Question about a Coleman lantern from the 90s I just cleaned up

It was barely putting out any light, but after I replaced the old mantles and gave the generator a good soak in vinegar for a few hours, it's bright enough to read by now. Anyone have a good trick for keeping the glass globe from getting sooty so fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

juliagonzalez16d ago

Wait, you can actually add salt to the fuel? I always thought that was a total myth, like something my grandpa would swear by but never really worked. But hearing that from @brian_coleman makes me reconsider. I had a lantern that would blacken the globe after just a few hours, and nothing seemed to help. Maybe that tiny pinch is the simple trick I've been missing all along.

brian_coleman17d ago

Remember my buddy had that exact problem with his old lantern. He started adding just a tiny pinch of salt to the fuel tank before filling it, said it made a huge difference. The globe stayed way cleaner, he only had to wipe it down maybe once a season. Sounded like an old wives' tale but it actually worked for him.