i spent the better part of the day getting my 55 gal contaners (steel) drums cleen andset to be filled , my question is do i need to vent them, or can i just fill them up and put the cap on them , I am asking , some one told me that if i do not fent them they will explode, i think that this is kinda silly , there are fuels stored in drums all of the time with out EXPENCIVE vents and there not exploding . any help , FYI , my drums are out side in a small shed . so there not in my house ,

any help would make me feel a lot better .

RON

-- Ron (mongo2@prodigy.net), October 17, 1999

Answers

I just bought a 30 gallon plastic drum of kero from a bulk dealer here. It has 2 large openings with plastic inserts screwed into them and plastic snap on caps over each. I didn't see any other openings, although the drup top had bulged a bit, don't know if it was from pressure or not, but the drum doesn't appear to have any other openings to vent it.

-- Steve A (albrecht@ndak.net), October 17, 1999.

KERO-MAN HERE AGAIN...... The 5 gallon drums of kerosene sold in most hardware stores do not have vents: they are fully sealed and air- and kero-tight. These are commonly sotred at warehouse temps and room temps up to 70 degrees, and presumably encounter temperatures hiogher than that. THe 55 gal drums avaialble through a heating oil supplier are likewise sealed tight -- as with the 5 gals, and as you would expect in order to avoid squiritng keosense everywhere during shipping. I went into this on another thread a few days ago: THE FOLLOWING IS A Y2K DISCLSOURE: neither kero nor kero vapors are combustible at room tempurature. IN my experience. Kero must first be heated to achieve a vaprous state that will support or maintain combustion: for example, when I ran a breif test in connection with another thread on this forum, it took a good 20-30 seconds holding the flame of my disposable lighter under the KERO-FILLED castiron reservoir of my blowtorch preburner, before even a little blue flame would begin licking over the kero on the vapors. At that point the temp must have been approaching 200 F. Run a few test yourself: throw a burngin match into a coffee can filled with kero: the match snuffs. Spill kero on your garage floor: it wont light. While you definitely need to vent explosive fuels like gasoline and diesel, in order to prevent dangerous pressure levels from causing a temp run- up -- I have no hint that this is a reasonable danger with kerosene. I have my 55 gal drums stored in a housed out back, a long with 5 gal drums. They are tightly bunged, and I am unconcerned about the potential for explosion. Next to non-existent, if you ask me .... FurtHermore, where I live, I need to keep the drums sealed to prevent condensatino of moisture from the air, which would contaminate the kero, rust the continaters, and ruin everything. MINE ARE SEALED. STAYING THAT WAY.

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 17, 1999.

Keroman, (Big light in the sky seeking Keroman from Kerocity)

How long does Kerosene stay (K-1)? Do I need any additives? Thanks.

-- Debi (LongTimeLurker@shy.com), October 18, 1999.

GOOD QUESTION DEBI! Once K-1 always K-1!!! KEROMAN says that kerosene is a refined petroleum product that is produced only once a year: the refineries produce a set amount of the kero based on the previous year's consumption and anticipated demand: then they shut down the supply for the year. THIS IMPLIES ... that your kerosene is known by the manufacturers to be stable and readily combustible ... i.e., not subject to degradation ... for at least one year from the date of manufacture, otherwise of course there would be a continuous stream of product to meet the constant demand. THIS ALSO IMPLIES... that if Y2K shakes out along the lines of the latest corporate 10-Q SEC filings, you may not get any more of it. WHOOOOOSH! Therefore, the practical answer to your question is: however long it lasts is going to be long enough: get lots. GET LOTS. GET LOTS. What choice do you have Debi? Kerosene is safe, burns clean when properly treated and stores indefinitely.

DEBI, even KEROMAN hears different answers to this question of the viability of kerosene. Rumor runs rampant in these strange times. The TRUE answer is this: if you are using your kerosene for lamps, kero-heaters, or kero-cookers, it should last virtually forever, if kept from moisture. It may pick up a yellowish cast as it ages, however. Don;t be alarmed: it's still quite safe. Some manuafacturers of kero-heaters may say that kerosene over 60 days old should be discarded --- however all KERO-MAN's kerosene is well over 60 days old already, and burns fine. I'm keeping every drop. The authoritative word I've heard from the distributors and old farmers around here is that kerosene is kerosene forever -- like old turpentime or paint thinner.

IN answer to your second question -- gawd, I've gone over this on a bunch of threads now. There is one thing you need to enhance the burning of your kerosene: methyl alcohol. You can get it at your local drugstroe, or your pharmacist can order it for you in pints or gallons. I'd get a gallon. The Methyl alcohol is also sold under 2 brand names: Kero-Kleen (sp?) and simply "WICK CLEANER", and both products come with a range of fragrances added. I prefer pine to tutti-fruti. I was surprised to find that of the 2 cases (24 8 oz bottles) of WIck CLeaner I ordered in August, I only received 5 bottles !!!! No explanation from the farmer's supply store -- but I know the reason. The methyl alcohol should be added at the rate of 1/2 oz per 5 gal. drum, but you can go up to 2 oz or even more per drum if you prefer. I add a squirt -- maybe a tablespoon or two -- to the reservoir of my lamps every time I refill them. The methyl alcohol supposedly eliminates moisture, but definitely enhances the combustion process, completes it, and prevents "dry burn" of your wick. Thus preserving wicks, fuel, etc. It also will eliminate the kero "smudge" effect from incompletely burned kerosene. This heavy, oily after-taste from burning kero is irritating to many people, and my guess is was probably a big health bugaboo around the turn of the century. 1900 that is. THe last 1900, that is.

