1529. To Decolorize Kerosene Oil

1529.     To Decolorize Kerosene Oil. Kerosene oil is decolorized by stirring it up with 1 or 2 per cent, of oil of vitriol, which will carbonize the coloring matter, then with some milk of lime or some other caustic alkali, settling, and redistilling. The latter appears to be indispensable.

1530. Why Kerosene or Coal Oils Explode

1530.    Why Kerosene or Coal Oils Explode. No oil is explosive in and of itself; it is only when the vapor arising therefrom becomes mixed in the proper proportions with air, that it will explode. There should be no inflammable vapor from any oil used for burning in lamps at ordinary temperature. A volatile oil is unfit for the purpose of illumination.

1531. To Test Kerosene or Coal Oil

1531.    To Test Kerosene or Coal Oil. Burning oil is often adulterated with heavy oil, or with benzine. The adulteration with the former is shown by dimness of the flame after having burned for some time, accompanied by a charring of the wick. The latter may be readily detected by means of a thermometer, a little warm water, and a table-spoonful of the oil. Fill the cup with warm water, the temperature of which is to be brought to 110° Fahr. Pour the oil on the water; apply flame to the floating oil by match or otherwise. If the oil is unsafe it will take fire, and its use in the lamp is dangerous, for it is liable to explode. But if the oil is safe and good it will not take fire. All persons who sell kerosene that will not stand the fire test at 110° are liable to prosecution.

1532. To Extinguish the Flame of Petroleum or Benzine

1532.    To Extinguish the Flame of Petroleum or Benzine. Water, unless in overwhelming quantity, will not extinguish the flame of petroleum or benzine. It may, however, be speedily smothered by a woolen cloth or carpet, or a wet muslin or linen cloth, or earth or sand being thrown over it. These act by excluding the air, without which combustion cannot be maintained.

1533. To Deodorize Benzine

1533.    To Deodorize Benzine. Shake repeatedly with plumbate of soda (oxide of lead dissolved in caustic soda), and rectify. The following plan is said to be better: Shake repeatedly with fresh portions of metallic quicksilver; let stand for 2 days, and rectify.

1534. To Manage Kerosene Lamps

1534.    To Manage Kerosene Lamps. These are so much used that a few hints on their management will no doubt be acceptable. There are very few common illummating substaness that produce a light as brilliant and steady as kerosene oil, but its full brilliancy is rarely attained, through want of attention to certain requisite points in its management. By following the directions here given, the greatest amount of light will be obtained, combined with economy in the consumption of the oil. The wick, oil, lamp, and all its appurtenances, must be perfectly clean. The chimney must be not only clean, but clear and bright. The wick must be trimmed exactly square, across the wick-tube, and not over the curved top of the cupola used to spread the flame; after trimming, raise the wick, and cut off the extreme corners or points. A wick cannot be trimmed well with dull scissors; the sharper the scissors, the better the shape of the flame. These hints, simple as they appear, are greatly disregarded, and the consequence is a flame dull, yellow, and apt to smoke. The burners made with an immovable cupola, and straight, cylindrical chimneys, require especial care in trimming; the wick has to be raised above the cupola, and has therefore no support when being trimmed. A kerosene lamp, with the wick turned down, so as to make a small flame, should not be placed in a sleeping room at night. A wick made of felt is greatly superior in every way to the common cotton wicks.