Lighting a Carbide Lamp.

[rockergod789]

you won't find a more reliable non-electric source of light. i inherited an old Justrite from a deceased relative and i use it more than my Maglite.

[Slashb231]

I sell miners grade carbide...if anyone needs any let me know.

[mnpd007]

What made carbide scarce was its classification as a "hazardous material" under federal HAZMAT regulations. Shipping and storage requirements are tight, and the stuff cannot be shipped via air. Not only does it produce flammable gas in contact with water, but the gas itself can suffocate even without spark. Heat is also created without spark. Cavers used the lamps until LED lights came... before that nothing was as light or economical as a carbide lamp. Shooters use it to blacken gunsights.

[mnpd007]

The thing has a flint striker on the reflector which uses the same flint as a cigarette lighter. Cupping your hand to build the gas pressure as you strike is the "professional" way to light the thing, but you can just strike the wheel with your thumb or use a match.

To find the fuel, Google "calcium carbide", or run that name on eBay. You may have to buy bulk... 10 pounds or so for maybe $80. Be sure to specify "lamp grade". The stuff used to be sold everywhere.

[mnpd007]

I have an identical copy of yours known as the "Butterfly", made years ago for Safesport. Mine doesn't have a good reputation, but works perfectly. I bought it as junk at a flea market. I cut new filters, found a plumbing gasket to fit the carbide chamber, resoldered some things including the dripper, cleaned and cleaned, and ended up with a perfectly functioning and reliable lamp.

A pound of carbide? You'd play hell ever using a pound up! I can get an hour from a soda bottle cap full.

[SthealthRaider]

Where u buy carbide? and where u buy that lamp

[loop996]

ebay

[kabj06]

I got mine from eBay 5 oZ for 12.50.

[lamarbrog]

That makes an awesome sound.

..... About how long does a pound of carbide last, if you only light the lamp for a few minutes a week?

[kabj06]

Years.

[gamernoobs]

oh wow tht was sht

[LMF5000]

Is the flame white or is it just the camera? When I weld with oxy-acetylene, the flame is yellow when the oxygen is off.

Is there some sort of cover for the flame or is it just a naked flame? It's hard to tell from the video, but it looks almost like a lightbulb-shaped thing in the middle of the lamp!

[deadsweetheart1]

this isnt my video but i have the same type of lamp and its an open flame and yes it does burn white mainly due to the pressure and teh nozzle it goes thru ( if you find one in an antique shop make sure it has that nozzle )

[LMF5000]

ok, thanks!

[laurdy]

its white. we went caving with school once and one of the staff was wareing on of these and when they moved suddernly the flame got really long and set someones bag on fire so they threw it into the stream that was flowing through the cave

[carbidelamp1]

i used to buy 2 lbs. of bags of carbide from ebay years ago, now i get it from some chemical lab supply companies.

i use them to explore abandoned mines, i personally think that the ol carbiders are better then LED battery lamps. i bought an LED to try it out, they just cant stand the ruff and tuff use in caves/mines then the carbide lamps, which designed for miners. i use a universal guy's dropper, its banged and dented to hell, and still runs good.-JB weld works wonders on cracks.

[edisonphonographs]

How did you light that with your hand?

Thanks

[minerfrank]

There's a spark wheel on the reflector.

[famasdan]

my dad just brought one home mine looks a lill older and rusty though

[dnl5649]

where do you get cheap calcium carbide from?

I just got a guys dropper lamp.

[Hoehle61]

good for history of mining.

[G4HQ]

yeah

CaC2 + 2HOH -> C2H2 + Ca(OH)2

[calciumhypochlorite]

is it aclcium carbide in water making acetelyne then u sparked it?

[b0dhran]

Minerfrank - great video !