This past weekend, I ran an old 1963 Coleman white gas 5,000 btu heater for 12 hours on one fill of white gas. That meas that for about $4.00, I had heat all night. it was zero degree outside the tent and about 45 degrees inside the tent. I was very impressed.
Interesting because I seemed to get better fuel economy the map. I get about a 1/2 a gallon in the tank and it takes me 16 hours to use up one tank. It minutely I'm not using the coalmine branded fuel but the Ozark trail until it's gone in then probably going to go with Crown so I'm getting about 32 hours of heat for about $4. I don't ever get the 0ﾟ days so that's not an issue but I can keep the temp nice and breezy and have the outside temperature in the 20s and the temperature inside the tent in the mid sixties.
@@Wildersport Coleman fuel and white gas is rated at around 120,000 BTU per gallon. If the heater is running at 5,000 BTU per hour, it should last 24 hours per gallon. If the heater is running at 3,500 BTU per hour that is 34 hours per gallon. (This is in theory.) It would appear that the heaters are running per spec.
I thought I was the only one left that still had one of these Coleman heaters. It was my dad's but he never used it. I'm curious to see how these work as I've never used it yet either. I think the thing is older than I am and I'll be 56 tomorrow. Thanks for posting this. It also brings back old memories of my father.
I use both of these heaters. My big buddy heater I will hook up to dual 20 pound tanks and will last me 4-5 days like this. I am a big fan of both heaters depending on different camping situations.
Pros and cons to both systems. Out at a campsite I'd probably lean towards the Coleman, but when using it to heat my small unheated garage while I'm working on something, definitely going to opt for the propane Mr. Heater.
Old white gas under factory seal is completely shelf stable. It won't varnish anything up. You can tell if fuel has gone bad instantly by smell. I've opened Coleman fuel from the 1950s that smelled just as fresh and burned just as well as a brand new can. I'm pretty ocd about fuel. When I crack a new can and use some, I shoot argon into the tank to displace the air with it's water vapor and oxygen. Does it work? I think so. I haven't done a side by side double blind multi year test though. I know it's not harming anything.
Hey thanks for the video, found a link to your channel in a forum. I have these heaters too, big buddy, buddy and the adjustable Colman heater. for ease of use and shear simplicity the mr. heaters have my vote, although while living in NV hunting with my daughter we roasted marshmallows over the Colman it was unlawful to have an open flame even a lit cigarette was punishable. Memories given to the Colman for sure. Living in TN now my diesel doesn't get warmed up too quick and the temps have been in the teens my buddy heater warms the cab and I have no fear if it fell I would be in trouble with the safety features. Thanks again for a good video
Thank you for video . I jus bought a 511 wanted some info . I have a buddy heater. I want to have alternative heating in case of power outages. I also have a kerosene heater. Ty for video
Me too! The Buddy eats propane bottles like M&Ms. Then you have to hope you don’t run out or you have to find a store with sporting goods. The old ones sip fuel, and they’ll run on gasoline, which is cheap and available on every street corner!
Get the buddy heater that goes to a 20 pound barbecue tank. Those are awsome for emergencies. The catylist heaters are extremely fuel efficient, work well for camping and ice fishing.
The portable buddy will take a 20 pound barbecue tank with the right hose and mister heater actually recommends that for longer term usage and they're absolutely priceless during emergencies like the 2021 Texas deep freeze.
I have the 511 and I have a even smaller one that has a stove top configuration that you take completely off has the dome cap and light like the 511 it's very portable.
Right now, somehow I managed to end up with 4 of the old Catalytic Coleman heaters, I like them for what they are, and they really are brain dead simple and reliable, however what they lack is a means of quickly, easily, and safely turning them on and off like a Buddy heater. I seriously doubt anyone is going to put the engineering into designing, building, and marketing a modern version of these with modern safety features. A pity. I really like the idea of having a common fuel for my vehicle, generator, and camp appliances.
I wonder if one could use zero ethanol marine grade gasoline to fuel the old catalytic heaters rather than Coleman white gas? Reason I ask is that fuel is more readily available for a heater used on a sailboat.
Rumor from the ice fishers from northern states that use these a LOT, they say yes. I have not tested it yet. I should have. I was actually given a Coleman 518B specifically to test this idea out but I like it so much I am afraid to try. I know you absolutely MUST NOT USE gasoline with any sort of lead in it. The heavy metals will ruin the catalytic head just like they would plug up a catalytic converter in an automobile. This winter I had intended on testing out just that very idea, but I honestly ran into the crisis situation with the Texas Ice Storm and power outage that I was afraid of possibly ruining a heater that I was afraid to try. Now it is almost April and our cold weather is gone.