Hope THAT answers your questions Debi. It better, because that's about all I know. Well, bye for now.

KEROMAN

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 18, 1999.

DON'T BE SHY DEBI!!! A GOOD QUESTION DEBI! Once K-1 always K-1!!! KEROMAN says that kerosene is a refined petroleum product that is produced only once a year: the refineries produce a set amount of the kero based on the previous year's consumption and anticipated demand: then they shut down the supply for the year. THIS IMPLIES ... that your kerosene is known by the manufacturers to be stable and readily combustible ... i.e., not subject to degradation ... for at least one year from the date of manufacture, otherwise of course there would be a continuous stream of product to meet the constant demand. THIS ALSO IMPLIES... that if Y2K shakes out along the lines of the latest corporate 10-Q SEC filings, you may not get any more of it. WHOOOOOSH! Therefore, the practical answer to your question is: however long it lasts is going to be long enough: get lots. GET LOTS. GET LOTS. What choice do you have Debi? Kerosene is safe, burns clean when properly treated and stores indefinitely.

DEBI, even KEROMAN hears different answers to this question of the viability of kerosene. Rumor runs rampant in these strange times. The TRUE answer is this: if you are using your kerosene for lamps, kero-heaters, or kero-cookers, it should last virtually forever, if kept from moisture. It may pick up a yellowish cast as it ages, however. Don;t be alarmed: it's still quite safe. Some manuafacturers of kero-heaters may say that kerosene over 60 days old should be discarded --- however all KERO-MAN's kerosene is well over 60 days old already, and burns fine. I'm keeping every drop. The authoritative word I've heard from the distributors and old farmers around here is that kerosene is kerosene forever -- like old turpentime or paint thinner.

IN answer to your second question -- gawd, I've gone over this on a bunch of threads now. There is one thing you need to enhance the burning of your kerosene: methyl alcohol. You can get it at your local drugstroe, or your pharmacist can order it for you in pints or gallons. I'd get a gallon. The Methyl alcohol is also sold under 2 brand names: Kero-Kleen (sp?) and simply "WICK CLEANER", and both products come with a range of fragrances added. I prefer pine to tutti-fruti. I was surprised to find that of the 2 cases (24 8 oz bottles) of WIck CLeaner I ordered in August, I only received 5 bottles !!!! No explanation from the farmer's supply store -- but I know the reason. The methyl alcohol should be added at the rate of 1/2 oz per 5 gal. drum, but you can go up to 2 oz or even more per drum if you prefer. I add a squirt -- maybe a tablespoon or two -- to the reservoir of my lamps every time I refill them. The methyl alcohol supposedly eliminates moisture, but definitely enhances the combustion process, completes it, and prevents "dry burn" of your wick. Thus preserving wicks, fuel, etc. It also will eliminate the kero "smudge" effect from incompletely burned kerosene. This heavy, oily after-taste from burning kero is irritating to many people, and my guess is was probably a big health bugaboo around the turn of the century. 1900 that is. THe last 1900, that is.

Hope THAT answers your questions Debi. It better, because that's about all I know. Well, bye for now.

KEROMAN

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 18, 1999.

DID YOU GET THAT DEBI????!!!!! DO I NEED TO REPEAT IT AGAIN, DEBI???

-- ROCH STEINBACH (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 18, 1999.

Kero-Man, : )

(Light up in the sky calling for Kero-man in Kerocity). Thank you so very much for that information. You've cleared up a lot of stuff I hear back and forth on from different people. You really are THE Kero-Man!

-- Debi (LongTimeLurker@shy.com), October 18, 1999.

That's right Debi. Glad to be of help.

KEROMAN

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@ excite.com), October 18, 1999.

I usually jerk off into my kerosene. The semen seems to help preserve the fuel.

Spank the Monkey!

-- ROCH STEINBACH (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 19, 1999.

Keroman, my man, please clear something up for me. I have read conflicting information about the effects of burning red (non-road- taxed) kerosene in Aladdin mantle lamps and wick-type kersosene heaters. Some say "Works fine. Load up". Others say "causes headaches, clogs wicks. No go". Which is true? I plan to buy several soft-drink syrup drums full, and don't want to make a big mistake. FYI, the red kind is about all that's available around here.

Thanks...

Hutch

-- Hutch (hutch@my.house), October 19, 1999.

Seems that already there is an imposter masquerading as the true KEROMAN, suggesting that organic compounds -- bodily fluids even -- are an acceptable substitute for methyl alcohol, as additives to your Pearl Jam grade, K-1 kerosene. NOT SO!! KEROMAN battles on for truth, in the face of eveil, impossible odds, treachery, and gross- out posts from people [like the FALSE KEROMAN] who spend too much time on the internet to have any imagination left. GET A LIFE DUDE!

The treu KEROMAN is a bad typist, and is abandoning his career becuase of the flase KEROMAN.

Sorry, BUTCH. Never heard of road-worthy kerosene. I do have a friend who burns white gas (Coleman fuel) in his Aladdin lamps with great results ... but be careful. Assumikng your a not a henchman of the flase KEROMAN, plotting to entrap KEROMAN with pharisaical posts, I would recommend you buy a gallon and try it out in your lamp fopr a few nights, with the methanol.

-- Roch Steinbach (rochsteinbach@excite.com), October 19, 1999.