Oil for Canteen Stove?

[ndnchf]

I recently purchased a canteen stove from Trans-Mississippi Depot. This is a wonderful recreation of the original found in the Federal camps near Fredericksburg. I am looking for recommendations on the best oil to use in it. The instructions recommended sweet (olive) oil or lamp oil only, nothing else. I have no experience with sweet oil except for cooking. There are many types of lamp oil on the market. I'd like to use something that burns clean and is hot enough to heat up a cup of coffee.

Has anyone used sweet oil? Recommendations?

Thanks,
Steve Blancard
Co. A, 13th Va Inf.

[gilham]

If using lamp oil be carefull not to buy citronella lamp oil.

[Charles Heath]

Steve,

Use the olive oil. It burns hot enough to split marble, and Don wouldn't send you any BS instructions about one of his products. If you are a little concerned, then take a sample of oil, and burn a bundle of twigs in the back yard. An added benefit, is if someone grabs the olive oil and consumes it, then they aren't drinking liquid paraffin. You may or may not recall the sugar and blackpowder confusion thread a while back, but these things happen...and people talk about MY coffee. Hmpf!

As an aside, it will be nice to represent the 13th Virginia at Crittenden's Farm in a couple of weeks.

[lukegilly13]

Let me know how that camp stove works out for ya. I've been debating buying one.

[ndnchf]

I did not mean it to sound like I was casting disparaging comments about the instructions, they were fine. I'm just looking for recommendations on types of oils.

I will say that it is beautifully made. I took it last weekend to a living history at Montpelier, VA and used it two nights. All I had was that nasty citronella oil and it smoked bad. However, the stove worked great and got a lot of attention. I have drained the nasty oil and want to replace it with something better. The sweet oil sounds like a good alternative.

Thanks,
Steve Blancard

Co. A, 13th Va. Inf.

[Spinster]

Stick with the olive oil--and for this purpose, any inexpensive olive oil will do.

For one of our other time periods, the early 18th century French settlement of Alabama, olive oil is the primary light source--burns reasonably clean, and gives off as much light as one needs to be a hardworking settler whose schedule pretty well matches that of the chickens. It is suitable for both these sorts of lamps, as well as for burning in an open plate with a rag wick.

What's more, if one spills olive oil, its not as noxious or prone to flame up as modern lamp oil. Eventually, the dog will come along and clean it up to no further harm.

For a good long while, Sister and I sought to come up with a 'One Oil'---a grease that served all purposes: cooking, lighting, preserving sheet iron, oiling the spinning wheel and greasing our faces against the river wind. Olive oil was as close as we ever got to that quest. Its just not much good for wagon wheels

[ley74]

Bought it and love the way it burns. Olive oil works just dandy and the heat, as well as the light is plenty. Sure wish it had been on hand in Newfane!

While Don did not make this little contraption, he brought it to market. Some, I am sure, have purchased this as a "reenactor collectible". In other words a kewl item to show your pards and say you have one. Congratulations on the willingness to take the little guy out of the box.

Hmm, 1858 canteen. Isn't there a static event down south in December this could come in handy for?

[Charles Heath]

Isn't there a static event down south in December this could come in handy for?

Bull,

Keep twisting. Twist a little harder....

[Spinster]

Ley,

You just don't know how close we did come to having one of those in Newfane. Had the shipment gotten to Don just a day or so earlier, I was ready to spring for super overnight gotta have it by 10:00 am to be delivered directly to Newfane. Alas, they just were not due into Don until that Thursday or Friday.

Had it been present, I would not have to have chosen between heat (stove over there) and light (window over here) and would have gotten a lot more mending done on site.

There's still this pair of drawers with no seat and no acknowledged owner

[Charles Heath]

There's still this pair of drawers with no seat and no acknowledged owner

Another mystery solved! I'd wondered where they went, that is if they are canton flannel, have black knees from soot and charcoal, an extra button, and one black tie and one white tie on the cuffs. Otherwise, they ain't mine at all....

[WestTN_reb]

Hmm, 1858 canteen. Isn't there a static event down south in December this could come in handy for?

No, but there is one in Mississippi in January. Winter Garrison 1862 (http://www.geocities.com/newburnblues2001/Winter_Garrison.html).

