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 Posted - February 14 2011 : 9:52:28 PM
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Just what is smoke oil? Can I use any light weight oil? Can I use something like 3 in one? How about sewing machine oil? How about the light oils that we can buy in the hardware stores for locks ect. To me the cost of "real smoke oil" is outrageous. I know that their must be a safe subsitute for a fraction of the price.
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Posted - February 14 2011 : 11:18:37 PM
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quote:Just what is smoke oil? Can I use any light weight oil?
Originally posted by Christopher - February 14 2011 : 9:52:28 PM
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Well, there's a reason it's expensive - it's been tested SAFE to inhale. Do you really want to burn "any" oil just because it's cheap? Have you considered the smell it might cause using "any" oil? All those additives in the light machine oils may be good for machines, but probably NOT to inhale directly ( read the contents, if it says Do Not Ingest or Swallow, I'd think it would NOT be good to inhale, either ) Have you heard of the Darwin Award before? Send us your name and address before you do this. We can put you down for a post-humorous award 
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
Edited by - AMC_Gremlin_GT on February 14 2011 11:19:56 PM
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farace
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Posted - February 15 2011 : 11:14:47 AM
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I've wondered the same thing, and in searching the web I've found others that have wondered it, too. Some have found lamp oil to work, but it seems the consensus is that generally you're better off sticking with the stuff made specifically for smoke, for the reasons AMC mentioned. There's a reason I don't smoke cigarettes, no sense in smoking my train's smoke fluid.
FWIW, there are also sites comparing the different brands, with photos etc. I don't have it bookmarked, but it shouldn't be too hard to find.
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Posted - February 15 2011 : 12:20:11 PM
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wondered the same thing myself Since Rapido recommends using their own oil for their locos & stuff 
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Posted - February 15 2011 : 2:56:02 PM
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quote:wondered the same thing myself since <Brand X> recommends using their own oil for their locos & stuff
Originally posted by microbusss - February 15 2011 : 12:20:11 PM
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I think ALL manufacturers recommend using "their" stuff first. It's just that they test their stuff WITH their OTHER stuff, so they know it works. But , smoke is smoke, it uses a resistance wire to heat it and put out white stuff. So one smoke fluid should be as good as another. If the Darwin Award applicant wants to try other, cheaper oils, he should probably try the fragrance types burned in hot pots, at least that way his girlfriend, wife, etc would love the smell of his loco going round and round.  Even if it doesn't smoke, it wouldn't be toxic. 
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - February 15 2011 : 10:24:49 PM
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| Today I started a search for smoke oils. What I found by reading the MSDS provided by the supplies was that what we call smoke oil or fluid is nothing more than light weight mineral oil that evaporates at a temperature before it combusts. Each company that sells smoke oil or fluid chooses a viscosity that smokes best for the voltage and temperature there smoke units perform at. While some reccomend cooking oil, no one reccomends lamp oil. Lamp oil can be produced with many products some include kerosene or other petroleum products that have a very low flash point, like lighter fluid. This of course will cause a fire. Please do not use Lamp Oil as the country of orgin has different terms for it's ingredients. Johnson & Johnson baby oil is at the heavy end or the higher viscosity for smoke oil/fluid thus in some units it will take a long time to produce smoke. The lighter the weight of the mineral oil the quicker the smoke will appear. In my 1975 vintage Chattanooga 2-8-0 the baby oil took close to seven minutes to start produce light smoke. Thus I need a lighter oil to produce the smoke I think should come from the Loco. Tomorrow I will start to find the lightest weight mineral oil and perform tests. I will let you all know what I find.
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Posted - February 16 2011 : 06:43:33 AM
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quote:Today I started a search for smoke oils. What I found by reading the MSDS ... was that what we call smoke oil or fluid is nothing more than light weight mineral oil that evaporates at a temperature before it combusts. ...... Tomorrow I will start to find the lightest weight mineral oil and perform tests. I will let you all know what I find.
Originally posted by Christopher - February 15 2011 : 10:24:49 PM
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Now, THAT's some valuable info to share. Good for you, Christopher, thanks for taking the time to research , and informing us of what it really is. Looks like you did your homework on this one.  I have a few "smokers" in my collection, but I doubt I will ever use them for that purpose myself. Maybe some day. But always good to know what options are available. Actually, I was referring to those fragrance oils that are NOT burned, they're just heated to put off a nice smell. Not sure what volatility they may be, or even what they're made of. But I think it says on the the labels of the ones my wife had to NOT burn them, only heat. I'll have to check to see if I can find one around here somewhere. Haven't heated any of those in a long time.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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farace
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Posted - February 18 2011 : 12:33:00 AM
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Here's the site I had in mind when I mentioned comparisons of different brands, and lamp oil. No, I wouldn't personally use lamp oil, but it's interesting to read the results. There's probably more on this page than you ever wanted to know about smoke fluid.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips3/smoke_tips.html
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Posted - February 20 2011 : 5:10:16 PM
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A number of years ago I made some "smoke oil" for an AF loco I have. It work great but left a smoke screen on the layout. I used 3 in 1 oil, a little kerosne and a few drops of pine sol for a favorable smell.
I don't know how un-heathly it was but it worked really well.
Edited by - AF Kid on February 20 2011 5:11:41 PM
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Posted - February 20 2011 : 6:50:16 PM
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quote:A number of years ago I made some "smoke oil" for an AF loco I have. It work great but left a smoke screen on the layout.
Originally posted by AF Kid - February 20 2011 : 5:10:16 PM
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Speaking of smoke screens - my wife and I were heading south on I-95 in Virginia below Washington DC to do some shopping in Fredericksburg. Not 3 miles from our house, the highway was virtually shut down by blowing smoke from a wildfire. We took off on the exit to get around it, took us about 15 minutes to bypass it. But with 60 mph winds in our area, and <highly> inconsiderate cigarette smokers tossing out butts (most likely ), there were several flaming fields in Maryland and Virginia near highways. This was my first experience with a wild fire, I've seen smoke and leftover residue. but this was the first live fire I've ever seen in the wild. Heard about them in California and other places west, but Virginia? Almost never a big one. Heard possibly 1,000 acres burned across the two states yesterday afternoon. Pretty wild day. Didn't need any oil for this event! After we came home that evening after dark, there was still a single fire truck parked on the opposite side to monitor the smoldering remains, and still a slight haze of smoke in the air. Winds are gone now, and probability of rain on Monday, so that should help kill the remaining embers, if any.Been REALLY dry here lately.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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