how to prevent mantle damage?

Yep and while it's not a perfect solution it's a pretty good one and certainly much improves the mantle life.

Just don't let the butch boys in your group know you've got a can with you though Dearie :)

Mike Harding

We also have the same light and last year while away(3 months) we only used 8 mantles,useing the light nearly every night.The light was kept in the 4wd strapped to the cargo barrier in its plastic carry case(upright).We travelled some pretty rough roads including up the Cape,across the Gulf ,down the Tanami and Oodnadatta tracks.Back home while camping a couple of weeks ago,we broke two in two nights but the light was laying down.

Shaggy

WE figured for our first big trip years ago that we would break one every day, so bought 50 mantles. Just having them fixed that - brought 45 home!

Actually, it might have been because on a mate's advice, we bought a block of polyurethane foam that was big enough to fit in the gas lamp box (ours was a primus), and we cut a hole big enough to push the lamp into (used an electric knife from memory). That seemed to protect the light packed in with our other stuff, and its still in use by our kids. We used it until we got a car with second battery and use a 12 volt light now.

So just padding the lamp well seems to be the trick.

Max

I was going to say forget about the mantles and go for the little fluoro lights, far superior light, much much safer especially with little kids too. We got a fluoro lantern for the kids too, 4 d cells lasts about 15 nights, unless its left on

I'd forget the mantle problems and go with a Versalight or similar. No breakages problems, no hissing, no gas to carry and run out of etc.
Check the recent thread comparing fluoro lights and costs.
Cheers
Mike

I have one and have had no problems with mantles while driving, the lantern was kept in the Coleman plastic cover, along with one of those Coleman covers that velcro around the glass, it was stored upright in the trailer part of the Camper trailer with no extra padding apart from being wedged in tightly with all the other gear.

Just make sure you let the lantern cool down before you move it or pack it away. I usualy put mine under the card table or under the awning as we headed to bed, and turned it off there, then packed it away in the morning.

Oh and remember, when removing old mantles from the lamp - it's toxic, very toxic. They're OK when unburnt, but once used - poison.

Bilbo

Have coleman petrol light great light but leave it home mostly now and use 2 11w 1amp twin fluro lights magic and no dam mantles, just plug in and instant light
cheers

Good to see a thread on lanterns again!

You can't beat the Versalite Fluro (or similar) for convenience and performance for sure and thye are a cool light for summer. But in winter they are a little light on in the heat department.

I'm not sure which Coleman Duel Fuel you have but we've had a Northstar now for a while and am still on the first mantle (carried in the vehicle in it's padded case), It's tied at both ends and looks really tough. The praises of these lanterns have been sung here before so I won't go on..

In winter we carry a Tilley as well (now run on the previously discussed "Diggers Odourless Kerosene"). It produces great light, the best heat off the big enamel top, and hell, I just love the sound! The Tilley mantle also ties at both ends.

Never needed to try the hair spray trick, seems like mantles that tie at both ends may have a better chance of survival.

Regds

Bill

Yep to the above - I reckon mantles have just about had their day - with kids running around you need a flood light I guess so 12 fluoro is the go - with adults only poking about, a minor energy saving light is all we use for the camp, plus the LED lamps on the headband - they are brilliant - principle is you carry a small amount of light with you, instead of flooding areas that you MAY be going to (or not). You can read with a good led lamp. We use them a lot. LED's are very frugal on energy consumption - there is one on the side of our new camper for the kitchen.

Go the Versa light or something similar, they are really convenient or get a rechargeable flouro the type that is inverted likr the versa light. I have both one for the camp connected to the aux batt and the other the recharge job for chekin the lines and other such stuff.
All in all easier than refillin lanterns each day.

pay extra for the coleman gold top? mantles - last much longer than normal ones...