# So, what does this tea-warmer burn?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 7, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340 "2006-02-07T03:28:27Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/1 "2006-02-07T03:28:27Z")
All right, some background: I bought a teakettle-and-warmer set off of eBay. The seller claimed that the set was from 1908, but didn’t know what fuel the burner used. The bottom of the kettle was covered in black scoring, so I assume it wasn’t alcohol. I took some pictures of the burner so you could give me a better analysis.
[With the “wick” in the burner.](http://www.geocities.com/flame_of_the_dragon/teawarmer2.jpg)
[Without the wick.](http://www.geocities.com/flame_of_the_dragon/warme1.jpg)
As should be obvious, the “wick” piece is removable. It appears to be a metal cylinder with one end capped. It’s filled with a fabric-esque wick material, and is wrapped in a different sort. The burner has an extendable cylindrical shield that can be raised to envelope the sides of the wick-piece completely.
If more information is needed, please ask.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/2 "2006-02-07T03:41:37Z")
Almost certainly the fuel was lamp oil, which would have been readily available at that time. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding some. Nearly any flammable fluid should work, with varying degrees of success, in a pinch. Alcohol would probably burn too hot, but kerosene would probably perform well. You could probably even use any of various kinds of vegetable oil, though they would be a bit smoky.
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/3 "2006-02-07T03:41:53Z")
It looks like something that would burn lamp oil and the details for that seem to fit. You can buy lamp oil at some supermarkets and stores like Wal-Mart or Target.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/4 "2006-02-07T03:54:41Z")
I’ve always wanted a charcoal-burning samovar.
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/5 "2006-02-07T03:59:28Z")
So I’d just saturate the wick and light 'er up?
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### Author:  [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/6 "2006-02-07T04:03:46Z")
> [@Speaker for the Dead](#):
>
> So I’d just saturate the wick and light 'er up?
Have you ever seen Tiki torches burn? You fill up the resovior and let it soak into the wick. Make sure the wick isn’t too dry when you light it because that just makes a smoky mess.
Light it. Lamp oil will smoke but maybe it will be managable.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/7 "2006-02-07T04:05:54Z")
> [@Speaker for the Dead](#):
>
> So I’d just saturate the wick and light 'er up?
Yep, pretty much. Just because it’s so old, I’d think about having a small fire extinguisher on hand, just in case.
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/8 "2006-02-07T14:57:01Z")
Thank you, everyone. Next time I’m by Canadian Tire I’ll grab some l’oil.
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### Author:  [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/9 "2006-02-07T15:12:45Z")
By lamp oil, I presume one means paraffin? I’ve seen bottles of that stuff at most dollar stores.
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### Author:  [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/10 "2006-02-07T16:01:02Z")
Whale oil? Might be a bit hard to find though.
Seems that even in 1908, whale oil must have been accessable, and likely what was used. From what I gather about whale oil, is that they used it for nearly everything, and it was a wonderful, nearly smoke free product.
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### Author:  [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/11 "2006-02-07T16:25:49Z")
I’d be careful of what kind of fuel I used, try using it without it being near food to see what it is like. I’ve been around oil lamps, and I can’t stand the smell, it permeates the atmosphere. I’d be afraid it would flavor my tea.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/12 "2006-02-07T16:39:10Z")
> [@Zabali\_Clawbane](#):
>
> I’d be afraid it would flavor my tea.
A samovar has a little pot on top for tea concentrate. (Tea is brewed very strong, and it is diluted with the hot water in the samovar about 10:1.) I’ve heard the Russians traditionally use dried pinecones instead of coal, which gives a piney taste to the tea that they apparently like.
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### Author:  [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/13 "2006-02-07T16:52:21Z")
Well, I suppose a mildly piney taste for some things wouldn’t be too bad, I don’t mind the taste of pine needles. Applewood or maybe hickory might be nice for some things, but _lamp oil_? Yick! I wonder if it was whale oil? I don’t think whale oil would give a bad flavor, if any flavor at all. I wonder if there is a special product made today, that can be used in such instances?
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### Author:  [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/14 "2006-02-07T16:58:18Z")
> [@Mindfield](#):
>
> By lamp oil, I presume one means paraffin? I’ve seen bottles of that stuff at most dollar stores.
Paraffin is candle wax, the kind that isn’t beeswax or tallow. You wouldn’t put it in an oil lamp, however you can use paraffin candles to keep a teapot warm. Appropriately enough, they’re called “tea candles” and can be bought at drugstores.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/15 "2006-02-07T17:09:18Z")
> [@Mindfield](#):
>
> By lamp oil, I presume one means paraffin? I’ve seen bottles of that stuff at most dollar stores.
Paraffin is mixture of various high-weight waxy hydrocarbons, sometimes used as a candle wax additive to make them glossy. But, paraffin _oil_ is another name for kerosene.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/16 "2006-02-07T17:10:27Z")
> [@Brain Wreck](#):
>
> Paraffin is candle wax, the kind that isn’t beeswax or tallow.
Paraffin is also the British term for kerosene.
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### Author:  [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/17 "2006-02-07T17:29:31Z")
I doubt you could use this in your tea warmer, (probably burns too hot) but apparently there is an odorless [alternative](http://www.msiwix.com/Klean-Heat.htm) to kerosene. The reason I spoke up at all, is that even “odorless” lamp oil smells bad to me, (burning or not) and I would not want to use it in close proximity to food I was going to consume. (But then again, I can’t eat food that has been around a smoker for very long either.) Try the lamp oil and be certain you can tolerate it at the least.
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/18 "2006-02-07T19:21:51Z")
Yeah, I own a pile of beeswax tealights. They add a nice scent to the room. I’d have to get some paraffin ones, though, if I wanted to taste my tea.
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### Author:  [@Bewildebeest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bewildebeest)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/19 "2006-02-07T20:19:22Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> Almost certainly the fuel was lamp oil, which would have been readily available at that time. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding some. Nearly any flammable fluid should work, with varying degrees of success, in a pinch. Alcohol would probably burn too hot, but kerosene would probably perform well. You could probably even use any of various kinds of vegetable oil, though they would be a bit smoky.
Take it from someone who has seen the results: DO NOT PUT GASOLINE IN AN OIL LAMP! :eek:
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-this-tea-warmer-burn/343340/20 "2006-02-07T21:11:23Z")
Did anyone else check to see if there was a naked reflection in the first picture.
Just me?
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