Fellow Canadian here...Awesome... I recently found a 518 B from 1973 . I have not yet tested it. This was very helpful. Thank You! I look forward to the comparison video with the Coleman Propane Catalytic as I recently found one of those as well.
I have a 523c heater and haven't tested either. But from what I know, they're so reliable that testing it is like testing a candle to see if it would light. Wouldn't trade it for any propane heater.
It takes time (a few minutes) for the fuel to wick down and make the dark spot on the surface (while upside down). Once you get the dark spot you turn the heater right side up and you can also dribble some fuel around the edge to help the heater get fully functioning. It will still take about 15 to 20 minutes to get up to full heat.
I pick one up built in 1973. Almost same shape. Old guy i got it from told me he got it new and used it only a few times. I will find out how good it heats my huge tent (8x10x7H) when I head for a November hunting and camp out trip.
You are so right, Tony. We did build things better, and to last. We could do the same thing today and even better, but instead, we make things worse, cheaper, flimsier, barely lasting any time at all. What has happened to us? We are not getting better, we are getting worse, our culture is under attack, our heritage is being spit on in front of us. I long for those GOOD OLD DAYS more than ever.
The b-zzz-zzz had me. 🤣. I recently bought one from fb marketplace. I’m curious of how it works. I have no instruction manual enclosed. I have this knack of finding and learning how these old gadgets work. Curiosity at its best. Thanks for sharing.
I bought one of these about 25 years ago at a garage sale for $10. It came with the box and instructions too. No warranty B(. I've only used it once or twice, but it works great, and gives off lots of heat. Ideal for the ice fishing hut or small cabin. I gives off to much heat for tenting though.
I’ve been using the crown camp fuel which is roughly half the cost and works comparably. My local ace hardware has Coleman fuel for $18.99 and Walmart has the crown white gas camp fuel for $7.64 for one gallon containers. Just fyi.
Thank you very much for this video. I recently found a like new 518 E that has been used once or twice. This heater is built like a tank and its large contact surface with the ground or other means that it can hardly tip over. My only issue is that I tried to use it in a tent and it gives off a lot of unbearable naphtha smell. If anyone here has had the same problem or has any suggestion to fix my problem I would greatly appreciate it I contacted Coleman today and am awaiting a response.
Yes my son and I used it on a camping trip as well and found the fumes kinda unbearable at best. I just find it so intriguing that they were made and how they produce heat.
@@tony8512 I really like this heater because it is so serviceable and a full tank provides up to 16 hours of heating. Regarding the vapors and the smell which must surely be toxic, maybe I didn't wait long enough after the initial lighting and preheating to put it in the tent, I don't know. I'll do some more testing and wait for Coleman's response and maybe other readers' response here. I will follow up here. Greetings from Quebec.
I got the b model today for 9 bucks at value village. It says made in Canada though. I'm interested in the safety information. I don't want to wake up dead from monoxide poisoning.
@ralphh4131 They burn really clean. They need oxygen and will rob it from enclosed spaces. Open windows and carbon monoxide detector a must. But my detector has never gone off.
@icabobcrane8984 No I wouldn't use Ethanol . You could try 91 octane gasoline with no ethanol. But I've never tried it at your own risk. I think ethanol would destroy the catylitic element.
@@tony8512 so these heaters, are they still available? It’d probably be cheaper on gas to use one of these to heat a vehicle interior at -40 than to let that ol 5.0 eat til it pumps heat
@@ericjames6865 I carry a propane one in my truck in case of emergencies. It's very compact version I've used it at work as well when things break down
@@ericjames6865 : If you use Coleman fuel, you’re looking at $45 and tax for 3.74L and $18 for 946mL, If memory serves-i priced it in my little spot in Canada yesterday. But it burns without any real smell. Naphtha and Kerosene have a smell; there’s also a technique where a user Would mix small carburetor cleaner and (unleaded) gas. I’m hoping to find someone with the ratios here in the comments section.