Once the 511 comes to full Heat it has roughly the same output has the portable buddy on low. It is not capable of putting up the same amount of heat as the portable buddy on high. The 515 which is the adjustable model is close to the same heat output as the portable buddy I think in a regular size tent or hunting Shack you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference but in a slightly larger space you may notice. I have used the 515 in a Coleman SunDome 6 which is a 10 by 12 foot Dome Tent in freezing weather and been perfectly comfortable and actually have had to sleep with just a very light blanket over me instead of the sleeping bag
My recommendation for the Mr. heater is to refill and reuse the 1lb tanks. You can purchase a 20lb to 1lb tank adapter on ebay and fill your smaller tanks at about $1 per 1lb tank. Tons of videos on TH-cam about refilling 1lb tanks at a great saving!
While that is a very popular and common and opinion I tend to disagree with it as it is dangerous and illegal. th-cam.com/video/g2_GhyAw3vM/w-d-xo.html
@@Wildersport not illegal to refill unless its for profit.private owners can refill at their own risk. also fire king has an excellent system for refilling their refillable cylinders the life of a tank is 12 years and totally legal and safe also makes the cost of anything coleman fuel astronomical in comparison.
My dad mentioned his refilling adapter to several people at camp. They were livid because it was "dangerous". Then privately, they each approached him, and whispered "will you fill my 1lb tanks please?" LOL And I believe where I am, transporting refilled 1lb tanks is illegal. So just refill them at camp! And be ready for people to complain, and then quietly request refills. LOL
@@markr.8209 That’s not what the Dept. of Transportation says. Might want to take another look at the link he provided. According to the DOT (which is federal covering all 50 states) its up to 5 years in prison.
I do not know of an oxygen level meter that would suffice. There are lots of carbon monoxide and propane leak alarms out there, but low ox, not so much... I am NOT going to recommend you use any fuel consuming heater while sleeping in an enclosed space for just that reason. Get nice and toasty, climb into a big warm sleeping bag, turn the heater off... Reverse the process in the morning. Of course if you DO use a heater when sleeping, you are doing so at your own risk and peril.
8:34 I wonder if the fouling problem is from using Walmart’s off-brand fuel. I’ve used old Coleman fuel in my stoves and lanterns with no problems. Just wondering aloud.
I should have been more specific. The "fouling" wasn't varnish build up or anything like that, but rather pump cup seals failing. On the 424 stove the packing seal at the valve knob had developed a distincly frightening leak but was a very easy fix with a replacement packing from Coleman. They go bad after a while and mine did. I have / am learning to keep a few pump repair kits on hand just in case. The problem is too infrequent use of my gear... That's what I get for only being able to plan ahead a month in advance if I want to take leave, but campground reservations are 6 months in advance. They REALLY need to fix that system.
They have to.... 1 Come up to proper temp 2 Burn off the dust that has collect on them since the last time it was used 3 If you use a coke man that some bonehead ran anything other than white gas/coleman fuel through you might also have to clean the wick with carb cleaner and use it several time to get the old fuel out
@@Wildersport EXACTLY, Dave. That is what I found too. Also, I wonder if somebody before me tried to use some other fuel. After running the old Coleman several times, there was no smell at all.
Mr. Buddy heaters have let me down 3 times too many. The tube clogges up and gas wont go through. And sometimes you dont havee tools to take it apart and fix so you freeze. Im not into freezing. I have every type of heater out there. My favorite is the Deisel heaters. Cheapest dryest heat availible. Half gallon will run all day and night. My Taylor deisel heater on my sailboat doesnt even use power just drips gravity fed deisel into the burn chamber and sipps fuel and cranks out nice dry heat and dont have to open windows.
When I made this video I wasn't even aware of the existence of the diesel heaters I am now very aware and if you see the Sportsmobile refresh project videos I haven't done it yet but I will be adding a Vevor diesel heater to my Sportsmobile van. I really like the safety features of the portable buddy here but those things are so terribly unreliable that I just don't want to have to rely on one or put up with the moisture they dump into the air.
