On Thu, 01 Jan 2009 03:15:42 -0800, Gunner Asch
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:06:29 -0800, Bruce L. Bergman
wrote:

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:00:03 -0800, Gunner Asch
wrote:


I dont go camping much anymore, and Ive not been night fishing in years,
so my lantern usage is largely very limited anymore. But like fire
extinguishers, they are mighty nice to have on hand when you really
really need one.

Only if they work - and the plastic head Kidde's don't always.

Indeed. Most of mine are the 20lb industials. No one ever buys em at
auctions.

Probably because the auctioneers overprice them - you have to know
when you can just take it home, or when it needs service before use.

If it's an Orphan Unit it's almost worthless - it can be refilled,
but if it needs any parts - even simple stuff like O-rings - it's
trash. General Fire Extinguisher Corp is one I've hit that is gone.
Or if some fool peeled off the label or serial number.

For liability the service shops have to buy the repair parts from the
OEM or the UL Listing is void. Silly, but true. (Now if you went and
got your own fresh O-rings and put them on, then took it back for the
refill, it's no problem because they would never know - see "Plausible
Deniability". But not all shops will play along.)

If they try getting $20 at auction or a garage sale for a used
extinguisher that costs $60 new with a current Hydro and charge, it's
a deal. But if you are going to buy a used unit and immediately have
to go dump $25 to $30 on a Hydrotest and fill, suddenly it isn't worth
more than about $5. Might as well buy new.

Well, unless it's a specialty unit that is worth more - like that
20-pound Purple-K in the garage that was only 1/2 pound short on
powder when I bought it. Them suckers are NOT cheap.

And you have to go to the FE shop that actually does the hydrotest
themselves, or you'll pay another $10 for your service guy to take it
to the other shop in town with a test cell.

Same with Class D extinguishers, there's a reason the FD will let
most machine shops have a bucket of Class D powder and a scoop - they
charge ridiculous prices for a Class D FE. Getting one surplus that
someone else paid the big bucks for new makes much more sense.


Do need to check out a few real antiques I've got that need pump
cups and globes - the ones with the words COLEMAN punched in the
little grille ring between the fuel tank and the mantle chamber.

OoooH! Those ARE old ones.

Too beat up to use (or in this case missing a few pieces), too good
to just throw out. The perennial Catch-22 of r.c.m

Ive got some of the tiny little Peak 1 222 backpacking lanterns with
busted globes. They want a ****ing arm and a leg for replacement
globes. Im thinking about replacing the globes with fine stainless steel
screen stock.

Mantles for them are hard to find too. Smaller than the regular mantles.

Look around - the globes and mantles might be ridiculous straight
from Coleman, but the second-source lenses from Taiwan might be more
to your liking. Or you hit a Mom & Pop Hardware Store going out of
business.