It's not as goofy an idea as you might think. Two of up on opposite ends of the country came up with different designs, but the accomplish the same goal. Taking the chill off under a table while drinking beer. Timm's pub heater is much simpler and requires only a #10 coffee can, a drill and a tin snips. Just remove the vent and globe and drop on the can. Mine was built to mimic the heat drum on Coleman single burner stoves. It required welding, punching metal, removing the lantern bail and some additional parts. The magic in mine is on the indestructible stainless steel mesh "mantles." They made from a dollar store grease splash shield that goes over a frying pan. I just cut off a piece, wrapped it around a broom handle and clamped it there with a hose clamp while I smashed it into shape. Once formed it was easily mounted on the lantern burner with stainless steel safety wire. They get plenty hot enough to heat the generator, burn clean and light up just like a regular mantle. I'm sure there are better ways, more refinements and some tricks I've missed, but it never really gets that cold here at the beach, so it's been enough for me.
Each single mantle puts off like 300w of heat and light. Converting about 1/3 of the fuels energy to light which is very efficient from a practical standpoint.
Still using a Aladdin lamp as a boat heater (youtube.com) first video with a bit more detail Boat heater using a Aladdin Lamp without a mantle - YouTube
I remember that guy. Aladdin without a mantle can be a very efficient heater, and absolutely silent. They used basically the same burner in Aladdin refrigerators and the specs on their fuel consumption were really impressive. The big downside of a non-pressure lamp is that it can't handle a breeze. I learned that one night with a Rayo. One second it's bright and running great, the next it's got flame blasting a foot above the chimney, is bright as a flash bulb. The flash lasts about as long as a flash bulb too, before I'm sitting in the dark seeing spots. The other issue with a non pressure lamp is that you have to hope it self extinguishes if it's knocked over. Best case is a kerosene mess. Pressure lantern will run sideways. Will run fully inverted until starved of fuel. Don't get me wrong. I have way too many Rayo and Aladdin lamps, and I love them, but they have their own strengths and weaknesses.
man i miss the old days, me and the grandparents camping during the summer at the river. Gramps would light up two coleman lanterns for playing cards late into the night
I remember the days of camping as a family ,, with the Coleman Lamps , and Coleman stoves with my parents. Then a few years later ,, camping on the river Bank with nothing but the bonfire ,,, good times either way .
Yep. Mom and dad never went much, uncle and cousins always went, we would walk the river and set limb lines ad check them every few hours. Use to be a real nice campground untill a farmer bought it and shut it down to the public.