A better comparison for fuel use would be with a lantern by far its cheaper to use Coleman fuel far propane no matter what size bottle. For me the only place propane is better is in summer with a cooking stove just so much more convenient to get coffee. This is not true in winter especially in extreme cold valves freeze shut and propane freezes. That’s why the Canadian Ranchers and army use naphtha stoves heaters and lights
There are advantages both ways. I am currently steering headlong into going full propane because the heaters are safer, and the instant hot showers like the Camplux and Joolca, there just isn't anything comparable on liquid fuel. Of course if you go lighter. Just heat the water on the stove and then use a shower pump. Done that too.
Yup! To bad the nanny state caused production of these heaters to stop. I had an old Tonka heater I very recently wanted to use. But the catalytic dome was shot and there was a rust hole in the bottom of the tank. A quick search showed me no one made white gas heaters anymore. I was a bit pissed to say the least. Then I did a quick search on facebook market place and scored. I found used Colman 3000 BTU heater for $50 that was purchased many years ago but the guy never even put fuel in the tank. The box looked like hell but the heater is brand spanking new. I just hate propane shit. it's inconvenient and expensive as hell to run. Grab a single can of fuel and you got light. heat and you are cooking for a weekend. How many of those dumb assed 1lb bottles will you go through in the same time? I truly don't understand how this generation, begging for the nanny state to protect them from everything good, are somehow tree huggers. It's the most wasteful and worst throw away generation in the history of man. These heaters are great and the only reason they were taken off the market is because these kids are too dumb to realize flames produce CO2 and require ventilation.
You said it, Brother! But catalytic heaters were designed to burn indoors. No flame- no foul. They do eat up oxygen though, so in small, well sealed places, definitely crack a window.
@@shavinmccrotch9435 Yes! This is something so many people miss in their panicked run away from carbon monoxide. The fact is that these devices were designed to use INDOORS. A heater that is only safe outdoors is impractical to say the least! Kerosene hurricane lanterns, kerosene heaters, mantel lamps, pressure lanterns (kerosene or Coleman), catalytic heaters...they’re ALL designed for indoor use. I took my Coleman lantern, fueled it, lit it, cranked it up high, and sat in an enclosed car with it (all doors and windows closed) for over 10 minutes. The CO detector never went above 0 ppm. I took an old Perfection 730 kerosene heater and closed it in a shower stall (with a glass door) and burned it for over an hour. The CO detector never went above 0 ppm. I burned a Dietz cold blast kerosene (hurricane) lantern in a small room. CO detector never went above 0 ppm. The detector works. I went outside and walked past a Honda generator about 10 feet away and the alarm hit 999 ppm and alarmed. These catalytic heaters are made for indoor use. As long as there is enough oxygen to sustain the flame and everyone in the room, it’s all good.
@@shavinmccrotch9435 PS I used J B Weld on a lawn mower gas tank, good sized hole. Put in gas within an hour of repair, and it's never leaked again. . . . If you have a rusted out one in the future.
I`m not sure who or when, maybe me was invent about safety fuel filler. Two hose through to cap. For fuel, shorly inside and for replacing air, hose over half of bottle high. If you not squeeze bottle, fuel come only from fuel hose. Clamp is good for cut fuel. For moving or storage ordinary cap.
Jari, absolutely no disrespect here, but I do not understand what you are asking. I am guessing from your name that English is not your primary langauage. Do you happen to speak German or Spanish? If so please re post in one of those languages.
I would say leave a goodly size crack in the door and a window at least partially open of your average tent. To help modernize safety using old Coleman heaters a modern battery operated Carbon monoxide alarm in your camping supplies.
I was intentionally vague on this as it varies depending on the specific device. Please refer to the MFGs documentation for the specific device. Typically 9sq/in but I will not stand by that as it could be more, or less.
ALWAYS have a carbon monoxide detector with you when using a fuel burning appliance. CO is produced when there is less than optimum combustion. That’s why you need adequate ventilation-enough fresh oxygen for the flame, you, and those with you to breathe. A CO detector won’t tell you what the best ventilation is, but it will alert you when it’s not enough. LOL!
Gasoline had lead in it back in the day when these were built. I'm not sure if "dual fuel" was even a term used in those days. Today's gasoline does not have lead. Therefore, if these were still being made and sold, they would probably be advertised as "dual fuel". All it is is a burning wick dipped in gasoline that is heating a catalytic element.