Why don't we build great things (like this) in Canada anymore? For these subsidiaries of US companies, the Free Trade agreement eliminated any benefit of having a Canadian branch plant. Also Britain joining the EU eliminated the benefit of having beneficial trade relations within the Commonwealth. In the case of Coleman production moved to Wichita, eliminating the duplication of a Canadian head office, engineering department, manufacturing facilities, etc. Same thing for household appliances. We accepted the "greater good" of the efficiency of free trade versus protectionist duties that raised the (relative) prices on these goods to a level that covered the duplication of administration and production. Unfortunately, the consequence was the loss of the innovations developed to serve "Canada specific" needs. It was just a few years until the American manufacturing operations suffered the same fate, with production moving to Mexico and (now, because of incredibly low production costs) China. .But , hey, all those cheap goods we get as a result have us addicted to this arrangement. Us "old guys" remember the period of change following the introduction of the original Free Trade agreement.
Fellow Canadian here...Awesome... I recently found a 518 B from 1973 . I have not yet tested it. This was very helpful. Thank You! I look forward to the comparison video with the Coleman Propane Catalytic as I recently found one of those as well.
Thanks I find these heaters so interesting 😊
I have a 523c heater and haven't tested either. But from what I know, they're so reliable that testing it is like testing a candle to see if it would light. Wouldn't trade it for any propane heater.
It takes time (a few minutes) for the fuel to wick down and make the dark spot on the surface (while upside down). Once you get the dark spot you turn the heater right side up and you can also dribble some fuel around the edge to help the heater get fully functioning. It will still take about 15 to 20 minutes to get up to full heat.
I pick one up built in 1973.
Almost same shape.
Old guy i got it from told me he got it new and used it only a few times.
I will find out how good it heats my huge tent (8x10x7H) when I head for a November hunting and camp out trip.
Hey good luck with it its awsome
You are so right, Tony. We did build things better, and to last. We could do the same thing today and even better, but instead, we make things worse, cheaper, flimsier, barely lasting any time at all. What has happened to us? We are not getting better, we are getting worse, our culture is under attack, our heritage is being spit on in front of us. I long for those GOOD OLD DAYS more than ever.
The b-zzz-zzz had me. 🤣. I recently bought one from fb marketplace. I’m curious of how it works. I have no instruction manual enclosed. I have this knack of finding and learning how these old gadgets work. Curiosity at its best. Thanks for sharing.
If you close the lid is a limit the air and probably burn a little hotter. It’ll feed the air correctly.
Thx for the tips Tony!
@@ralphh4131 Any time the adventure Channel is here to please
I bought one of these about 25 years ago at a garage sale for $10. It came with the box and instructions too. No warranty B(. I've only used it once or twice, but it works great, and gives off lots of heat. Ideal for the ice fishing hut or small cabin. I gives off to much heat for tenting though.
They sure do last really amazing
I’ve been using the crown camp fuel which is roughly half the cost and works comparably. My local ace hardware has Coleman fuel for $18.99 and Walmart has the crown white gas camp fuel for $7.64 for one gallon containers. Just fyi.
Hey thank you very good to know that fuel works as well
I searched Walmart website but couldn't find any camp fuel. Did you find the white gas in the camping section? Are you in the US?
@@Sourdoughgirl yeah in the us. I wanna say it was over by sporting goods. On the app it tells you what section and aisle.
@@billyrichterrocks That explains why I couldn't find it. We are in Canada.
Nice video Tony
thank you have a great day
Tony .. Can you Cook on The TOP OF THE 518 C .. PUT A POT OF WATER ON TOP .. 👍
LOVE YOUR VIDEOS TONY
@jjames5475 You could try it but I doubt it would boil water to be honest
Thank you very much for this video. I recently found a like new 518 E that has been used once or twice. This heater is built like a tank and its large contact surface with the ground or other means that it can hardly tip over. My only issue is that I tried to use it in a tent and it gives off a lot of unbearable naphtha smell. If anyone here has had the same problem or has any suggestion to fix my problem I would greatly appreciate it I contacted Coleman today and am awaiting a response.
