New Den Haan oil lamp leaks!

[lastgreatgeneration]

Ok so I was over in Eastport Annapolis, Weems and plath have a boat show sidewalk sale. There was a few things I have been needing and looking for a good deal on. Notably was a gimballed oil lamp, I have been looking for years for the right one at the right price. I found one that must have been a floor model (no box, screws etc) for a really great deal $150. I unpacked it and most of it was wrapped in protective bubble wrap, when I pulled out the smoke bell it was dented and the arm was really wobbly where it was attached to the base. I have a suspicion someone returned a smoke bell and they just swapped it out or something. This model is supposed to burn for 24 hours and I especially liked that it used a standard 7/8 flat wick.

Anyways I bought it yesterday and today I filled it (not overfilled) and the thing was leaking all over the inside of my boat, slow enough where it went unnoticed until I saw a drip coming off of the bottom, I kept wiping it off to see where the leak was coming from and sure enough it was the pressed joint that mates the 2 halves, it leaked about a drip a minute.

Ok I understand things happen, but I'm sitting here disappointed about the oil lamp quality control and I have a headache from the leaked kerosene.  I'm taking it back as soon as I can. I may try a different model, this one was WP891710.

Another smaller pet peeve was that the woman at the store was trying to up sell me "weems and plath" brand paraffin. So I was like no, I'm good I'll use kerosene. Then she lectures me on how flammable, how dangerous and how I must use the paraffin. Ok, sure paraffin has it's it's pluses like higher ignition point, slightly cleaner burning and less smell. But not at $30+ a gallon or whatever that amounts to. The conversation started to get a little insulting for both of us. No I don't want the paraffin, don't insist. This high pressure sales tactic went back and forth several times.

So later on I did my research and ended up at Wikipedia about volatility of liquid hydrocarbons etc. I also ended up on the den haan website, where lo and behold they specifically recommend you to use kerosene in their lamps as they were designed to operate with it.

I have had dozens of oil lamps, not a newbie and I never heard such malarkey about how the thing was going to get so hot it will catch on fire and also get hot enough to "crack the glass". That is why I must use the weems and plath oil!

So the leak and smell continues, I will see if they have another model that maybe doesn't leak. I just really hope they have a good return policy. I just have a feeling they are going to mention that I used kerosene in it.
I think ironically if this was made in Taiwan it would have worked fine.

Den haan link:

http://www.dhr.nl/dhr-decorative/blogs/what-oil-use

[CharlieJ]

I use, and have used Kerosene lamps and stove ever since I had a boat big enough to cook on, back in 1973.

Nowadays, good kero is very hard to find, so for years and years, I've used 100 % Mineral Spirits in my lamps and stoves. Burns cleaner and has less smell

Sorry about your problems- Weems and Plath used to have really high marks

[lastgreatgeneration]

Ah good ole paint thinner. I think you can get a really good deal on that if you order it by the 5 gallon can ditto denatured as well. I heard of people mixing it with Kero to get better results. I'm going to check that out.

[CapnK]

I've got an Weems & Plath 30 hour oil lamp w/gimbals that I have been planning on selling. Works fine, no leaks, needs polishing. Amazon Prime price is $159 for the lamp, and $67 for the gimbal, $226 all in.
I'll sell it to you, shipping included, for the same price as that leaky Den Hann. :) PM me, if you'd like it.
It's surprising how much heat the little buggers put out. I used it as a 'fall heater' last year, enough to take the cold edge off an early morning, until the coffee kicks in. ;D

[lastgreatgeneration]

Thank you for the offer but I decided to go with another lamp that's identical. They were very friendly and nice. They refunded my money but then I decided to try it again, maybe have better luck this time. I really do like it. Apparently it only has a 2 year warranty anyways. The nice lady threw in an extra globe and the wick that came out of the other one.

I really wish they tested these at the factory though.