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Spinster]

Another mystery solved! I'd wondered where they went, that is if they are canton flannel, have black knees from soot and charcoal, an extra button, and one black tie and one white tie on the cuffs. Otherwise, they ain't mine at all....

Nope.
And just to twist the knife, these are so small in the waist you'd likely be unable to get them up much past your knees.

They'd make a good horse hobble though.

[Charles Heath]

And just to twist the knife, these are so small in the waist you'd likely be unable to get them up much past your knees.

That narrows it down (pun intended) to the younger of the two musicians, or at least someone of that size. Bill "Sticky" O'Dea may be able to help with this, too. If you can't find the owner, they'll make several pair of dandy sleeping caps!

Speaking of lighting, I notice Stearite candles are back in stock. I wonder if Ley could slip by that nice little place at Potomac Mills on his way up and bring moi a box.

[wmkane]

I recently purchased a canteen stove from Trans-Mississippi Depot. This is a wonderful recreation of the original found in the Federal camps near Fredericksburg. .

I just checked with the Trans-Mississippi website (because I wanted to see the canteen stove), and can't find it. Does anyone know if they still sell it, or who might?

[JustRob]

Speaking of lighting, I notice Stearite candles are back in stock. I wonder if Ley could slip by that nice little place at Potomac Mills on his way up and bring moi a box.

Ask real nice and I might be willing to bring ten or so up to DMX. I have about thirty of them left over from W'64.

Reenacting is a great way to prepare for the collapse of civilization.

[Eureka Independent]

Hi All,

I am super encouraged by the wonderful feed back concerning the Canteen Lamp Stove. It was well wotrth getting George McGillis to make them for me to sell.

I love to find the unique items that were issued and offer them on a limited basis.

Here are some pics of it again fro those of you who want to see it.

I have 1 actually in the shop looking for a home and 7 more that can be made up and sent off.

As for future projects for the next year. I am looking into colaberating with John Peterson to make a copy of a folding pocket lantern that is in my collection and is the same as one pictured in Echoes of Glory of the Union. The mechanical drawings are a real challenge to do so it can be reproduced.

Would anyone be interested in such a project?

Don S

[ley74]

Don:

Heck yes! I have been going commando because my Village one (not based on much) took a hit at W'64, 2006 installment. Not pretty. Not pretty at all.

Again, I must reiterate, using this stuff is the bomb.

[ndnchf]

Well I tried olive oil last night in my canteen stove. I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately it did not work well. The wick was well saturated first, then oil was put into the canteen. I lit the wick and it burned well for about 10 minutes, then went out and smoldered. I pulled the wick out and and it was dry towards the top, but plenty moist at the bottom. I again soaked the entire wick and tried it again. Got the same result, the flame went out after about 10 minutes. Upon examination of the wick, it was again dry towards the top. My conclusion is that the olive oil is too thick to be drawn up by capillary action in this type of wick. BTW, the wick is a 7/8" wide flat wick. I was using typical supermarket olive oil.

Can the olive oil be safely thinned out or is my best course of action to go with standard clear lamp oil?

BTW - there is nothing wrong with the canteen stove, it is great. This is simply a matter of finding the best fuel for it.

Thanks,

Steve Blancard

[Eureka Independent]

Hi All,

The best oil to use in the stove is plain old Uncented Lamp Oil. It burns properly and gives adiquate heat and light.

In a pinch a candle can be incerted into the wick spout and used as well.


Hope this helps

All the best

Don S

[Andrew Kasmar]

As for future projects for the next year. I am looking into colaberating with John Peterson to make a copy of a folding pocket lantern that is in my collection and is the same as one pictured in Echoes of Glory of the Union. The mechanical drawings are a real challenge to do so it can be reproduced.

Would anyone be interested in such a project?

Don S

Hi,

If you ever make one, I would be very interested.

[JustRob]

Yes on the folding lantern.

[Linkstrap]

Ditto on the folding lantern project.., me too please!

[ndnchf]

Meanwhile, back at the lamp oil discussion....

I finally picked up some clear, unscented lamp oil. After clearning out the stove and wick again, I filled it with the clear lamp oil. It burns very nicely, with almost no soot.

So, from my un-scientific tests of citronella oil, sweet (olive) oil and clear lamp oil, the clear lamp oil was the best choice.

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions,

Steve Blancard
Co.A, 13th Va. Inf.

[gweninla]

Yes on the folding lantern.