Customer Reviews

Coleman One Mantle Kerosene Lantern

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Overall, this lantern meets the standards of assembly and performance expected of the folks at Coleman. Proper pre-lighting of this lantern requires filling of a special pan with alcohol or suitable alternate fuel to light. After the mantle has been warmed up, normal lighting procedures are performed. A small plastic container, for the alcohol fuel, is included with the lantern. However, no suitable cap is provided that fully seals the container. The alcohol storage container will leak virtually all its contents if not filled and handled/stored/carried carefully. Be prepared to fill, pack, and carry a separate small plastic container of alcohol that will leak if used as issued.

Really bright, easy to light, and hot.

Coleman listed replacement mantles as #11 but they're really #21. I had them fix the mistake and they're sending me free replacements for the extras I ordered.

Anyone who's used liquid fuel lanterns should know that puffs of orange flame (sputtering) means the fuel isn't completely vaporizing in the generator, so either the fuel flow needs reduced, the generator needs to heat up more, the generator needs cleaned or the tank pressure needs pumped up.

You need methanol or ethanol dry gas from an automotive dept. (also sold as paint thinner/cleaner in the paint dept.) to preheat this lantern. Use the steel needled squeeze bottle to fill the priming cup and light it. I suggest doing this with the top and globe off because it's hard to fill the cup from that little hole in the bottom and it's easy enough to put the globe and top on with the relatively cool alcohol flame going.

You can only reduce the light a little before the generator gets too cool to completely vaporize the fuel and the lamp starts to sputter, so it's best to just leave it near max. Coleman's manual says: "Do not adjust light output" which contradicts the advertising: "Seven hours burn time on high, 14 hours on low" which is bs imo; there's no way to significantly reduce the light output without initiating sputtering which produces soot balls and filaments which are obviously undesirable.

This lamp throws off tremendous heat and since burning kerosene makes almost no carbon monoxide, it's safe to use indoors as long as there is sufficient ventilation to replace the oxygen it consumes and you're smart enough not to start the place on fire. If you don't keep the pressure up though, there's going to be fumes and soot, so I wouldn't advise sleeping with it going.

I've been burning the lantern from a full tank for 6 hours so far and almost every time I check on it I find it sputtering slightly and I cycle the flow valve and pump up the tank a little to get rid of it but this isn't acceptable so I'll either find a way to stop it or return the lantern.

----SEE COMMENTS----

purchased via the warehouse seller; although the lantern appeared in new condition and was unused, it didn't work - using the included mantle and new kerosene, the lantern would not provide a sustained light even after mantle burn-in, pressurization and proper priming - it appeared to be either a defective generator or a faulty design, as after a minute of nice light, the mantle would burst into an orange fireball; this happened no matter what pressure or valve setting, the result would be the same! i was really disappointed and returned the lantern - although amazon refunded the cost, i ended up out of pocket for the shipping cost - not really happy, as this was the first item i've ever returned to amazon... i have used other kerosene appliances and lanterns with no problem - i hope this isn't an indication of latter-day Coleman QC and manufacturing!

I have used the standard coleman fuel lanterns in the past and was a little disapointed with this one at first. After reading the instructions fully, I got it to work pretty good. First thing is you have to run it on high or it will start shooting fire ball flames out the top, with black soot everywhere. If this happens crank it back to high and it will quit. Coleman shouldnt have used an adjustable valve on this model. The instructions say not to use on low. Also fooling with the pre light cup is not something im use to, on the coleman fuel lanterns you dont have one of these. Anyway I use just regular rubbing alcohol from the medicine cabinet, works perfectly and its cheap. You have to fill the cup and light it, when there is just a little bit left in the cup you can turn the valve on to high. If you light it like this it works perfectly.
As far as the mantles, mine came with one, a 21A301, when you buy more your going to need a 21A104 #21 string tie mantle. Make sure you burn them before you light the lantern.
I gave it 3 stars since it takes a little getting use to if your use to the older coleman fuel lanterns. Lighting takes a little longer because of the pre heating procedure.

your better off buying a dual fuel or a propane lantern than a kerosene lantern. I only bought it because it was a single mantle lantern and singles are hard to find. Why burn two mantles when a single is almost as bright?
It works as claimed, but don't expect a longer burn time because it is Kero instead of unleaded gas because the burn times are the same. And the extra pains you have to go through to light Kerosene is simply not worth it. Take my advise, buy a dual fuel coleman.

The Coleman Kerosene Lantern easy to use and still the best for camping and lighting needs.