RE: Lantern mantles keep breaking apart

Gamecock Camper · Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM

It seems like everytime we go camping that I am putting new mantles on the lantern for the first night. This was happening to the lantern mantles when we had them in the Jayco and now in the Rockwood. Is anyone else having this problem? Do you always carry your Coleman lanterns in the TV to prevent this problem?

Civil_War_Buff · Feb 03, 2003, 10:59 AM

Gamecock CamperWe used to have a big proble with the mantles breaking easily, then I switched over to the heavy duty mantles (much thicker) and we bought a carrying case for the lantern and now I can use one set of mantles all season.

Happy campin <><

champ521 · Feb 03, 2003, 11:12 AM

Gamecock CamperWe ve got a Coleman lantern that we keep in a carrying case that came with it. We just leave it in the front storage trunk on the PU. I haven t had to replace a mantle in years.

jmcanzo · Feb 03, 2003, 11:24 AM

Gamecock CamperI have a Coleman Northstar Single Mantle Lantern in a softsided case that I keep under the dinnete seat. I also used this same lantern tent camping, I have had this lantern at least 3 years and have never had to replace the mantle

calstate360 · Feb 03, 2003, 11:26 AM

Gamecock Camper

QuoteORIGINAL: Gamecock Camper

It seems like everytime we go camping that I am putting new mantles on the lantern for the first night. This was happening to the lantern mantles when we had them in the Jayco and now in the Rockwood. Is anyone else having this problem? Do you always carry your Coleman lanterns in the TV to prevent this problem?

Here s an old Scout trick. Spread your new mantles out on some cardboard. Spray them with some cheap hairspray on both sides. When dry return them to the package. On our last trip I had to replace mantles that were 6 years old. We use the cases and the globe wraps but I doubt they do a lot in protecting the mantle. YMMV We don t fire up the lanterns very often but they are setup each trip. We usually have plenty of light with the awning lights and they are not so annoying.

4Galvs · Feb 03, 2003, 11:56 AM

Gamecock CamperWe use the heavy duty mantles in our Coleman lantern. The last pair have lasted over 5 years. We store ours in the camper fron storage. This thread reminds me to check and see if we even have any spares!

chip · Feb 03, 2003, 01:46 PM

Gamecock CamperI carry my Coleman double mantle in a bucket in a cabinet in the popup...Haven t had any problem. I just use the standard weight mantle.

FWIW--The mantles do need to be installed properly...(Install new mantles, burn completely to a white " ash," then light the lantern.) I ve seen folks install new mantles and light the lantern without burning the new mantle off. I think that makes them brittle and crack with vibrations. JMO. Don t know if that s the problem or not.

Never heard of the hairspray thing tho. Might have to try that.

sure2rain · Feb 03, 2003, 03:13 PM

Gamecock CamperI always burn off the mantels prior to lighting. Also keep the latern in case and try to keep it upright. Mantels usually last until I start tinkering around and break them by touching them.

mike4947 · Feb 03, 2003, 04:34 PM

Gamecock CamperJust like Sure2Rain, if I keep it upright when traveling and don t play with the mantles (bought a sparker that fits in a hole in the globe base on my older than the hills lantern) they last for years. Tell you how long they last the last time I replaced one I was commenting on the " new" mantles I bought with the wire clip on them and how nice it was not to have to tie them on. My buddy said they d been around for about 5 years.

Gamecock Camper · Feb 03, 2003, 05:22 PM

Gamecock CamperSome answers to the questions. Yes, I do have and use the Coleman Lantern case for both lanterns. Yes, I do burn the mantles all the way to an ash before using them for light. And I really don t know if I am using the heavy duty mantles, but I will look for them. I always have spare mantles, but then again, I almost always need them...... I ll try the hairspray trick. I would think that the hairspray is very flamable, so I will definetely use caution.......

Where do you get heavy duty mantles?

don · Feb 03, 2003, 08:25 PM

Gamecock CamperIf your doing something wrong then I m right with you. I have mantels break on me all the time. I don t have case though. It has gotten to the point that most of the time the latern is not even packed in the camper anymore!
I thought that was just normal, hearing all these stories I may have try again [8D]

Ab Diver · Feb 03, 2003, 09:32 PM

Gamecock CamperStopher, I keep all my lantern related " stuff" in a large plastic tote that rides in the back of the truck. Our first pop-up didn t have enough storage room, and the current tote thing kinda grew out of that. I know they ride smoother than stuff in the pop-up, and they are always stored in a lantern case, upright in the tote, and tightly packed with other stuff. We might have to replace one mantle a season due to shock.

Part of it may be rough handling, another may be just plain old " old" mantles, part may be not having the mantle installed properly. But, another part may be something you didn t think of --- bugs. Yep, flying bugs. If they get into the light, they can damage the delicate mantle. Sure, they commit seppuku in the process, but a couple little taps this trip, a couple more the next, and pretty soon the mantle is cracking and ready to fall apart. Flying beetles cost us two mantles on our last week-long stay in the Sierras. The lanterns had brand new mantles, were never moved all week, were used every night, and the little buggers still managed to break that ash membrane. Just something to consider as a possible source of the problem.

dkradcliffe · Feb 03, 2003, 09:51 PM

Gamecock CamperInteresting.....The only time I have ever broken a mantle was when I touched it with my hands or a match or something like that. I think the key is burning it off when it is new. When I was in the Army in Alaska, we used them out in the cold(-50) and never had any problems and we were dragging then around in sleds behind us as we snowshoed around in the woods playing army(the point is that they got jostled a lot). What lantern do you have? Do you know the model name, I am wondering if it is a model specific thing....maybe the way the mantle is attached......Im diggin here:)

Gamecock Camper · Feb 03, 2003, 10:01 PM

Gamecock CamperOh, come on, I know that more of you have this problem..... Are you guys serious when you say that you have mantles last 6+ years?

How often do you camp?

Gone-Camping · Feb 03, 2003, 10:24 PM

Gamecock CamperI ve had mantles last for several years without problems, and I ve also experienced the broken ones at arrival on each trip. When I was finding them broken, it usually had to do with the way I was storing the lanterns during transport, I haven t had a problem since I bought a pair of lantern cases from Campmor.com. One thing I can tell you, if you have them laying on their side, then gravity coupled with vibration and road bumps will definately work against you! Keep them puppies upright at all times!

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