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

[JEZGUZ]

I use a bit of old t-shirt chucked into the coils, pump up to pressure, open the valve and it'll squirt paraffin onto the cloth. Close the valve and apply a match or lighter to the rag, sit back and wait until it starts burning properly then re-open the valve and set fire to things, hopefully not the fence again

 

[not done it yet]

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

Basically true, but as it says lower down that publication, there are more highly refined versions of the ‘same thing’. For one thing, the sulphur levels are likely further reduced, as well as the range and ratios of the different components - the refiners will provide the most cost-effective fractions they can get away with. in a competitive market. Any change from their ‘norm’ will be at a premium cost (no different than normal lead- free and premium (super-unleaded) petrol at the pumps.

Any trace of yellow in the flame is bad news - that colour is due to carbon particles in the flame.

 

[Misterg]

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.

The nozzle *isn't* there to atomise the fuel - it isn't a pressure burner. The paraffin must be completely vapourised inside the coil. The nozzle only speeds up the flow of paraffin vapour and forms it into a jet to draw in combustion air.

That said, a partially blocked nozzle will cause problems.

 

[Misterg]

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.

When the burner is up and running, all the paraffin should all go down the inside of the tubing and be boiled into a gas that comes out of the nozzle. There shouldn't be anything 'wet' visible. (If there is, either the pre-heat hasn't been sufficient or there is a leak). When pre-heating, the paraffin / meths, or whatever is outside the tubing coil, getting it hot.

(Pre-heating the coil with a gas blowlamp will probably be quicker and more effective than using paraffin for this.)

NB - if using paraffin for pre-heat, make sure that the pad/wick hasn't fallen out.

 

[m_c]

I've heard my dad on about sticking weed burners in a fire to get them warmed up, rather than faffing around with rags/wicks.
Off course as has been mentioned, gas torch is probably the easier option now.

 

[mart]

I use a bit of old t-shirt chucked into the coils, pump up to pressure, open the valve and it'll squirt paraffin onto the cloth. Close the valve and apply a match or lighter to the rag, sit back and wait until it starts burning properly then re-open the valve and set fire to things, hopefully not the fence again

Especially the neighbour's fence.

Irrespective of what anyone else thinks of this, I reckon Jez's method of heating the coil up adequately is a good one. I've suspected previously that the orgininal wick method and the limited amount it can absorb is a bit lacking. Now where is that T shirt with the 3rd arm hole in it

 

[mart]

When the burner is up and running, all the paraffin should all go down the inside of the tubing and be boiled into a gas that comes out of the nozzle. There shouldn't be anything 'wet' visible. (If there is, either the pre-heat hasn't been sufficient or there is a leak). When pre-heating, the paraffin / meths, or whatever is outside the tubing coil, getting it hot.

(Pre-heating the coil with a gas blowlamp will probably be quicker and more effective than using paraffin for this.)

NB - if using paraffin for pre-heat, make sure that the pad/wick hasn't fallen out.

My bold above.
Good idea if my primus blowlamp 'nozzle thing' will reach far enough in to evenly do the heating biz. Maybe try from both ends?

 

[not done it yet]

it isn't a pressure burner.

That really makes sense! What is the pump there for, may I ask?

I suppose pressure-fed oil burners in central heating systems are not at all of a similar ilk?

 

[Misterg]

I suppose pressure-fed oil burners in central heating systems are not at all of a similar ilk?

Oil fired central heating boilers do work differently: Most(?) *are* pressure atomising burners - where pressure from the oil pump forces oil through a small nozzle and creates an atomised plume of oil droplets that burn. They typically operate at ~100 PSI. The pump on the weed burner will maybe achieve ~10PSI. It's there to pressurise the tank to feed fuel to the vaporiser coil & encourage the vapour out of the other end.

 

[mart]

if you preheat the primary holes at the sides by using looped tubes you will get a much hotter flame

or use a sleeve over the end with holes at the base ( front end ) then looped over to each air port of the gun and it will make that flame much hotter

Just going iverva a few tips, as I had a go with the Sheen burner thus evening.

@gaz1
What are 'looped tubes'?
What is a sleeve?

 

[mart]

Just bog standard paraffin from the local hardware store, when its burning right I get a strong blueish flame tinged with orange, basically pretty much like a pulse jet engine without the pulsing.

@Jez
I've not managed to get a blue flame. I don't know why

 

[Screwdriver]

Probably the best thing you can add to any liquid fuel burner is a pressure controlled air supply.

Hacking your paraffin burner is probably not the solution you're looking for though. I suggest you give up and convert to gas.

 

[Screwdriver]

@Jez
I've not managed to get a blue flame. I don't know why

It relates to either the excess of oxygen or excess of fuel in the flame (oxidising vs. carburising). That is what gives you the pretty colours. I am familiar with the flame types with calor gas but never experimented with a liquid fuel burner. The quality and quantity of oxygen (i.e. air) your system is flowing is key to the temperature and performance of your burner. If I had to guess, I'd say a good blue tinge suggests carburising flame with an excess of unburned fuel. Whether that's a good thing or not in a paraffin burner err.

It's not rocket science but, no, wait. It kinda is rocket science...

 

[gaz1]

Just going iverva a few tips, as I had a go with the Sheen burner thus evening.

@gaz1
What are 'looped tubes'?
What is a sleeve?

if you was looping it behind the head it would go from one side to the other and visa versa as it would aid in the flow of air to the front

with a tube over the sides if the head is 2" then the added tube would need to be 3" and pull from the front therefore preheating the primary air to the gun

3" over " would give you 1/2" gap either side of the original head

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@mart

Do not put Napier/Coleman fuel in the weed burner. Or add it to the paraffin.

It will cause you more issues.