The old Coleman heaters only run on Coleman fuel / white gas / naptha. Trust me, I tried like heck to use car gas and kerosene and blends. Only Coleman fuel or white gas (naptha) will work. No kind of car gas will work.
@@explorermike19 True .... Amaco used to sell their "unleaded" ....what we called "white gas" right there at the pump. That was the only way to go as it was like 1.75 cents a gallon.
Wayne The Seine yes. I remember that. They certainly did sell camp fuel at the gas stations, That's where my dad bought fuel for our Coleman lantern and stove. he would run the lantern all night to keep bears away. There must have been a big enough demand for camp fuel to justify selling it at the gas stations. Remember that "white gas" or Coleman fuel is not the same as unleaded car gasoline. it is naphtha with only 45 octane. Don't put it in your car gas tank.
An excellent point! There is more info / are more videos coming soon regarding these heaters, and other gear in regards to our recent ice storm / extended blackout situation here in Texas.
J`ai un réchaud Coleman 515 avec température ajustable il appartenais a mon père il na pas été utilisé ca fais 20 ans , j`aisée de l`utilisé et j`ai bien de la difficulté a le faire fonctionné il ne s`allume pas et ne dégage pas de chaleur je mouille la tête comme dans le vidéo et apprêt que le combustible est brulé il ne dégage presque pas de chaleur
Coleman fuel per 1 gallon holds 114500 btu heat. A 20lb lb propane tank holds 432804 btu heat. Currently Coleman fuel runs $14.00 per gallon. Propane refill runs $8.00. Buddy heater seams the way to go if your going to use it a lot.
On the used market really clean examples of the Coleman catalytic heaters can be had for $5 or so. I have literally had one given to me that was in pretty nice shape. They don't take a whole lot of maintenance and as long as you don't abuse them by putting a leaded gasoline in them they literally should last decades. Something that was not shown in this video was not long afterwards the plastics on my buddy heater failed at the handle causing the entire thing to crash to the ground and break apart which could be extremely dangerous. I have not tested it myself but I have heard of folks using regular unleaded in these heaters with good results. I was going to test with these $10 unit I got at a thrift store this Winter but it just didn't bother getting cold this year.
A gallon of white gas doesn't weigh 20 pounds + and isn't awkward to carry around. And a gallon of Crown or Coleman would last me a week so I be happy not worried. Also the actual difference in BTUs between a pound of white gas and a pound of propane is hardly as different as your skew would have one believe.
This past weekend, I ran an old 1963 Coleman white gas 5,000 btu heater for 12 hours on one fill of white gas. That meas that for about $4.00, I had heat all night. it was zero degree outside the tent and about 45 degrees inside the tent. I was very impressed.
Interesting because I seemed to get better fuel economy the map. I get about a 1/2 a gallon in the tank and it takes me 16 hours to use up one tank. It minutely I'm not using the coalmine branded fuel but the Ozark trail until it's gone in then probably going to go with Crown so I'm getting about 32 hours of heat for about $4. I don't ever get the 0ﾟ days so that's not an issue but I can keep the temp nice and breezy and have the outside temperature in the 20s and the temperature inside the tent in the mid sixties.
@@Wildersport thats pretty spectacular
@@Wildersport What Heater and what Fuel are you using when your getting 16 hours to the Tank ? Thanks , great video
@@Wildersport Coleman fuel and white gas is rated at around 120,000 BTU per gallon. If the heater is running at 5,000 BTU per hour, it should last 24 hours per gallon. If the heater is running at 3,500 BTU per hour that is 34 hours per gallon. (This is in theory.) It would appear that the heaters are running per spec.
The 3000 btu units can run 20 hours on 1/2 gallon.
I thought I was the only one left that still had one of these Coleman heaters. It was my dad's but he never used it. I'm curious to see how these work as I've never used it yet either. I think the thing is older than I am and I'll be 56 tomorrow. Thanks for posting this. It also brings back old memories of my father.
My Buddy Heater literally fell apart moving it in my garage a few weeks back. My Coleman heaters will likely outlive me.
@@Wildersport Bah! Buddy heaters. I tried those. It’s more economical to just burn $1 bills in an old coffee can, am I right?
@@shavinmccrotch9435
🤣
Although I’m something of a minor league Coleman fanboy, I prefer a kerosene heater to propane or even Coleman fuel.
@@totallyfrozen hey thats my question. Why do you like kerosene better? Can it be used in an old coleman catalytic heater?