Yes my son and I used it on a camping trip as well and found the fumes kinda unbearable at best. I just find it so intriguing that they were made and how they produce heat.
@@tony8512 I really like this heater because it is so serviceable and a full tank provides up to 16 hours of heating. Regarding the vapors and the smell which must surely be toxic, maybe I didn't wait long enough after the initial lighting and preheating to put it in the tent, I don't know. I'll do some more testing and wait for Coleman's response and maybe other readers' response here. I will follow up here. Greetings from Quebec.
@@luisl2066did you ever hear anything from Coleman?
open flame 4 inches from a can of fuel. Yeah baby!
Have one used it for years
I got the b model today for 9 bucks at value village. It says made in Canada though. I'm interested in the safety information. I don't want to wake up dead from monoxide poisoning.
@ralphh4131 They burn really clean. They need oxygen and will rob it from enclosed spaces. Open windows and carbon monoxide detector a must. But my detector has never gone off.
Thx 🙏 Very nice
Thank u
I read somewhere Coleman said have at least a 5 inch opening in your tent.
Yes this needs oxygen to work so please take all safety precautions. I always had a carbon monoxide detector with me just to stay safe.
I have the 518, its green, but looks identical to your red one. Do you have any idea what the differences might be?
I'm not totally sure, but I'm thinking it's the year there made apparently burgundy red and green in that order.
Stay warm baby doll
Thank you gizzx
Can you burn high proof ethanol in that heater?
@icabobcrane8984 No I wouldn't use Ethanol . You could try 91 octane gasoline with no ethanol. But I've never tried it at your own risk. I think ethanol would destroy the catylitic element.
Your daughter sounds cute
You had a chance
@@tony8512 so these heaters, are they still available? It’d probably be cheaper on gas to use one of these to heat a vehicle interior at -40 than to let that ol 5.0 eat til it pumps heat
@@ericjames6865 I carry a propane one in my truck in case of emergencies. It's very compact version I've used it at work as well when things break down
@@ericjames6865 : If you use Coleman fuel, you’re looking at $45 and tax for 3.74L and $18 for 946mL, If memory serves-i priced it in my little spot in Canada yesterday. But it burns without any real smell. Naphtha and Kerosene have a smell; there’s also a technique where a user Would mix small carburetor cleaner and (unleaded) gas. I’m hoping to find someone with the ratios here in the comments section.
It's safe use indoor?
You could use it indoors but must have some ventilation. Always use a carbon monoxide detector with these no matter what safety first
Can these units burn kerosene?
No, only white gas.
What’s the difference in a 518c and the 510a?
I believe that the model generations A B C D and so forth
I have one that just says 518, no letter after the 518. I guess that would be the first generation?
Why don't we build great things (like this) in Canada anymore? For these subsidiaries of US companies, the Free Trade agreement eliminated any benefit of having a Canadian branch plant. Also Britain joining the EU eliminated the benefit of having beneficial trade relations within the Commonwealth. In the case of Coleman production moved to Wichita, eliminating the duplication of a Canadian head office, engineering department, manufacturing facilities, etc. Same thing for household appliances. We accepted the "greater good" of the efficiency of free trade versus protectionist duties that raised the (relative) prices on these goods to a level that covered the duplication of administration and production. Unfortunately, the consequence was the loss of the innovations developed to serve "Canada specific" needs. It was just a few years until the American manufacturing operations suffered the same fate, with production moving to Mexico and (now, because of incredibly low production costs) China. .But , hey, all those cheap goods we get as a result have us addicted to this arrangement. Us "old guys" remember the period of change following the introduction of the original Free Trade agreement.