffin as the obsolete term for Alkanes.
Then adds more confusion by digressing into paraffin wax.
It forgot to say that in this context Paraffin=Kerosine=AVTUR=Jet Fuel.

All in all a poor source - Gawd knows where they cut and pasted it from.

Paraffin you put in your appliance will also contain some Alkenes (unsaturates) and Aromatics but is unlikely to contain more than trace amounts of Alkynes.

Panic over <I'm back in my box>

 

[brightspark]

used to light mine pre heat of the propane torch dont use it now too much fanny on pumping and pricking the jet . just use propane with a roofing torch with an economizer trigger