Got one of those red model , what a beauty never going camping without it , heats up my 3 room tent just nice and cozy
I use both of these heaters. My big buddy heater I will hook up to dual 20 pound tanks and will last me 4-5 days like this. I am a big fan of both heaters depending on different camping situations.
Pros and cons to both systems. Out at a campsite I'd probably lean towards the Coleman, but when using it to heat my small unheated garage while I'm working on something, definitely going to opt for the propane Mr. Heater.
Interesting. When I’m in my unheated garage in winter, I run a Perfection 730 antique kerosene heater. 0 ppm CO emissions on the CO detector.
Old white gas under factory seal is completely shelf stable. It won't varnish anything up. You can tell if fuel has gone bad instantly by smell. I've opened Coleman fuel from the 1950s that smelled just as fresh and burned just as well as a brand new can. I'm pretty ocd about fuel. When I crack a new can and use some, I shoot argon into the tank to displace the air with it's water vapor and oxygen. Does it work? I think so. I haven't done a side by side double blind multi year test though. I know it's not harming anything.
Hey thank you for the video. It helped me a bunch happy camping buddy .
this was very helpful! i'm buying a 518c & a 513k!
By the way our Power Grid and fuel prices might be this coming winter, might as well invest in these things now!! Great video! Thx
Well that was an education in heaters, thanks.
Hey thanks for the video, found a link to your channel in a forum. I have these heaters too, big buddy, buddy and the adjustable Colman heater.
for ease of use and shear simplicity the mr. heaters have my vote, although while living in NV hunting with my daughter we roasted marshmallows over the Colman it was unlawful to have an open flame even a lit cigarette was punishable. Memories given to the Colman for sure.
Living in TN now my diesel doesn't get warmed up too quick and the temps have been in the teens my buddy heater warms the cab and I have no fear if it fell I would be in trouble with the safety features.
Thanks again for a good video
Thank you for video . I jus bought a 511 wanted some info . I have a buddy heater. I want to have alternative heating in case of power outages. I also have a kerosene heater. Ty for video
The big buddy hose screws into the pound bottle jack so it runs thru the filter
I have both of those I like the coleman better
Me too!
The Buddy eats propane bottles like M&Ms. Then you have to hope you don’t run out or you have to find a store with sporting goods.
The old ones sip fuel, and they’ll run on gasoline, which is cheap and available on every street corner!
Can I use K-1 Kerosene in my Coleman Model 513 adjustable? Thanks
Have to check my shed. Know I had 1 of these. See if I still do.
Well, the takeaway is. If you want reliable, go with the old Coleman, if you want safety features, go with the Buddy heater.
Get the buddy heater that goes to a 20 pound barbecue tank. Those are awsome for emergencies. The catylist heaters are extremely fuel efficient, work well for camping and ice fishing.
The portable buddy will take a 20 pound barbecue tank with the right hose and mister heater actually recommends that for longer term usage and they're absolutely priceless during emergencies like the 2021 Texas deep freeze.
I have the 511 and I have a even smaller one that has a stove top configuration that you take completely off has the dome cap and light like the 511 it's very portable.
Right now, somehow I managed to end up with 4 of the old Catalytic Coleman heaters, I like them for what they are, and they really are brain dead simple and reliable, however what they lack is a means of quickly, easily, and safely turning them on and off like a Buddy heater. I seriously doubt anyone is going to put the engineering into designing, building, and marketing a modern version of these with modern safety features. A pity. I really like the idea of having a common fuel for my vehicle, generator, and camp appliances.
How can you have a comparison when you don't have fuel for all of them? Way to plan ahead.
I wonder if one could use zero ethanol marine grade gasoline to fuel the old catalytic heaters rather than Coleman white gas? Reason I ask is that fuel is more readily available for a heater used on a sailboat.
Rumor from the ice fishers from northern states that use these a LOT, they say yes. I have not tested it yet. I should have. I was actually given a Coleman 518B specifically to test this idea out but I like it so much I am afraid to try.
I know you absolutely MUST NOT USE gasoline with any sort of lead in it. The heavy metals will ruin the catalytic head just like they would plug up a catalytic converter in an automobile.
This winter I had intended on testing out just that very idea, but I honestly ran into the crisis situation with the Texas Ice Storm and power outage that I was afraid of possibly ruining a heater that I was afraid to try. Now it is almost April and our cold weather is gone.
