Paraffin…

  • Thread starter Graham Smith
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oexing

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Now that´s a funny mixing of names for different products, partly stemming from historical uses in various countries. Maybe Wikipedia would offer some clarity on these liquids. I say aviation Jet A is very close to diesel and oil that you burn in central heating - which has some dye in it for tax control. Jet A is often called kerosene elsewhere and is no paraffin at all. You get the same smell from aircraft turbines as from heating oil burners. Paraffin is used for vaseline and candles and more different from diesel and the like. Smoke oil for aerobatics is often real thin liquid paraffin, you would not want the smell of diesel in an airshow everywhere ! So in fact paraffin does not smell, kerosene / Jet A is a lot like diesel - would not like to use that for cleaning or so because of the smell.

Vic
 

Magnetoman

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It's easy to get confused by the use of the same names for different products, as well as the use of different names for similar products. In U.S. usage, at least, paraffin is a fairly heavy hydrocarbon that is in solid form at room temperature. It is not the same as the paraffin of England.

The diesel fuel/Gunk mixture I use has more of a smell to it than does kerosene, but much less smell than gasoline. I don't find it at all objectionable as a cleaning fluid, although I do use it outside not in an enclosed garage.
 

greg brillus

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The refueler's use to drop of quantities of both 100/130 avgas and Avtur Kerosene to our hanger every day, I had large stainless drums full of avgas for washing parts which was fabulous, not too good on the hands though..............:eek:..............Our chief engineer use to take 44 gal drums of it home to run in his ride on mower and his Manx Beach Buggy, to which I suggested that was a bad idea on account of the fuels ability to block mufflers and very corrosive on valves and guides..............it didn't worry him too much.
 

stu spalding

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20 litre drums of paraffin are available from Smith & Allen for £35, free delivery. Cheers, Stu.
 

erik

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smaller ships and boats are sometimes eqipped with ovens heated by Paraffine.the shipequipment Dealers have it in canisters.Erik
 

Roslyn

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ford fuels you can buy a 40 gallon drum for around £220 delivered or if there are none near you try another fuel supplier
 

oexing

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Now the picture gets clearer. What you are looking for is actually chemically petroleum/kerosine as I see in the PDF from the link to aidlubricants shop specifying the "paraffine" drum. Paraffine seems to be the british household name for petroleum, the solvent in WD 40, but what is petroleum to you then ?? Paraffine is the main content for wax candles, vaseline or cosmetics, you would not want petroleum on your skin. Paraffine is not very volatile but petroleum is and a bit smelly too.
In aviation jet fuel is widely called kerosine but is actually very close to diesel or gas oil(with dye) but made to tight tolerances including anti freeze like winter diesel to minimize risk for blocked jets at high altitudes.

Vic
 

Nulli Secundus

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*I think, and hope, Graham has all the help and suggestions he needs following his question, so as it seems we are no longer discussing his original question I am closing the thread.
 
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