Posted by Mike Stevens on January 17, 2001 at 18:55:45 from 195.92.67.77:
In Reply to: Re: Oil Stoves posted by Mike F. on January 04, 2001 at 00:42:59:
Can any American or Australian clarify whether Kerosene is the same stuff as paraffin, the reason I ask that is in the cowboy films, whenever an oil lamp is thrown on the floor it bursts into flames like a gasoline/petrol liquid would. The liquid sold as paraffin in the UK definately will not burn on its own and always needs some sort of wick.
Years ago , the paraffin sold here was colourless, but then Shell and other companies dyed it blue, pink or green. What is sold in the UK as white spirit is definately the same stuff as paraffin except that it is colourless. There is also 'Turps Substitute' which is probably paraffin with a slight yellow dye.