I heard if you use regular unleaded gas as fuel it needs to be non ethinal blend or remove the ethinal
I've read that the ethinal draws water to it and harden ups stuff, but if you remove the ethinal or use non ethinal unleaded fuel it's fine.
So would you say the the Coleman 5,000 is close to the mr heater ?
Once the 511 comes to full Heat it has roughly the same output has the portable buddy on low. It is not capable of putting up the same amount of heat as the portable buddy on high. The 515 which is the adjustable model is close to the same heat output as the portable buddy I think in a regular size tent or hunting Shack you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference but in a slightly larger space you may notice. I have used the 515 in a Coleman SunDome 6 which is a 10 by 12 foot Dome Tent in freezing weather and been perfectly comfortable and actually have had to sleep with just a very light blanket over me instead of the sleeping bag
My recommendation for the Mr. heater is to refill and reuse the 1lb tanks. You can purchase a 20lb to 1lb tank adapter on ebay and fill your smaller tanks at about $1 per 1lb tank. Tons of videos on TH-cam about refilling 1lb tanks at a great saving!
While that is a very popular and common and opinion I tend to disagree with it as it is dangerous and illegal. th-cam.com/video/g2_GhyAw3vM/w-d-xo.html
@@Wildersport not illegal to refill unless its for profit.private owners can refill at their own risk. also fire king has an excellent system for refilling their refillable cylinders the life of a tank is 12 years and totally legal and safe also makes the cost of anything coleman fuel astronomical in comparison.
My dad mentioned his refilling adapter to several people at camp. They were livid because it was "dangerous". Then privately, they each approached him, and whispered "will you fill my 1lb tanks please?" LOL And I believe where I am, transporting refilled 1lb tanks is illegal. So just refill them at camp! And be ready for people to complain, and then quietly request refills. LOL
@@markr.8209
That’s not what the Dept. of Transportation says. Might want to take another look at the link he provided. According to the DOT (which is federal covering all 50 states) its up to 5 years in prison.
@@totallyfrozen Nope, still not illegal to refill. It's illegal to transport a refilled canister on public roads. Therefore, the *T* in DOT.
is there a good portable oxygen meter, that you can use for safety during sleepy time?
I do not know of an oxygen level meter that would suffice. There are lots of carbon monoxide and propane leak alarms out there, but low ox, not so much... I am NOT going to recommend you use any fuel consuming heater while sleeping in an enclosed space for just that reason. Get nice and toasty, climb into a big warm sleeping bag, turn the heater off... Reverse the process in the morning. Of course if you DO use a heater when sleeping, you are doing so at your own risk and peril.
8:34
I wonder if the fouling problem is from using Walmart’s off-brand fuel. I’ve used old Coleman fuel in my stoves and lanterns with no problems. Just wondering aloud.
I should have been more specific. The "fouling" wasn't varnish build up or anything like that, but rather pump cup seals failing. On the 424 stove the packing seal at the valve knob had developed a distincly frightening leak but was a very easy fix with a replacement packing from Coleman. They go bad after a while and mine did. I have / am learning to keep a few pump repair kits on hand just in case. The problem is too infrequent use of my gear... That's what I get for only being able to plan ahead a month in advance if I want to take leave, but campground reservations are 6 months in advance. They REALLY need to fix that system.
do u find the coleman 515 to really smell up the tent when using?
Once it is up to temp, and after some use not at all. However this is a VERY old heater, and plenty of dust had to burn off of it...
They have to....
1 Come up to proper temp
2 Burn off the dust that has collect on them since the last time it was used
3 If you use a coke man that some bonehead ran anything other than white gas/coleman fuel through you might also have to clean the wick with carb cleaner and use it several time to get the old fuel out
@@Wildersport EXACTLY, Dave. That is what I found too. Also, I wonder if somebody before me tried to use some other fuel. After running the old Coleman several times, there was no smell at all.
Even my Mr. Heater has a strong petroleum smell after sitting out the season for many months. A couple hours of use and it goes away.
Mr. Buddy heaters have let me down 3 times too many. The tube clogges up and gas wont go through. And sometimes you dont havee tools to take it apart and fix so you freeze. Im not into freezing. I have every type of heater out there. My favorite is the Deisel heaters. Cheapest dryest heat availible. Half gallon will run all day and night. My Taylor deisel heater on my sailboat doesnt even use power just drips gravity fed deisel into the burn chamber and sipps fuel and cranks out nice dry heat and dont have to open windows.
