I guess I won't be using the Coleman stove for melting wheelweights down for now. Noticed a price of $10.00 per gallon at a sporting goods store 5/10. Powder was stiil under $20.00 per pound (I got 3lbs. of that). Bullets were way up. I saw a box of 500 cast bullets(by a maker that I've never heard of) priced at $50.00(0.429 240 grain).

Sticker shock is what I saw. Coleman stove is now for cooking only!

Cheezywan

I used to do that, but a few years ago I bought one of the inexpensive turkey fryer kits at Wally world. It along with an old cast iron dutch oven make up my ingot lead melting kit. Noticed that propane was still just a little over three bucks a gallon here.

Sure hope thats for 20# cylinders and not bulk price!

That was at one of the local filling stations that does small tanks. I checked today and it was $3.29 a gallon for Propane. I would imagine that it will be going up as all fuel prices are though. Better get your tanks filled now. I filled all of mine for the camper and grill when it was still $1.99 about six months ago. I've got enough to melt a bunch of lead and cook a few burgers too.

For my backpacking stove I usually tried to buy white gas at Walmart. It was always much cheaper than the sporting good stores, though I haven't priced it recently.

I thought Coleman stoves would run on regular automobile gasoline. DO NOT take my word for this.

That was at one of the local filling stations that does small tanks. I checked today and it was $3.29 a gallon for Propane. I would imagine that it will be going up as all fuel prices are though. Better get your tanks filled now. I filled all of mine for the camper and grill when it was still $1.99 about six months ago. I've got enough to melt a bunch of lead and cook a few burgers too.

If you want to keep fuel prices down, the most expensive "bulk" way to buy propane is in 20 lbs. 5 gal bottles(actually about 17 or 18 or 4.25 to 4.5 gallons with cutoff valve in them now) If you get it bulk like 100 lb bottles or bigger it is generally cheaper.

I thought Coleman stoves would run on regular automobile gasoline. DO NOT take my word for this.


Is "true" Ken. Just don't do it for cooking in an enclosed area. The same is true for Coleman lanterns.

White gas is just distilled a little higher up the food chain than car fuel. Very few additives.
Similar to comparing desal fuel with kerosine.

I use a "turkey cooker" myself nowdays. I started with a Coleman stove though.

I may concider using wood if the trend continues?

Cheezywan

Is "true" Ken. Just don't do it for cooking in an enclosed area. The same is true for Coleman lanterns.

White gas is just distilled a little higher up the food chain than car fuel. Very few additives.
Similar to comparing desal fuel with kerosine.

I use a "turkey cooker" myself nowdays. I started with a Coleman stove though.

I may concider using wood if the trend continues?

Cheezywan


White gas was basically early unleaded gas back when leaded gas was main stream. It would be interesting to try E85 fuels as it has a very small gas component to it or even pure alcohol in right burner as it burns hot and clean.

I have been using "unleaded gas" in stoves and lanterns and catalytic heaters since it became available at the pump, white gas before that. I have heard that Colman fuel has additives that are an improvement over plain old gas, and not to use it, but 30 some years later and so far so good everything still works fine.

Haven't melted any lead in some time but, when i did I used a old hot plate as it would keep the temps from becoming dangerously hot. The price a bullets has me looking for a lead source and I plan on beginning casting soon.

54 and MarlinF have my attention. I remember that Coleman came out with a "duel fuel" series of products. I always wondered what the difference was?

Old time leaded fuel looked like beer to me. The modern stuff is pink. "White gas" was always near "clear" like water is. You could buy it in bulk at one time.

Outside use of the "up-wind" of the appliance might work fine.
I do not melt lead on a Coleman stove in a tent!
Cheezywan

My Colemans a Duel fuel! So it will get Unleaded $4 vs $10! :(

I bought the LP adapter for my colman stove for about $8 plus a hose for a 20 lb tank.

I bought the LP adapter for my colman stove for about $8 plus a hose for a 20 lb tank.

That very well might be the best solution of all BenT. My stove is something like 30-35 years old now so I'm not sure if something like that would be plug and play or not. Some additional fittings/adaptors might be required?

Anyway, good idea!

Cheezywan

I used a Coleman for several years, but here's a caution, it you melt a big pot of lead on it for extended periods of time the wire grate the pot sits on can heat enough to bend under extended melting sessions. I had a pot near tip over from this. That's why I went to the turkey frier. for 29 bucks (at the time) it's much sturdier than a Coleman and actually designed to hold a heavy pot.

I used a Coleman for several years, but here's a caution, it you melt a big pot of lead on it for extended periods of time the wire grate the pot sits on can heat enough to bend under extended melting sessions. I had a pot near tip over from this. That's why I went to the turkey frier. for 29 bucks (at the time) it's much sturdier than a Coleman and actually designed to hold a heavy pot.

That has a good safety tip for all that melt lead for bullets. Make sure that grate can hold the weight of the metal you are melting.

Cheezywan

I use wood, just have to pick it up.

I own a couple of Coleman goodies that run on white gas, a stove & lantern. I inherited both from my Father who bought them back in the '50's. They still work great with the white gas.

Anyone have any idea, given the increased costs, whether or not I could switch to unleaded? Or would this in some way screw up the stove & lantern? Anyone know the octane of white gas?

THE ICEMAN

They sell a stove adaptor to a Propane bottle [coleman or bernz-o-matic] that has the generator rod similar to the one on the white gas tank. It can also be connected to the bulk hookup...

Last year I bought a Coleman propane 'road trip' grill that came w/ one extra grate that works like a griddle. Managed to make [5] dinners; 2 london broil & three just dogs 'n burgers on one can of coleman propane...Folds flat, same elect ignition as a gas grill...great to tailgate, camp or take to the cabin...

I find the Coleman fuel works better than pump gas, even older stuff. I have a can that's 20 years old & still works...Even if yours get's cranky, a new generator usually cures things. Cheap & easy.