When I made this video I wasn't even aware of the existence of the diesel heaters I am now very aware and if you see the Sportsmobile refresh project videos I haven't done it yet but I will be adding a Vevor diesel heater to my Sportsmobile van. I really like the safety features of the portable buddy here but those things are so terribly unreliable that I just don't want to have to rely on one or put up with the moisture they dump into the air.
A better comparison for fuel use would be with a lantern by far its cheaper to use Coleman fuel far propane no matter what size bottle. For me the only place propane is better is in summer with a cooking stove just so much more convenient to get coffee. This is not true in winter especially in extreme cold valves freeze shut and propane freezes. That’s why the Canadian Ranchers and army use naphtha stoves heaters and lights
There are advantages both ways. I am currently steering headlong into going full propane because the heaters are safer, and the instant hot showers like the Camplux and Joolca, there just isn't anything comparable on liquid fuel. Of course if you go lighter. Just heat the water on the stove and then use a shower pump. Done that too.
Yup! To bad the nanny state caused production of these heaters to stop. I had an old Tonka heater I very recently wanted to use. But the catalytic dome was shot and there was a rust hole in the bottom of the tank. A quick search showed me no one made white gas heaters anymore. I was a bit pissed to say the least. Then I did a quick search on facebook market place and scored. I found used Colman 3000 BTU heater for $50 that was purchased many years ago but the guy never even put fuel in the tank. The box looked like hell but the heater is brand spanking new. I just hate propane shit. it's inconvenient and expensive as hell to run. Grab a single can of fuel and you got light. heat and you are cooking for a weekend. How many of those dumb assed 1lb bottles will you go through in the same time? I truly don't understand how this generation, begging for the nanny state to protect them from everything good, are somehow tree huggers. It's the most wasteful and worst throw away generation in the history of man. These heaters are great and the only reason they were taken off the market is because these kids are too dumb to realize flames produce CO2 and require ventilation.
You said it, Brother!
But catalytic heaters were designed to burn indoors. No flame- no foul.
They do eat up oxygen though, so in small, well sealed places, definitely crack a window.
* flames produce CO
(Fixed it for ya!)
@@shavinmccrotch9435
Yes! This is something so many people miss in their panicked run away from carbon monoxide. The fact is that these devices were designed to use INDOORS. A heater that is only safe outdoors is impractical to say the least!
Kerosene hurricane lanterns, kerosene heaters, mantel lamps, pressure lanterns (kerosene or Coleman), catalytic heaters...they’re ALL designed for indoor use.
I took my Coleman lantern, fueled it, lit it, cranked it up high, and sat in an enclosed car with it (all doors and windows closed) for over 10 minutes. The CO detector never went above 0 ppm. I took an old Perfection 730 kerosene heater and closed it in a shower stall (with a glass door) and burned it for over an hour. The CO detector never went above 0 ppm. I burned a Dietz cold blast kerosene (hurricane) lantern in a small room. CO detector never went above 0 ppm. The detector works. I went outside and walked past a Honda generator about 10 feet away and the alarm hit 999 ppm and alarmed.
These catalytic heaters are made for indoor use. As long as there is enough oxygen to sustain the flame and everyone in the room, it’s all good.
@@shavinmccrotch9435
PS
I used J B Weld on a lawn mower gas tank, good sized hole. Put in gas within an hour of repair, and it's never leaked again.
. . . If you have a rusted out one in the future.
Coleman gas is around $40/gal here in Sept 2022
$12.00 gal here in coastal tx...
$8.00 here in missouri september 2023
I`m not sure who or when, maybe me was invent about safety fuel filler. Two hose through to cap. For fuel, shorly inside and for replacing air, hose over half of bottle high. If you not squeeze bottle, fuel come only from fuel hose. Clamp is good for cut fuel. For moving or storage ordinary cap.
Jari, absolutely no disrespect here, but I do not understand what you are asking. I am guessing from your name that English is not your primary langauage. Do you happen to speak German or Spanish? If so please re post in one of those languages.
@@Wildersport Sorry, it happen all of time.
what is proper ventalition
I would say leave a goodly size crack in the door and a window at least partially open of your average tent. To help modernize safety using old Coleman heaters a modern battery operated Carbon monoxide alarm in your camping supplies.
I was intentionally vague on this as it varies depending on the specific device. Please refer to the MFGs documentation for the specific device. Typically 9sq/in but I will not stand by that as it could be more, or less.
ALWAYS have a carbon monoxide detector with you when using a fuel burning appliance. CO is produced when there is less than optimum combustion. That’s why you need adequate ventilation-enough fresh oxygen for the flame, you, and those with you to breathe. A CO detector won’t tell you what the best ventilation is, but it will alert you when it’s not enough. LOL!
I’ve heard all online these do NOT give off Carbon Monoxide because there is no orange flame, since it’s running through a catalytic converter.
Gasoline had lead in it back in the day when these were built. I'm not sure if "dual fuel" was even a term used in those days. Today's gasoline does not have lead. Therefore, if these were still being made and sold, they would probably be advertised as "dual fuel". All it is is a burning wick dipped in gasoline that is heating a catalytic element.
The old Coleman heaters only run on Coleman fuel / white gas / naptha. Trust me, I tried like heck to use car gas and kerosene and blends. Only Coleman fuel or white gas (naptha) will work. No kind of car gas will work.
@@explorermike19 True .... Amaco used to sell their "unleaded" ....what we called "white gas" right there at the pump. That was the only way to go as it was like 1.75 cents a gallon.
Wayne The Seine yes. I remember that. They certainly did sell camp fuel at the gas stations, That's where my dad bought fuel for our Coleman lantern and stove. he would run the lantern all night to keep bears away. There must have been a big enough demand for camp fuel to justify selling it at the gas stations. Remember that "white gas" or Coleman fuel is not the same as unleaded car gasoline. it is naphtha with only 45 octane. Don't put it in your car gas tank.
3:02
By the same token, with ANY fuel burning heater, you should have a carbon monoxide detector on hand.
An excellent point! There is more info / are more videos coming soon regarding these heaters, and other gear in regards to our recent ice storm / extended blackout situation here in Texas.
@@Wildersport
I’m in Texas too. Houston area. Thanks for the video, brother!
Maybe, but the info I read says that catalytic propane heaters don't actually burn the propane.
J`ai un réchaud Coleman 515 avec température ajustable il appartenais a mon père il na pas été utilisé ca fais 20 ans , j`aisée de l`utilisé et j`ai bien de la difficulté a le faire fonctionné il ne s`allume pas et ne dégage pas de chaleur je mouille la tête comme dans le vidéo et apprêt que le combustible est brulé il ne dégage presque pas de chaleur
I'm going to need Google Translate. I speak English, Spanish and German... sorry I slept through French class being first thing in the morning...
Coleman fuel per 1 gallon holds 114500 btu heat. A 20lb lb propane tank holds 432804 btu heat. Currently Coleman fuel runs $14.00 per gallon. Propane refill runs $8.00. Buddy heater seams the way to go if your going to use it a lot.
On the used market really clean examples of the Coleman catalytic heaters can be had for $5 or so. I have literally had one given to me that was in pretty nice shape. They don't take a whole lot of maintenance and as long as you don't abuse them by putting a leaded gasoline in them they literally should last decades. Something that was not shown in this video was not long afterwards the plastics on my buddy heater failed at the handle causing the entire thing to crash to the ground and break apart which could be extremely dangerous. I have not tested it myself but I have heard of folks using regular unleaded in these heaters with good results. I was going to test with these $10 unit I got at a thrift store this Winter but it just didn't bother getting cold this year.
I think the gallons of Coleman fuel (or Crown) is in the $8 range, and $15-20 for a 20lb propane refill (about $3-4 for 1lb)
T noiset where I live Walmart sells Coleman fuel for $12.92. Crown fuel $8.99 and 20 lb propane refill for $8.00. Propane is still cheaper.
Doug E Your propane prices blow ours away, that’s for sure. I stand corrected.
A gallon of white gas doesn't weigh 20 pounds + and isn't awkward to carry around. And a gallon of Crown or Coleman would last me a week so I be happy not worried. Also the actual difference in BTUs between a pound of white gas and a pound of propane is hardly as different as your skew would have one believe.
...geeez man, get a handkerchief & some sinus meds... ; )
It's nice that you were prepared for this video. NOT! I honestly didn't learn anything of importance that would apply to present day usage.
I am terribly sorry you feel that way however I have gotten mostly very positive responses to this video...
You learned unknowingly. Never I repeat never light your Coleman 511 in the tent eh